THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 289, 12 June 1896, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, Jane 11. The following speech was read by the Governor in the Legislative Council yesterday : — Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of thet ' House of Representatives,— [ It affords me very much pleasure to ; ! again meet you in Parliament assem- : bled and to have recourse to your as- j sistance and advice. During the recess Her Majesty's loyal subjects in New Zealand, as in all other parts of her dominions, viewed with anxiety and concern the serious complications which threatened for a short time the peace of the world. It is a matter for congratulation that war with its attendant evils has been averted and the prestige and honor of the Empire maintained without recourse to arms. Th 3 whole of the forces of the colony are now armed with the new approved weapon, the Martini-Henri. During the recess several changes in the Ministry have taken place. The Hou. Sir Patrick Buckley having re signed his Ministerial office and his seat in the Legislative Council, was appointed to be adjudge of the Supreme Coart. I feel assused you will join with me in deploring the loss thp colony has suffered by his death so shortly after assuming his position Next, the Hon W. P. Keeves tendered his resignation, and was appointed Agent-General, Mr H»ll-Jowes has been called to the Ministry with the office of Minister for Public Works, and the Hon W. C. Walker and the Bon T. Thomson have been appointed members of the Executive Cabinet and to facilitate the administration of public affairs they and the Hon J. Carroll have been allotted portfolios without salary. The finances of the colony continue to be sound, and afford good reasons for general satisfaction. {Strict regard to economical administration in every department has been considered essential, and once more I am in a position to state that the provision made by Parliament has. been more than sufficient for carrying on the public service. The public accounts show a substantial surplus of revenue over expenditure. I am glad to be able to congratulate you on the greatly-impro\ed condition of affairs, and the general prosperity of all parts of the colony. The temporary depression, which prevailed some two years ago, is fast passiug away without any far-reaching effects. Renewed hopes are being rea lised with every prospect of a bright and lasting future. Most of our staple pro ducts have risen in price, and the dis cernment of our agriculturists in that respect to grain growing has met with a profitable return. The steady upward tendency in the price of wool, grain, and other products is a matter for congratulation. The revival of goldmining has beeu most noteworthy daring the past year, resulting in an increased output of gold by a quarter of a million pounds sterling over the output of the previous year. The great mineral wealth of our colony is attracting the attention of capitalists in many parts of the world, and with security of tenure and capital expended iv tLo legitimate prospecting and development of our mines there is every reason to believe that the goldmining industry of New Zealand will increase in importance besides affording relief to the labour market by drawing off a considerable number of men to remunerative employment. The settlement of the people on the land baa progressed most satisfactorily during the year, and the benefits accruing under the Land for Settlement Act have been greatly appreciated. That land is sought for by the people of the colony most eagerly is proved by the fact that for most of the sections thrown open there has been a large number of applicants. In respect to the method of makins application and dealing with the same, unforseen difficulties have occurred, and to prevent duplication and insure a proper class of settlers, remedial provisions will require to be made. The beneficial effect of the Government Advances to Settlers Act has been clearly demonstrated, and the decrease in the rates of interest previously charged has proved to be a great boon to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Every precaution has been taken to see that advances have not been made except upon good securities, and in accordance with the law the extreme care taken in respect to the securities first offered doubtless limited the number of loans, but it is now generally conceded that the effect has been to compel care in making application, while the increasing aggregate of amounts advanced, together with the increasing number of applies tions received weekly, leads to the belief that on the whole the Advances to Settlers Department, with its new machinery, will henceforth work satisfactorily. The systematic grading and cool storage of our dairy produce have proved satisfactory. Uniformity has been achieved, and higher prices obtained, and with the increased number of competent experts the Department of Agriculture hopes during this year to further improve the results of dairy farming, and there is a general belief that New Zealand butter and cheese will ere long command the highest prices in the markets of the world. Recently a conference of fruitgrowers was held in Wellington, and attended by experts from the other colonies, and all parts of New Zealand. The results were very encouraging and should be productive of lasting benefit to the fruit industry. The general opinion was expressed that New Zealand from the nature of its soil, climate, and other natural advantages, was destined to be a great fruit growing country. The improvement in the price of kauri gum has had a marked and favorable impression on that industry. It is a matter for regret that the once flourishing and remunerative flax industry has languished during the year, consequent on the unprofitable prices ruling. With a view of fostering the industry and supplying a long felt want a substantial bonus was offered for improved flaxdressing machinery, but so far without satisfactory results. The census recently taken, so far as the results are known, goes to show that the population of the colony has largely increased during the past five years, more particularly in the North Island. This must be attributed principally to the rapid settlement which is proceeding and to the development of the mining and other industries in the Middle Island. The prevention of undesirable persons coming to New Zealand, especially the Chinese, is of great importance as efTectthe well being and purity of our race and unduly disturbing ouv trade and industries. In consequence of the Australian colonies having taken steps to protect themselves, and from other causes, an increasing number of Chiueae and race aliens have at recent dates arrived in New Zealand, aud my advisers therefore deem it necessay that restrictive measures of a complete and comprehensive nature should at an early date be enacted, A Bill dealing with the subject Will be laid before you. It is with much pleasure that 1 am

able to announce that there there are j evidences which, during the latter portion of the financial year, afford proof of substantial progress having been made, and an increased revenue through the customs on articles not affected by the tariff of last session, which goes fair to prove that the earning power of the people has improved, and with the marked growth of population, and the advancement in prices of our staple products the outlook is most promising. Returns will.be laid before yon show- ■ ing that during the year there has been, notwithstanding the granting of large remissions encouraging our industries generally, a steady increase in the re* venue from nearly all branches of traffic upon the railways, thus affording evidence of an advauce in the productive capabilities of the colony. The steps taken to open up trade for our timber in the London market have not met with that success which was anticipated from the latest information to hand/. However, there is every prospect with care being taken to send suitable timber, of a trade being established with the Cape of Good Hope and the Johannesberg goldfields in the Transvaal. The success whicb has attended the conferences in respect to fruit growing, dairying, and other industries leads my advisers to hope that a conference of persons connected with the sawmilling and timber industries would be conducive of much good, and at any early date such a conference will be convened. My advisers have deemed it expedient in tbe public interest to abolish the " delayed system " for telegrams which has hitherto existed, and in lieu thereof have reduced the charges for the transmission of ordinary telegrams. In respect to the Banking legislation of last session and the management of the Bank of New Zealand, in the opinion of my advisers, render it necessary that steps should be taken to remedy certain defects and to insure the interests of the colony being properly safeguarded. For the fourth time you will be asked to give relief to ratepayers by passing a Bill authorising local authorities to levy rates upon unimproved land values. Bills have been prepared to prevent usurious rates of interest being charged and to enable local bodies to apply the co-operative system to the construction of works under their charge. You will bo asked to consider Bills dealing with land for settlement, Workmen's Villages, State Labour Farms, Waees, Protection, Private Benefit Societies, Limiting the Hours of Labour, Old Age Pensions, the Referendum, Local Government, Government Fire Insurance, Special Juries, Master and Apprentices, Fair Rents, Government Valuation of Land, Advances to Settlers and Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control. You will be asked to consider an important change in the electoral law, dispensing with registration of electors on account of property, also securing the representation of majorities aDd dealing with changes in boundaries of electorates.