THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1685, 15 July 1879, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

SECOND EDITION

[By Telegeaph.] HONOEABLB LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOnS AND GeNTLEJIBN OP THE HOUSE OF REPSKSENTATIVES It ia a great pleasure to me, ao shortly after my aasumption of the government of this colony, to meet the Legislative Council and the Representatives of How Zealand in Parliament assembled. During the limited time which has elapsed since my arrival, I have endeavored, as far as possible, to make myself acquainted with the capabilities and requirements of the colony, and to gain by personal intercourse a knowledge of its public men, and of the .various communities spread throughout its wide extent. The first impressions which I have formed are very favorable. I have been much gratified by the loyal and cordial reception which has everywhere been accorded to me as Her Majesty’s representative, and I have not failed to note with admiration tho extent and variety of tho resources of the country, and tho industry and enterprise which are developing them with such marvellous rapidity. I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to express to you, as representing f h races of the people of Hew Zoaln grateful acknowledgment for tho we' .ioh has been extended to me, and t' jngralulalions upon the fair and jud fertile country which Providence . en to you as an inheritance. iu.y responsible advisers fully recognise tho desire that exists for tho enactment of measures which will secure a more frequent return of members to their constituencies for re-election, for an equitable distribution of tho burdens of taxation, and for a mode more just and judicious of dealing with public lands 'and those belonging to the Hativos. As a first step towards giving effect to these desires, tho following measures will, amongst others, bo laid before you :—A Bill to amend the law relating to electors qualified to vote at tho election of members of tho Houaoof Representatives, and a Bill to make provision for

tho representation of the people in the General Assembly, The measures, if they receive your sanction, will secure manhood suffrage on a residential qualification to Europeans, and will give the franchise to men of the Native race who are enrolled on a ratepayers’ roll or who [hold individual or undivided grants from the Crown for land to a certain value ; the effect of tho measures will also be to adjust representation as far as possible on the basis of the population, and to limit the duration of future Parliaments to three years. A measure will be submitted to you providing that in future Native reserve lands shall bo dealt with only by public auction or public tender, thereby abolishing the present monopoly of dealing in such, obtaining tho best price for tho Native owners, and giving to everyone an opportunity of competing for sales or leases. It is also under consideration how far this principle of public auction might bo fairly and beneficially applied to such Native lands as now remain unsurveyed, or the titles to which have not [yet been investigated by the Court. The disposal of such lands, with the consent of the Native owners under tho existing land laws of the colony, would greatly promote the increase of settlement, while at the same time it would secure to the Native owners the full value of their estates. Inquiries are now being made to ascertain tho opinions of the Natives generally, and, if acceptable to them, a Bill for this purpose will be laid .before you. The fanaticism which has prevailed on the West Coast of this island for some years past has, during the recess, assumed a somewhat alarming appearance. The necessary steps have been taken to secure the peace of the district, and it is possible that a peaceable solution of the difficulty will be found. Papers in reference to the matter will be laid before you. Tho negotiations with the Waikato Natives have been suspended, and ail offers of settlement have been withdrawn, so that any future negotiations must be commenced on a now bsris. The behaviour of Tawhiao and his people continues friendly and peaceful, and my advisers have good reason to believe that these relations will ho maintained. At the same time, the well-known Chief Rewi has given further impoitant proof of his good faith and loyalty. The attitude taken by him affords a guarantee for the continuance of peace; and the maintenance of this would, in a short time, lead to the opening up of the interior for settlement'genera l, y. Thejbehaviour of the Native people has been loyal and peaceful. Very great progress has been made in tho acquisition of Native lands as a public estate, especially in localities through which the proposed trunk lines of railway in the North Island are likely to pass. Gentlemen of the Honan of Rhpeesbntatives—

It will be gratifying to you to Iccrn that the revenue received under nearly all heads during the past year has exceeded the estimated amount. The excess under such heads have amounted to £I9O,CCD. Under the head of land revenue a largo deficiency has occurred, but it must bo borne in mind that, whilst a deficiency of the Customs revenue or of any revenue of that character, would be an absolute loss to the colony, which could never be replaced, a falling off of land revenue practically means only that so much less Crown lands than was calculated on has been sold during tho period in question. The Crown land, which is the capital of the country, sti’l remains for sale, and can he sold when the progress of settlement will give it an enhanced value. The policy which you sanctioned kit year of reserving Crown land from sale in districts through which railways are in course of formation until the : r construction is complete wifi, necessarily add to the value and to tho proceeds which may be anticipated from the sale of such lands. The falling off in the sale of Crown lands during the year may be attributed in part to the commercial depression which has prevailei throughout tho world, fortunately less in New Zealand than elsewhere ; but chiefly to the uostponement of the sale of confiscated lands.

The probable continuance during the current financial year of a decrease ia the land revenue renders it requisite in the opinion of my Government to impose fresh taxation to meet the requirements of the colony. In accordance with the prin ciple of equalising the incidence of fixation a measure will bo presented to you for imposing a tax on incomes. One result of that tax will be that, so soon as tha finance of the country admits of it being done, the Legislature can lesi • i Jand ultimately abolish all duties which now press heavily on tho necessaries of life and the springs of industry. Those railways which, under the authority of Parliament, have been completed between largo centres of population, are now yielding a yearly revenue, which not only meets the charge of their maintenance but pays a large proportion of the interest on the cost of their construction. The estimated gross revenue of those railways for the current year is £950,000. They have given a generally enhanced value to property throughout the colony, and have materially promoted the development of its resources. Encouraged by this experience, the Government propose to proceed vigorously with the construction of those lines which already have been or may hereafter bo authorised by Parliament, the completion of which will be of great advantage to the entire community, and for that purpose a measure will be submitted to yon authorising an additional loci of £5,C00,000 to be raised.

The estimates which wifi he laid before you have been props red with a careful regard for economy Honorable Legislative Councillors and gentlemen of tho Hone of Representatives, My advisers , are of opinion that the present system of county local self-govern-ment should bo placed on a better footing, and that this should be done without impairing the self-governing powers possessed by Road Boards and Municipalities. A Bill will, therefore, be submitted to you for enabling County Council to raise, under certain conditions, and subject to the assent of tho ratepayers, loans for public works such as can now be raised by municipalities. The B’U will contain provisions intended to encourage the union of two or more counties for execulirg such works, but it will not be sought to withhold the powers from any county standing alone, provided the various conditions are complied with.

It would be manifestly impossible for the Government to present during this session measures which would effect in their entirety all the objects which have been indicated. Nevertheless the measures which will be proposed are all in the direction which my advisers believe to be consistent with tho wishes of the country. Amongst other important Bills to be submitted to you, is a Bill to'smpend plurality of voting in cases of election to local governing bodies, whilst those bodies are subsidised out of the general revenue of the colony, a Bill if or the better management and tho maintenance of hospitals and charitable institutions, and a Bill to regulate the immigration of Chinese, in accordance with the intentions stated in my predecessor’s speech last session. A Royal Commission has been appointed to inquire into the subject of higher education. Papers on the subject will bo laid before you. I am confident that your careful attention will be bestowed on all measures which may be brought before you in tho interests of the whole colony. I desire to unite cordially with you in carrying out the wishes of our most Gracious Sovereign, and tho welfare and happiness of her Majesty’s subjects of both races in Now Zealand, and I humbly express my hope that Divine Providence may bless our endeavors to attain those benifioont ends.