OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1953, 28 May 1880, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

SECOND EDITION

The second session of tho seventh Parliament of Now Zaaland was opened by the Governor to-day at 230 p.m. The following ii tho text of tho Governor’s speech :

Honorable Legislative Councilloes and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives;

In accordance with what was understood to be tho wish of both branches of the legislature, I have called you together at an earlier period of tho year than usual, and after an interval of little more than five months since the last session of Parliament.

When I last met you the country was suffering from severe monetary pressure, and a general depression in the various branches of industry and trade. It is satisfactory for toe to bo able on the present occasion to congratulate you on the partial relief which has b'on experienced, and on the degree of confidence which has been revived by an abundant harvest and by the increased value of most of the staple products of the country. At the same time, the condition of the colony demands your careful consideration. I regret that there should be a considerable amount of distress among the working classes. 1 trust and believe this may bo only of a temporary character. It is engaging the serious attention of my Government, who have taken steps fer inqniringinto the means best calculated to encourage such local industries as will afford steady and remunerative employment to the people. In accordance with the decision of the Legislature, I appointed a Royal Commission to enquire into the alleged grievances of a portion of the Native race in respect to their lands on the West Coast of the North Island. The reports and recommendations of that Commission will be laid beforeyon. I trust that the measures, at snee firm and conciliatory, which have been adopted by my Government will issue in a permanent and satisfactory settlement of the difficulties which have arisen in that part of the colony. The determination which has been shown to redress grievances where they may be proved to exist, and at the same time to assert the supremacy of the Crown, cannot but favorably affect onr relations with the whole Maori race.

The steps which shoo'd be taken for the defence of the harbors of the colony have been carefully considered and ably reported on by oloncl Scratchley, an experienced officer of the Royal Engineers. Yon will be asked to consider the extent to which it will be advisable to give effect to his suggestions.

Gentlemen op the House of Repeesen. TATIVES—

Carefully prepared estimates of the revenue and expenditure for the ensuing twelve months will be laid before you. The facts elicited by the Commissioners whom I have appointed to enquire into the present position of the civil service will, I have no doubt, assist my responsible advisers in effecting substantial reductions in the cost of that service.

1 regret to have to announce to yon that a falling off has taken place during the past financial period in almost all the principal items of revenue. While this may, in some measure, be attributed to temporary causes, it would be unwise to ignore thefact that prior to the existing depression there had been a time of extraordinary inflation consequent upon the expenditure of large sums of borrowed money. With the lessening of the abnormal influx of foreign capital, the country must look for a diminution in the rate of progress it h»s recently been accustomed to, both in respect of its ordinary and territorial revenue. In these circumstances my advisers entertain no doubt as to the course to be pursued. Expenditure must be decreased, luxuries must bs curtailed, and the Public Works which have already been constmeted must be made more reproductive. It is to industry and economy that the colony has to look for the development of its resources and the maintenance of healthy progress. Yon will be asked to consider a plan which, it is believed, will place the finances of the local bodies on a satisfactory basis, and will enable those bodies to carry on their works in a selfreliant and independent manner.

Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:—

At a tima whan it is indispensable that the closest attention should be bestowed upon the state of our finances, upon the solution of grave questions of grave importance, upon the settlement of the waste lands, and upon the general economy of administration, it is not the intention of my Government to ask you to devote a longer time to the work of legislation than will be required to complete the constitutional measures already initiated, and to deal with pressing questions of social and administrative reform. Bills will be presented to you for consolidating and amending the Licensing Laws of the colony, for placing the administration of hospital and charitable aid on a sound and intelligible basis, for completing the changes in the Electoral Law which were commenced in the last session of Parliament, for re-adjust-ing the representation of the people, and for amending the laws affecting the dealing with Native lands aud the constitution of the Native Lauds Court.

The work of consolidating the statutes, as authorised by you, has made considerable progress, and a number of Bills, the result of the labors of the Commission, will be placed before yon. Tho necessity for revising the whole system of legal procedure now in force in the Supreme Court and in other Courts of the colony has forced itself upon the attention of my Government. The subject is too large to enter upon during the present session, but it is proposed to institute an enquiry, with the view of preparing such measures of reform as will render the administration of justice more speedy aud efficacious, as well as loss costly, than at present. The work of opening up the waste lands of the Crown for settlement has been rigorously prosecuted and blocks of laud for occupation up.n the deferred payment and village sectlonr nt systems have been set aside over a large portion of the colony. Tho desire which exists for the occupation of land in small holdings exhibits a determination on the part of the people of the colony to devote themselves steadily to the development of its resources. It is to be regretted that, in some parts of tho country, land of this class has been bought on terms with which tho purchasers have found it impossible to comply. The subject is under the carful consideration of my Government. In now leaving you to the labors of the session, I have to assure yon of my earnest desire to cooperate with your efforts to promote tho welfare of the country, and to express my hope that God’s blessing may rest upou your deliberations.