The Governor's Speech.

Hastings Standard, Issue 433, 23 September 1897, Page 2

The Governor's Speech.

[Per Favor of Government.]

At the opening of Parliament this afternoon His Excellency the Governor was pleased to deliver the following speech : Hoxorabl/e Gentlemen of the Legislati ,'e Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives. As the representative of Her Most Gracious Majesty it is pleasing to me to meet you in Parliament assembled so soon altar my arrival in New Zealand. The cordial welcome tendered to me on my landing will ever be gratefully remembered. From what I have air :ady seen I am personally impressed with your safe and beautiful harbors and splendid lands, and with the manifest evidences of industrial progress, and I feel assured that with careful administration and reasonable opportunities the co'ony has a great future before it. She enthusiastic expressions of loyalty and devotion to Her Majesty on the part of the people in all the places so far visited by me have been most gratifying. I shall as time and opportunity permit visit different parts of the colony to make the acquaintance of the people, to see and admire the scenery for which New Zealand is famed, and to endeavor to obtain a personal knowledge of the productiveness of the soil, the progress that has been made in the establishment of industries, and in the richness and extent of the mineral deposits. Since you were last called together the brightest event in the history of the British nation has occurred. Representatives from nearly all parts of tho world took part in tlie Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Her Most Gracious Majesty 7 received from her subjects in all parts of the Empire congratulations on the completion of the 60th year of her glorious reign. The enthusiasm everywhere shown on the part of her subjects gave proof of their loyalty to the throne, their reverence and personal attachment to the Sovereign, and their appreciation of the benefits (political social and moral) that have accrued since Her Majesty's accession. 111 fitting recognition of the hospitality of the British Nation and as an evidence of their attachment to the Throne and the Royal Family my Ministers are of tliel opinion that the invitation to their Royaf Highnesses the Duke and Duchess o York to visit Australia and New Zealand should be renewed during the recess. The PrimnMinister, having with your concurrence accepted the invitation of the Secretary for State for the Colonies, visited London and took part in the Record Reign celebrations. The hearty and enthusiastic welcome accorded to all the Premiers and to the colonial defence force contingents by the vast concourse of people there assembled abundantly showed how closely we are united with those at Home and how strong are the bonds of affection existing between the psople sf the colonies and their kindred in the Mother Country-. Visits were made by the representatives of the several colonies to several of the principal towns in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and everywhere the greatest hospitality and goodwill was manifested. Amongst the important matters discussed between the Secretary of State and the Colonial Premiers were questions relating to closer trade, alien immigration, investment of trust funds in colonial securities, assimilation of commercial laws, improved cable communication, postal arrangements, and the Pacific Islands and Australasian defences. It was deemed advisable to publish only the decisions arrived at, together with the speeches of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the First Lord of the Admiralty. When received these will be laid before you. In the meantime it is with pleasure I inform you that the Imperial authorities have denounced such treaties as stood in thewwary r of the colonies regulating their own fiscal concerns and improving their commercial relati&ijs with the Mother Country. The treaties, however, cannot be annulled until a year after thay are denounced. I have further to inform you that the Home authorities do not intend to make any alterations respecting the Australasian squadron, and, unless Parliament otherwise, orders my advisers intend that the existing arrangements shall remain undisturbed. The Secretary of State has forwarded to the various colonial Governors a dispatch containing a report of the conference between the Colonial Office and colonial Premiers, in which he states that the Imperial Government desires to record its strong sense of the loyal and patriotic spirit shown by all the representatives of tlie colonies in the course of their discussions, and hopes that his colonial colleagues are satisfied that their visit has been productive of great advantage to the Empire and that the conferences which have been held resulted in such a free interchange of views as would have beneficial effect in securing complete mutual understanding between the colonies and the Mother Country. The despatch will be laid before yon in due course. The success that has attended the sending of a contingent of our defence forces to take part in the Diamond Jubilee celebra ions will, I hope, have removed the misgivings of those who hesitated to incur the necessary expense. The self sacrifice of those who formed the contingent undertaking, in the interests of the colony and Empire, sq long a journey and devoting so much of their time without fee or reward cannot be too highly commended. They were received with the greatest enthusiasm by the people at Home their efficiency, physique, and behaviour evoked much praise. Our kindred ill the Motherland were greatly pleased to welcome in the ranks of the contingent members of the Maori race, whose presence as Cfipirades in ai'ius testified to the outside world that the U*g races are welded together by a common sentiment of loyalty, which will for ever tend to promote the well - being and best interests of the colony. The Representative rifle team acquitted themselves piost creditably at Bisley, and the colony has every eeasun to he proud of their excellent performance, especially in the competition for the Kolapore Cup, in which they took second place. B,y the death of the Chief of the Ngatiporou tribe, the Hon Bopata Wahawaha, a remarkable figure in the history of the colony has been removed. He rendered valuable services to both races, and at any tiajs stood by the early settlers and eavfcd

the lives and property of im-m; o' ;hem. Major Bopato will « t v..r be grarfcfuiiy remembered by t > , , Jaiif* Tlie loss of lifV .xwd Homage to privauto property, roads and r«i?hror.< by Hoods. in portions of the Hawke* J..5 ; -y »nd Ransjitikei districts have naturally L'Vok?.:ii from all parts of the colony expressions of regret and sympathy*. Practical assistance has been rendered and to some extent the losses sustained have been lightened. The Government have given every help and is endeavoring so restore permanent railway communication as quickly as possible. The periodical recurrence of floods in these localities points to the necessity for adopting permanent mncdjgi measures.' Seeing the seriousness of situation the local authorities will no .Aoubt give the matter their best attention, and it will be for Parliament to decide how far they shall be assisted by the State. The outlook with respect to mining in the colony is very promising, and tho development of our mines and mineral resources is making satisfactory progress. Changes in the method of working, the application of new processes, and tlie substitution of modern machinery and appliances for such as had become obsolete caused a temporary stoppage and a consequent falling off in the returns from mines in work last year. The returns for the half-year ending 30th June exceed those of tho corresponding period last year, although not augmented to any appreciable extent by the proceeds of new mines. Me Speaker and Gentlemen of the House oe Representatives. Estimates showing the receipts and expenditure for the year have been prepared and will be submitted to you. The education expenditure, in particular, has increased considerably during the last six years following the growth of the population. Economy has been observed, having due regard to the growing requirements of the colony and of the public service. The necessary moneys will, my advisers hope, be cheerfully provided. As compared with last year's returns there is an increase from railways, customs, excise, stamps, land and incometax, and miscellaneous sources, but as the effect of a disastrous snowstorm two winters ago and of other causes there has been a failing off in respect to territorial revenue, particularly in the South Island. The frequent interruptions that occur in telegraph communication with Auckland and the northern parts of the colony causes great loss and inconvenience md renders it necessary that an improved service should be established. It will be admitted that tlierf e\isis a necessity for the establishment i>f a University College at Wellington. Owing to funds not having been provii. -<1 and other causes the existing legislati •» is a dead letter. A measure will be sul.uit-ted providing an endowment, but on such conditions and so safeguarded as to secure the students from other primary schools whose parents are not well to do the advantages of a university course. You will also be requested to pass further legislation for technical schools for the promotion of technical education. Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— One of the first measures you will be asked to pass is a Bill to provide for the protection of young girls, and for the prevention of an evil which it is painful to admit exists in the larger cities of tho colony. You will also be asked to repeal an undesirable Act now on our statute book relating to a subject which for sometime past has causea considerable controversy. You will also be invited to consider Bills to amend the constitution by abolishing the life tenures of members of the Legislative Council under certain conditions and by providing for the reference of resolutions of both Houses and rejected Bills to the direct vote of the people thereupon ; to limit the hours of labor of persons engaged in factories or in and about mines to eight hours ; to prevent usury ; to provide a probable system of insurance ; to amend the law relating to masters and apprentices; to extend the municipal franchise and consolidate and amend the law relating to municipal corporations ; to extend the operations of the Land for Settlement Act, and to insure satisfactory export of products, and other necessary measures will in due course be submitted for your attention. During last Parliament an Act was passed for the purpose of ascertaining what number of people there were in the colony who under certain conditions would claim pensions should the State decide to provide these for them. The returns will be laid before you and you will be asked to give your attention to this most important and necessary though, complicated social question and to the means by which provision is to be made for aged and deserving pensions without castng a stigma on the recipient. It having been proved that in certain portious of our colony beet root can be grown with satisfactory results my advisers consider that the time lias arrived when the production of sugar from New Zealand grown beet should be further encouraged. A Bill to amend and extend the present law will be submitted to you for your consideration. The trade and commercial prospects of the colony are good, and the settlement of the people on the land is progressing satisfactorily. During the recess there was a slight falling off in exports, but this was in value more than in volume. Oil the other hand a legitimate increase in imports took place, evidencing comparative prosperity increased population and enlarged spending power on the part of the people. The advance 011 the price of bank, insurance, gas, shipping, woollen, meat, dairy and building companies shares shows confidence, and proves that the financial mist which clouded the business horizon three years ago is fast disappearing and that larger investments are flowing into national and reproductive channels. I feel assured you will devote your best energies to the development of the resources of this richly endowed colony and to the promoting of the welfare and happiness of its inhabitants. It is my earnest desire to help and assist you. _ I now declare tin l * - ■ . of Pailiament open, and I trust that by the blessing of \lir"s* t\ (- • • -ceilings may advance the hiv-Wi of SBiaiucnt and redound to the credit o£ 'Jb£*jSlupm' and to the good oi the people Zealand.