OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 440, 17 February 1912, Page 5

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

J FIVE MILLION LOAN DISCUSSED | KOCTINE HCSINESS ONLY. HOUSE ADJOUKNS TILL TUESDAY. [MY TKI.KUUAIMI. I'IIKSS ASSOCIATION*.] Welington, Friday. The practical opening of Parliament took place at. 2.H0 to-day, when the Governor delivered his speech, to members of both branches of the Legislature in the Council Chambers. His Excellency, accompanied by bis aide-de-camp ami and Commandant of the Forces and staff oflieers, was saluted by a guard of honour as be arrived in Parliament grounds and immediately proceeded to the Council Chambers., which was thronged in every availablr space with eager spectators anxious to know the contents of the speech. The whole ceremony was one of unusual interest. As soon as members of the House, headed by Speaker Guinness, were; marshalled on the lloor of the Council Chamber;-. His Excellenev read, in clear tones, a speech placed in his hand by the Hon. .C Me Cowan, leader of the Council. The reading occupied nearly LT> minutes, and was a surprise to many who expected only brief mention to causes which had necessitated an early assembly of the Legislature. Af'ler the Speech members of the House returned to their own Chamber, and later the C ouncil met and the Hon. C-allan having given no! ice to move the Address-in-Heply, it adjourned until :.'...'M on Tuesday. Members of the House assembled :.!. 2.!',n and returned to their own Chamber. After listening to the Speech in the Council Mr Keed gave notice to move the Address-in-K.oply-JMr Massoy notified thai, lie would make an amendment, thereto. j

Sir Joseph Ward road a communication from the Hifvh ('omn>i«sioner showing details of cost, of raising the five million loan. In doinpr so he said that notwithstanding the fact that he had informed the last session that ho was not in possession of the figures if had since |o»on repeatedly asserted that, he was keeping the details back. If had also been asserted in different parts of tho country that the cost of the loan was in the region of A'i^WI,O(HI. Statements also implying the basest, innuendoes and insinuations. Sir Josejih then read a letter in question which he said reached Wellington on the Kith January this year. The figures showed expenses in eonnecfinn with raisin);- the loan to he .0.l 11, SKi -Is'.hi. and Sir Joseph stated that the net return was ,£ii(i (is : ! ..?d per XIUO. Mr Massey said iie did not, think the return contained the whole of those charges which should be rightly debited against the loan, and in particular lie referred to special provisions governing the conversion. I\Tr lierries said the original "slimato of the net, return of the lean was very much greater than was now given.

Sir Joseph Ward said he wan! d fo set- (ho gentlemen sitting opposite t-> tin; Treasury Peaches handling loans. They would make a holy moss of il. i i ever they got a chance to operate. It would make a bronze statue blush to h.ear of all the things they were going to do. Now that lie had given all detail.- in connection with Ih ■ loan the Opposition were no! satisfied, lie would take an opportunity later to disclose all information in (he pigeon holes to show the people what a public man had to put up with. For attempting to pull down puhiie life ho had never seen anything like the tactics of the Opposition. Ho would make a prediction, that the. Opposition would not raise any loan so successfully as ho had the live million lean. Sir Joseph Ward then moved that the clerk of the House in the presence of Messrs Eraser and Kva) ho authorised to open the parcel of the drey Lynn electoral rolls, as the. returning oflicer had inadvertently enclosed his marked office cony of the roll. Carried. Sir .Joseph Ward moved !!,.■ first reading of the. Expiring Haws- Cnntinuanere Hill pro forma, and also moved that the House [dace on record it:high appreciation of the s.ervir. <; rendered to the country by the iafe Mr Hugh Pollen, Under-Secretary of Internal AiTairp. Mr Massey seconded. A letter was then read from Colonel Porter expressing appreciation of the resolution, by the House last session in connection with the volunteer services Mr Fisher gave notice to introduce a Sunday Labour Hill, a Proportional Representation Hill, and Legislature Amendment Hill. Sir Joseph Ward gave notice to introduce on Tuesday a Local Oovernnieut Hill and a Legislative. Amendment Hill. The House, adjourned at :t.4T> p.m. until 'd.di) p.m. on Tuesday.

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. | l'Y '!'! 'LKCHAIMI. —I'Rl-'.SS ASSOCIATION.] ] Wellington, Friday. HH Excellency the (lovcrnoi', Lord Islington, delivered the customary speech at; iho opeiiini: of Parliament, in tin- Legislative Council Chamber at. :Mli> this afternoon. His l'>. e- 1 lone.y said : - "Hon. Gentlemen of the Lei;i:d:it ; v Council and Genthmen of (In- Mouse of Representatives. "Thi' circumstances which have arisen in consequence of the iasl pvne ral election have, in the opinion of my advisers, made it. rx podienf that I'ariiament. should he called iopeiher at an earlier date than usual. During the recess I have visited various parts, of the Dominion, ami made inysoH better acquainted with the people. .1 am clad to lie aide to cnngraiulafe you upon the continued prosperity of the country. The outlook is most promising, and contentment and hap piness obtain everywhere. The very great and ditlic.ult. question of revisit'!', our local government law has had tne closest attention of my advisers, and , a Bill will be introduced providing a

completely new and comprehensive scheme under which, amongst many other reforms, the finances of local bodies, ;wt(l the important question of the coiHtruelion and maintenance of roads, will be placed on a more stable ami salisfarlm y fooling. elected upper house. This scheme will bo made the basis lor radical changes in the constitution of the Lu'i-tlafive Council, and a Bill to can v 'his into effect will be introduced. 1 ImliT this measure a propor--1 ion of (hi', members will be elected by (he members of the provincial councils (<> be created by the new Local Government Hill. A proportion

will lie elected by the members of the House of Kepresentalives, and a certain number will be nominated by the Government. The Hill will be referred to Ihe l.'c;;l public bodies for consideration mid report. LAND Loi: SETTLEMENT. My :ni\ I'.ers consider that owing to the rapid disappearance of the laßt remnants of unalienated Crown lands, legislation must, be passed providing for (lie ,iiiiiv eiiVetivo .subdivision for closer sol (lemeut purposes of freehold '■stales of .'.'.".'..(Kin unimproved valuo ami up vards. To this end a Hill will be inli ndnred, gi vmg the Crown power to take ihese estates e.nmpulsorily at a price lo be fixed by the Land Purchase Hoard. The Hill will provide thai, the land so resumed shall be Bold to small settlers under a deferred payment '\ lem. and, in tha event of the proceeds exceeding the price paid to the owners for the land, Buch excess, with interest, will be paid to him: or, should the price realised he Kss. (hen the deficiency will be deducted ir.un the amount payable to the own- r.

rNnUTiriK!) NATIVR LANDS. In order lo promote the speedier soft,lenient, of unoccupied native landH, my :ul\ 'i: tv:i doom if necessary to sl.ronoi.l.oti the stailini: of the Nafivi Lands ('oiirls and of Native Land Surveys. Provision will lei made whereby surplus s-.i ive lands ;:n:i 11 bo sold or leased mi behaif of the native; OWIKTM lillolie.il I he (YOA'M 0!) the. DCSt trrms obtainable. Sash provision will oporalo <-onei;i i-enlly with a vigoroiJß of ih-< purchase by the drinvi; "t iiHi'ios native lands. In order thai the areas reserved for tho n?i' and occii|i:il ion of the. Maori owners shall ho effectively occupied by them, oiiiirr proper safeguards, to a:;./.!:.'." Miimu luK.m'ially. :uid. with advice aoii 1 s-d ructions in modern methods of !,nii!inc. More stringent provision:- w<H in- made to dell with (lie ac,i',rrc.:i!ion of landed estates in conl.i a\tiil ion of the law, and power wili I r c.iv<- (ho ("nnrta to forfeit all iaii.i which lon been aggregated in breach o! the iaw. unless the Court i» fuii\- satisfied i.haf the broach was unin'iontiooal. The. existing system.

v.iili roc.a: i to Hie limitation of area will be n vv rd., and provision will bo made lor : tanda'-ds of living areas, |,a: rd, nol ;m i eiy upon the productiveiir;::, |,oi also noon the poßitio'i, roadmc. cii-.. e.nd all other main considerations nlVccting the areas in question. These slan lards will he so fixed as to

■ -iw an :\r<-.\ which, properly worked, wiii provide on a safe average ampin [iiniii:: of subsistence for n man, his wife, and family, and :i sufficient margin foi- 'iiiviiii-, with a view to inde-|M-mi<>v<'o. Legislation will bo introduced in prevent (ho present trafficking ■ :;i vhoun leases, and provision wul in- made (hat where a tenant sells

hi:: 1,. :1: :r wit hail satisfactory C3UBO before a e -liain number of years has expired, a ;.ori me, of the price, he ob!:iin:: for tin- p.nodwi'l of it will 1)0 taken b-, :i.i Siaie. and the shorter tho

p, ried lie- !' nae! retains Ilia It'UHO tllO largre the :li::)f ! he St a! e will receive.