GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 871, 16 July 1879, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRKSENTA.TIVES. Tuesday, July IT The House assembled ut 2.30 p.m. After prayers, members were summoned to attend his Excellency in the Legislative Council. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. Honourable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— It is a great pleasure to me, so shortly after my assumption of the Governorship of this colony, to meet the Legislative Council and the Representatives of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled. During the limited time which has elapsed since my arrival, I have endeavoured as far as possible to make myself acquainted with the capabilities and requirements of the country, 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 favourable. 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, the extent and rarity of the resources of the country, and the industry and enterprise which are developing them with such marvellous rapidity. I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to express to, you as representing both races of the people of New Zealand, my grateful acknowledgements for the welcome which has been extended to me, and to offer congratulations upon the fair, wealthy, and fertile country which Providence has given to you as an inheritance.

My responsible advisers fully recognise the desire that exists for the enactment of measures which will secure a more equal representation 0 f the people, for a more frequent return of members to their constituencies for re-election, for an equitable distribution of the burdens of taxation, and for a mode more just and judicious of dealing with public lands, and those belonging to the Natives. As a first step towards giving effect to these desires, the following measures will, amongst others, be laid before you :—A Bill to Amend the Law relating to Electors qualified to Vote at the Election of Members of the House of Representatives : and a Bill to make provision for the Representation of the People in the General Assembly. These measures, if they receive your sanction, will secure manhood suffrage on a residental qualification to Europeans, and will give franchise to men of the Native race who are enrolled on a ratepayers’ roll, or who hold individual or undivided grants from the Crown land to a certain value. The efiect of the 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 be dealt with r only by public auction, or public tender, thereby abolishing the present monopoly of dealing with such lands, securing the best price for the Native owners and giving to everyone an opportunity of competing for sales or leases. It is also under consideration how far this principle af public auction might be 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 the 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, Inqnries are now being made to ascertain the opinion of the Natives generally, and, if acceptable to them, a bill for this purpose will be laid before you. T he fanaticism which was prevailed on the West Coast of this island for some j years past lias during the recess, assumed a ; somewhat daring appearance. The necesi sary steps have been taken to secure the j peace of the district, and it is possible that a peaceful solution of tiie difficulty | will be found. Papers in reference to : this matter will be laid before yon. The j uegotations with the Waikato Natives i ha ve been suspended, and all offers of ; settlement have been withdrawn ; so that any fu'.uve uegotations must be commenced on a Hew basis. The behaviour of J’awadio and Ins people continues friendly and peaceful, and my advisers have good reason to believe these relations will be maintained. At the same time the well-known chief Re\si has given i further important proofs of his good faith

and loyalty. The attitude taken hy 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 generally. The behaviour of the Native people has been loyal and peaceful. Very great progress has been made in the acquisition of Native lands as public estate, especially in localities through which the proposed trunk lines of railway in the North Island are likely to pass. GENTLEMEN OP THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES— It will be gratifying to you to leafn 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 about £190,000. Under the head of Land Revenue, a large deficiency has occurred ; but it must be borne in mind that whilst a deficiency of the Customs revenue or of any revenue of this character would be an absolute loss to the colony, which could never be replaced, a falling of in land revenue practically means only that how much less Crown lands than was calculated on has been sold during the period in question. The Crown land, which is the capital of the country, still remains for sale, and can be sold when the progress of settlement will give it an enhanced value. The policy which you sanctioned last year- of reserving Crown land from sale in districts through which railways are in the course of formation, until their construction is complete, will necessarily add to the value and to the process which may be anticipated from the sale of such lands. The falling off in the sale of Crown land during the year many be attributed in part to the commercial depression which has prevailed throughout the world, fortunately less in New Zealand than

elsewhere, but chiefly to the postponement of the sale of confiscated land. The probable continuance during the current financial year of a decreased 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 principal of equalising the incidence of taxation. '

A measure will be presented to you imposing a tax on income. One result of that tax will be that so soon as the finances of the country admit of it being done, and the Legislature can lessen ultimately abolish, all duties which now press heavily on the necessaries of life and the springs of industry. Those railways which, under the authority of Parliament, have been completed between large centres of population are now yielding a yearly revenue which not only meets the charge of their maintenance, but pays a large proportionof the interest on the cost of their construction the estimated gross revenue of these railways for the current year is £950,000. They have given a greatly enhanced sale to property throughout the colony, and have materially promted the development of its resources. Encouraged by this experience, the Government propose to proceed vigorously with the construction of those lines which have already been, or may hereafter be, authorised by Parliament, the completion of which will be of great advantage to the entire community, and for that purpose a measure will be sudmitted to you, authorising an additional loan of £5,000,000 to be raised. The Estimates which will be laid before you have been prepared with a careful regard to economy. Honourable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives—

Sly advisers are of opinion that the present system of County local self-gov-ernment should be placed on a better footing; and that this shall 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 Councils to raise, under certain conditions and subject to the assent of ratepayers, loans for public works such as can now be raised for municipalities. The bill will contain provisions intended to encourage the union of two or more counties for executing such works ; built will not be sought to withhold the powers from any county standing alone, provided the various condtions are complied with.

It would bo manifestly the Government to present, during this session measures which would effect in their entirely 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 the wishes of the country. Amongst their important bills to

Submitted to yon are—A Bill to Suspend 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 for the better Management and the maintenance of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions ; and a Bill to regulate the immigration of Chinese. In accordance with the intention stated by my predecessors last session, a royal commission has been appointed to inquire into the subject of Higher Education. Papers on the subject will be laid before you. I am confident that your careful attention will bo bestowed on all measures which may be brought before you in the interests of the whole colony. I desire to unite cordially with you in carrying out the wishes of your most gracious Sovereign for the welfare and happiness of her Majcstys subjects of of both races in New Zealand, and humbly express my hope that Divine Providence may bless your endeavours to attain those beneficient ends. On returning the Speaker announced that he had been duly presented to his Excellency and approved of as Speaker. The follov ing new members were presented to the Speaker and took the oath 1— Messrs Hart and Studhohne Canteabury, and Adams, Nelson. The Convicts Prevention Introduction Bill was brought in by the Premier and read a first time. After a few notices of motion the House adjourned at 3.30 p.m.