GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1144, 29 May 1880, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. * V THE GOVERNORS SPEECH. ■Wellington, May 28. Parliament met this day at two o’clock in the afternoon, when his Excellency the Governor delivered the following speech:— Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— In accordance with what was understood to be the wish of both branches of the legislature, I have called you together at an earlier period of the 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 liionetary pressure and a general depression in various branches of industry and trade. It is satisfactory to me to be able on the present occasion to congratulate you upon the partial relief which lias be6n experienced, and upon 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 ihe condition of the colony demands your careful consideration. I regret that there should be a considerable amount of distress among the working classes. I trust and .believe this may be only of a temporary character ; it is engaging the serious attention of my Government, who have taken steps for inquiring into 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 inquire into the alleged grievances of a portion of the Native race in respect to their lands on the West Coast of the htorth Island. The reports and recommendations of that commission will be layed before you. I trust that the measures, at once 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 shewn 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 our relations with the whole Maori race. The steps which should be taken foi? the defence of the harbors of the colony have been carefully considered and ably reported On by Colonel Scratchley, ah experienced officer of the Royal Engineers. You will be asked to consider the extent to which it will be advisable to give effect to these suggestions. Gentlemen of the House op Representatives— 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 inquire into the present position of the Civil Service will, I have no doubt, assist my responsible advisers in effecting substantial deductions in the coat of that service. I regret to have to announce to you that a falling off has taken place during the past financial period irt almost all the principal items of revenue. While this may in some measure be attributed to temporary cases, it would be unwise to ignore the fact 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 has 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 be curtailed ; the public works, which have always been conservative, must be more reproductive. It is industry and economy that the colony lias to look for a development of its resources avid the maintenance of a healthy progress. You will be asked to consider c , siaii ivhufh it is belle ved will place the

finances of the local bodies on a satisfac. tory basis, and will enable those bodies to carry on their works in a self-reliant and independent manner. Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of the House of RepresentativesAt a time when it is indispensable that the best attention should be bestowed on our finances, upon the solution of Native 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 legislating than will be required to complete the Constitutional measures already initiated, and to deal with pressing questions of special and administrative reform. Bills will be presented to you for consolidating and amending the licensing laws of the colony, for placing the administration of hospitals and charitable aid on a sound and intelligent basis, for completing the electoral laws which were commenced in the last session of Parliament, for readjusting the represention of the people, and for amending the laws affecting the dealing with Native lands, and the constituting of the Native Lands 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 also be placed before you; The necessity for revising the whole system of legal procedure now in force in the Supreme Court and in other courts of the colony lias 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 inquiry) with the view of preparing such measures of reform as, will render the administration of justice more speedy and effective, as well as less costly than at present; The work of opening up the waste lands' of the colony for settlement has been vigorously prosecuted, and blocks of land for occupa'tidn upon the deferred payment and Village settle ment systems, has been set aside over a large portion of the colony. The desire which exists for the occupation of land in small holdings exhibits a determination on the part of the people of the colohy td devote themselves steadily to the developof its resources. It is to be regretted that in some parts of the colony land of„ this class has been bought on terms with which the purchasers have found it impossible to occupy. The subject, is under the careful consideration of my Government. In now leaving you to the labors of the session, I have to assure yoii of my earnest desire to cooperate with your efforts to promote the welfare of the country, and to express my hope that God’s blessing may rest upon your deliberations;