PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 147, 25 June 1914, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

OPENED THIS AFTERNOON. .THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. Parliament was opened by his Excellency the Governor tins, atterinioon. Lord Liverpool delivered the following Speech from the Throne:-— Honorable gentlemen of the Legisla- , tive Council and gentlemen ot the House of Representatives. 1 It is with siucorc pleasure that J again moot you in Parliament .assembled- During .tho recess 1. have visited many parts of the Dominion pursuits are prospering, industries .are flourishing, and the conditions ot labor which exist in the Dominion are 'in tho mam smacient to . provide reasonable comfort and happiness for the prudent worker. It is gratifying , ■to be able to congratulate you once 1 more upon the remarkable prosperity ; .of tho country. Trade, as evidenced iby the Customs returns, has- been unexampled. The value ot theexWbrts from our shores has reached an unprecedented height, and the imports represent, in moneys worth aa amount never before equalled. ■Oil every hand there are signs ot advancement. Settlement of the land is progt-e&sing rapidly, development is proceeding apace, and the dominion is steadily becoming a 'country' in which the small holder pfedoininates. ■ Tie intercourse which I have ; e«joyed with the "people has served to confirm my confidence .-in their loyalty to the throne and devotion to our most gracious Sovereign. T.t is fitting that I should, mention the loss sustained by her Royal ti^gh■aiess the Princoss Louise in the death of. her husband, his Grace the Duke of'-Arcyle. I cabled the condolences 1 of my Government and the people or New Zealand, a;nd they have been duly 'acknowledged.. . ; ■? I have recently visited the islands ,0! the Cook group, which form part of the Dominion of New Zealand,, and whs accompanied by the Hon. ■Ur Pxjmare, the Minister m charge of ■the -administration of the glands, i am satisfied tiiat the, information • obtained during my visit will enable nry Ministers to imp rove the comlition of these possessions to the L>o- ■ minion. The measures to be proposed to you by my m relation to education "#rf^kplaihedi and were received withrg^feat satisfaction by the natives thrtfifghout the v islands. Mv Ministers recognise the respongibilitv which the Government. ot_ the Dominion has assumed in '.reßara to the islands; and have had under their consideration the legisUtion iias been enacted in past years"/, lhej propose to submit to you a measure by which these laws will be recast, j-avised, and consolidated. . _ It is with satisfaction that I am üble to announce that ;the< . smallpox epidemic which broke out- in this dominion last yeSTr has bee^ coped Avjih successfully. Every effort is beimg made to prevent the. recrudescence of this disease. ;„ . . The San Francisco mail service -contract, which terminated' in- March ■ last,-has-been renewed for a period ;^t five years from the Ist April,-, 1914. Provisibn has been made tor a considerable reduction in the rate ot fsei"ht of butter to America by both ' the Vancouver and the San Francisco , routes, and-^ to meet the expected increased demand foe space two larger steamers of impi-oved tyi>e are to be placed in thp service from the 61st ■ JDecember, 1915. ,■ '■ ',' During the past year three new wireless telegraph stations" have been leaiablished—two high-power stations di i Awanui and Awai'uu, aiid-a lowpower station .at the Chatham ■' 'OSlands. ..'. "■ i. " .■.': ,v' .';?■ 'i-, „ ~-" Under the 'land •legislatiori of the last two sessions.full effect is being mren to the intention, of Parliament. ■ Tenants of Crown and settlement land liave been enabled to -acquire'the fee simple of their holdings. The^ subdivision of . privately-owned estates is pi-ocfeeding rapidly. Th© tenures of land (including land within " mming -dlistricts) have been improved: _i a<J--toral -Lanant* have been granted the right to elect between accepting tu!J valuation for improvements at the •termination of exiating licenses and a new license over the whole or part oi • their run& at a revised, rental, and in ■ all parts of the. country closer settlemsnt has been promoted. Legislation authoriaiiig tlie constitution oi special road districts, providing as it ■does for the expenditure of moneys received from the lands upon % -construction of roads and bridges, is ranch appreciated, and will be oi great value to settlers HVmg in .reanote and isolated parts 4 of the oo'untiy. Crown lands ot the Dominion' which still remain unoccupied are being surveyed and opened 101 selection as expeditiously as circumstances permit. During the last financial year there lias been a gratifying increase in the revenue •derived from Crown land and land ior settlement estates, the amount received having exceeded all previous ■■ records. . ." I deeply regret (that smce 1 last mot you the- Dominion has lost -.tarough death the yaluable services of Sir William Russell, a Member oi tlie Legislative Council, and Mi Oeorgo Laurenson, M.P. for Lytteltec).: ■ . The closing months of the year llXk were marred by an industrial striK^lo which seriously menaced the . .taV'ul'rT ?md prosperity of 'the country. At tho corn inducement of the trouble .sowics of violence were frequently wit- .. ncv«sed, and broaches of the law were oi d-.ily occurrence; but thanks _tc the efneiency of the permanent police and 10 the admirable public spirit dis-playr-t! by tho citizens of the Dominion wiio proffered their services as foot and mounted special constables, pca-o j>T!'d order were speedily restored, the produce of the country .was shipped without undue delay to tho m:\rkcts of the world, and a state «£ iur!uf,trial quiet was re-established. Th? problem at the cost of living hug engaged the attention, of my ad--vigevH during the recess, and certain prT>po- ;'r. relating to this' question will h" placed before j'ou for ccn-TV;>-'p I la.st met you the conditions ©£ the principal money markets of. tho w:<jri-J uinde it difficult to obtain fl*a<i..'i«' assistance for public works an^! rvht-v services. lam pleased to b* ab!(: to announce that during tho la^jl O:i.'-j!:>-".al year circumstances combined i'o make money more-plentiful, aai?i •:•■■: ;;dvisers we-ro able to procure at ft---.-liable rattes .sums of money s«fL''.:i'.r.!tt to meet the general requirem4i!; > ■■>',' the Dominion,, besides urraf).;'i:.j, i'or tlie icdemption, renewal, amvl ' -in, -ci-sion of maturing loans jrai&crd i;i past years.

Tho completion of the Mam Trunk i] I'no between Wellington and Auck- 1; la ml "has tended to open up large v areas of native and Crown lands tuao y> were lying unproductive; but to-day 1; the settlers " upon these and other • v lands in the Dominion, through want t of adequate roads and railways, are a working under disadvantageous con- a ditions. My advisers are of opinion r. (that no policy of land settlement is v sound which does not include a pro- t gressive scheme for road construe- i tion, and propose to submit for your 1 consideration a measure which makes c provision for the creation or satisractorv means of communication in iso- c lated and badly roaded districts. 3 Further, the remarkable growth, oi 1 settlement and the rapid expansion i of the business of the country during I recent years have convinced my 1 Ministers of the necessity for a strong j and vigorous policy of public works 1 construction and the speedy completion of the more important lines oi railway now in progress. ,1 Tlie'Tongariro national park, which [ lies half-way between Wellington and Auckland, comprising .62,300 . ■ acres,' and containing withui its 1 boundaries interesting mountain ( ; scenery and other natural attractions, ! can vvith very little expenditure be j f made one of the most popular hoh- ; day resorts in ithe Dominion. In order j that this object may be achieved it; is ; intended so to alter the constitution | of the present Board as to provide | for the' inclusion of persons specially 5 interested in ;the conservation of the natural beauties of New Zealand. Mr Speaker and gentlemen of the House of Representatives. The Estimates for the year have been framed with due regard to economy, consistent with efficiency, and will be duly laid before you. Notwithstanding the non-inclusion of the proceeds of land sales and the loss of railway income consequent on the dislocation of industries by the strike and on the smallpox epidemic, the public revenue for the "past financial; year has shown a substantial increase, i Full information regarding the re- j cent loan transactions will be placed before you The ever-increasing .demand on the part, of the public for treatment in our general hospitals will entail additional expenditure upon buildings for the. reception of patients and for the maintenance of patients admitted to those institutions. It has been recognised for many years that the system upon which subsidies have been paid and grants from public funds have'been- made to local bodies for development purposes is objectionable, unbusinesslike, and uneconomical. A Bill will be introduced containing provisions which, ift is hoped, will ensure' a fairer apportionment and a more careful expenditure of these public moneys. Honorable gentlemen of the Legislative Council and gentlemen of the House of Representatives. A Bill providing for the election, ot Members of the Legislative Council by the system of.proportional representa<tion on large electoral divisions was introduced "in the Legislative Council in the second session of the year 1912, but was then postponed by tho Council for consideration in the following year.' In the same session the House 1 of Representatives passed a resolution j affirming the necessity for reform of j the Constitution in the direction ptfo- ] posed by the session of 1903. Another Bill to the same effect, modified in some of its provisions, was introduced in the Legislative Council, but failed to obtain the approval of the Council. The Bill of 1913 will again be intro- , duoed during your present session in the Legislative Council. At the com- ■ mencement of the session of 1913 the 1 Legislative Council consisted of forty-. , two Members. On the Ist July, 19-14, if no new1 appointments were now made, the number of Members of. the Council would be reduced by effluxion iof the; terms of appointment and by death tto twenty-eight, of whom seven hold appointments for life. It is therefore found .necessary to, intake 1 further p resent • appointments, not only for the purpose of passing into law the Bill reforming the constitution of the Council but also f,or due s consideration of all legislation s=ubmitted to both Houses of Parliament. i Inasmuch as the proposed change in : constitution has been proposed by ; the Legislative Council under the sfs- • sion immediately preceding a general > election^ my advisers, following iahe [ constitutional precedent of the Act by > which the abolition of the provinces 1, was effected in the year 1876, now ■ propose that the Legislative Council 1 Act shall become law during the pre- • sent session, but that its comiinenoe- - ment shall be postponed until after r the session of Parliament to be held > ■in the year 1915. <$ " •> , During the past year the training )' of the land forces of the Dominion 5 has made satisfactory progress. At ■ the invitation of the Government l J General Sir lan Hamilton, Inspector- > \ General of Overseas Forces, recently - j visited the* Dominion and inspected I every unit of the citizen army and : , every cadet corps. The units of the • ' field foTOea were assembled for their ; annual training. His inspection in 1 five camps enabled him to observe the > .organisation of the troops, the qualiI fication of the higher commanders and ; staffs, and the practice of the three i arms in field operations. The conduct iot the men of the citizen, airniy and of : the cadets, at the Territorial camps, ; at- the cadet concentrations, and duri ing the journeys by rail and sea to t and from the places of assemblage was ■as -a-rule exemplary. Tlie season was - I late, and the weather was -generally"; I unfavorable; yet notwithstanding I these disadvantageous conditions the I spirit of the troops and cadets'was all > that could lie desired, and afforded . valuable testimony to the benefits of . the training. The assembling of the . units of the Territorial forces in camp . and all cadet companies for inspection >at the same time taxed the organisia- > tion and administrative machinery of . ; the Defence and Railway DepartL'■ monts, and it was owing to the zeal , and energy and unceasing hard work •of those responsible for the district [ ' and local arrangements that it'was • : rendered possible. Tlie valuable , criticisms and suggestions which Sir , lan Hamilton made, and tho advico which he tendered, are receiving. the consideration of the Government. ; i The defence of the Pacific, a problem of great difficulty, lias on grossed the attention of my advisers during the^reee-ss, and in accordance with the , decision communicated to you during your last session of Parliament Capt'.. Hull Thompson has been appointed adviser to tlio Government, on naval matters, and to command the train-ing-ship lent by the Admiralty. It is probable that during the forthcoming year a conference on naval affairs, to •which the Government of. New Zear- i bnd lias already been invited to .««ud representatives, will be convened by •, the Imperial Government. i ; Seven months ago the present i general manager of tlie Dominion yni'vays commenced his now duties. .He has sine© been engaged in inspecfr-

ng the railway system and its work- ' :\is. In the- comprehensive report ipon this large State undertaking « vhieli tlie general manager is prepar- . np lie is making recommendations .vhicli, if given effect to, v."ill make ■ ;he railways of the country more valu- ( ible to the commercial communityaid more attractive to the travelling A public. To carry into effect the lm- . ] port-ant works which must be under- ■ taken to ensure proper and safe work- ] ing of the railways of the Dominion : proposals will be submitted for con- i siclera.tion. . . [ Tn accordance with the legislation j of last session a Board of Agriculture ; has been constituted, and lias com- j menoed its .duties. The Board con- i sists of practical, experienced agnc.ul- j turists, and it is confidently expected- j thai by its "interest and advice the j agricultural industry will be greatly j benefited. i The system of workers' homes-".has ; been extended to the country dis- ( tricta. It is intended to submit legis- i lation providing that the area of land attached to workers' homes shall in all j ■such ca^es'be regulated according to i eauality of producing capacity, the ob~ 5 Wet of my advisers being to give as ; many workers as possible an opportunity of owning their own homes at reasonable prices and on easy terms, wilih land surrounding each home, appropriate to the locality in which it is situated. . The state of the education system of the Dominion-has been closely investigated by a Parliamentary Committee and by members of the Commission, and as a result of their deliberations my advisers have decided to lay before you a Bill which, while improving the conditions of employment or ■ teachers, aims also at effecting a. I general advance in the methods of i education. The decrease of mfanMe mortality in New Zealand is most gratifying, and fully justifies the assistance be- j ing afforded by the Government to the j Society for the Health of Women and : Children 'in its efforts to disseminate, Lby its literature and by the training of nurssiH and midwives, a wider knowledge of all that pertains to the successful rearing of infante. The visit of a party of Members of tho Imperial Parliament to New Zealand during your last session was welcomed by myself <and my advisers as evidencing the general desire, in which I am well assured you .10m, for closer associations of the Parliaments of the Empire. My Ministers were enabled to confer with Lord Emmott, tinder-Secretary of State for the Colonies, who was chairman of the party oi' ' visitors, upon several questions .which"'are of interest,to both GoveTnme.nt«. • Early this year New Zealand welcomed at Auckland the tenth session of the Australasian Medical Congress.. Mv advisers are giving earnest consideration to the conclusions arrived at by the Congress. During the present year the British Asociation will hold, its meeting in Australia. '' It has been; .arranged'■ that some of the distinguished scientific gentlemen jattending the meeting shall afterwards visit New Zealand and deliver1 addresses' on their special subjects. ; During next year a great exhibition will be held at San Francisco, and the Dominion has been invited by the Government of the United States to take part in .their national event. My Ministers have made arrangements for the proper representation of New Zealand, and there is reason to believe that this country will, as a result, reap substantial commercial advantage. During the recess considerable discussion has taken place upon two subjects in respect of which, it is apparent, public opinion is largely divided: Firstly, the amendment of the licensing laws; secondly, the request that definite questions relating to Bible-reading in schools shall be submitted to the electors by referendum at the ensuing general election. You will have an opportunity during the present session of arriving at a conclusion upon both issues.. ■\Measures relating to the following further subjects have been prepared, arid will be placed before you. for consideration: Inspection of machinery, masters and apprentices, motor regulation and license, iron and steel industry, fruit preserving industry, inscription of loans, fire brigades, law of libel, local authorities, local elections, rating, land, laws, contraqtors' and workmen's liens, public service superannuation, New Zealand University, Victoria College Council, and other matters. ... ' I commend all the matters to which I have referred to your careful consideration, and I trust that under Divine providence your efforts to promote the happiness and well-being of the people of New Zealand may be successful.