THE GOVERNOR SPEECH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue II, 1 June 1880, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR SPEECH.

. «. His Excellency the Governor opened Par linment on Friday in person, and delivered the following speech :— Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of the House of RIU'RESEXTATIVEa — In accordance with what wms 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 sve months since the last Session of Parliament. When I la«t met you, the ro»ntry was suffering from severe monetary pressure and a general depression in various branches of industry und trade. It is satisfactory to me to be able, on the present occasion, to congratulate you upon the partial relief which lins been experienced, and upon the degree of confidence which has been re \ived. by an abundant harvest, and by the increased value of most of the staple products of the cointrv. At the same tiny, the condition of the* colony demands your careful consideration. T regret that there should be a considerable amount of distress among the working classes. I trust and believe thi3 may bo only of a temporary chancier. It is engaging the serious attention of my Government, who have token 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 Itoyal Commission to enquire into the alleged grievances of a portion of the Native race in respect to their lands on the West Coast of the North Island. The reports and recommendations of that Commission will be laid before you. I trust th»t 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 whi'-h have arisen in that part -if the colony. The determination which has been shown to redress grievances where they may be proved to exist, and at the same time to assert the supremacy of the Crown, cannot b'lt favorably affect our relations with tho whole Maori race. The steps which should be taken for the defence of the harbours cf the eohny have been carefully considered and ably reported on by Colonel Scra'chley, an experienced officer "of the Royal Engineers. You will be nsUoi to consider the extent to which it will be advisable to give etfect to his suggestions. Gentlemen of the House or REPRESENTATIVES— Carefully prepared estimates of the revonue and expenditure for the ensuing twelve months will be laid before you. The facts elicted by the Commissioners whom I have appointed to enquire into the presant position of the Civil Service will, I have no doubt, assist my responsible advisers in effecting substantial reductions in the cost of that service. I regret to have to announce to you that a falling off has taken place during the past financial year in almost all the principal items of revenue. While this mly iv some measures be attributed to temporary causes, it would be unwise to ignore the foot that, prior to the existing depression, there had been a time of extraordinary inflation, consequent upon the exper diture of lar«re sums of borrowed money, with the lessening of abnormal influx of foreign capital. The country must look for diminution in the rate of progress it has recently been accustomed to, both in respect of its ordinary and territorial revenue. In these circumstimces my advisers entertain no doubt as to the aourse to be persued. Expenditure must be decreased, and luxuries must be curtailed. The public woiks which h .ye already been constructed must be made more reproductive. It is to industry and economy that the colony has to look for a development of its res-juraes, and the maiutenance of a healthy progress. You will bo asked to consider a plan which it is bo leived will place the finances of the local board br>dio« on a satisfactory basis, and will enable those bodies to carry on their work in a self-reliant and independent manner. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentleman of the House of Übpkb--9entatives — At a time when it is indispensable that tho closet attention should bo bestowed upon tho state of our finances, upon the solution of Native questions of grave importance, upon the settlement of the wasto lands, nnd upon the geuenil economy of administration, it is not the intention of my Government to ask you to devote a longer time to the work of legislation th<m will bo required to complete the constitutional measures already initiated, and to deal with pressing: questions of social and administrative reform. Bills will be pro-

ented to you for consolidating and imonrliir,' tho licensin;? laws of the colony: For placing the administration of hospitals ami charitable aid oa a sound and intelligible basis ; for completing the changes in. the electoral laws which were commenced h the l«sfc Session of Parliamont; for readjusting the representation pf the peopte; and for amending the laws »ff<il^i^£jjjpfc dealing with native lands, ami the eonsHlution of ihe Native Lands Court. The work of consolidating the Statutes as authored by you, has m-ido considerable progress, and a number of bills— the result of the labours of the Commission— will ulso ba placed before you The nece.-aity for revising the whole system of \bgn\ procedure n<.\v in fo» - 3e in the Supreme Court, antl in other courts of ihe colony, was forced upon the attention of my Gi.vorninent. The subject is t>o large to enter upon during the present but it 19 proposed to institute an > nqniry, with the view of preparing such moasnrea of ref- m as will make tho administration of justice more speedy and efficacious, is well as has cosily than at presenr, The work of opening up the waste land.- of the colony for settlement has been vigorously proaecu'ed, and blocks of bind for occupation upon the deferred payment and village settlement systems, haro been set aside over a large portion of Ihe colony. The desire which exists for the occupation of land in small firm holdings exhibits a"determin ition on the part of the people of the colony to devote themselves steadily to the development of its resources. It is to bo regret' ed that i 1 aorao parts of the country land of this class has been bought on terms with which tho purchasers have found it impossible to comply. Th^ subject is under the careful consideration of my Government. In now leaving you to the labours of the Session, I have, to assure you of my earnest desire to co-operate with you in your efforts to promote the welfare of the country, and to "express my hope that God's blessing may rest upon your deliberations.