THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 274, 21 June 1889, Page 2

THE GOVERN OR'S SPEECH.

(By teegraph.) Thursday, 20th Jane. The third session of •■ the tenth Parliament of New Zealand-was this day opened by the Governor, when His Excel ency was pleased to make the following speech : — Hun. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives — It affords me g_eat pleasure; to meet you in Parliament assembled, so soon after my assumption of the Government of the Colony. The period which has elapsed since my arrival has been too short to permit of my visiting the various parts of the colony, so as to enable me to take a cotnpre • hensive view of its capabilities and resources, but what I have seen has favourably impressed me. During my stay in Auckland and my overland journey t » this city, and while 1 1 have resided here, I have noted with gratification the variety and extent of <he natural wealth of this Island and the euergy and industry which have been displayed in promoting the work of colonfca f ion. I have also been much gratified by the cordial and loyal reception that has been given to me as Her Majesty's Representative, at this and the other plaoii whioh I have Tinted.

It is alike my privilege and my pleasure on this the occasion of my first meeting you, to be able to congratulate the colony upon a much improved conditi nof affairs The efforts which have been made to reduce the cost of administering the Government and to increase the public revenue have fortuna ely been successful. lam glad to be able to state that the 'reductions have been , effected without in any way impair ing the efficiency of the public service. While my advisers claim for you and for themselves a part in bringing about this result, they recognise that it is greatly due to the happy change which has been going onin the circumstances of the country. The increase in yajue and volume of many of its productions has made the task of retrenchment easier, while it has had its effect in . adding to the revenue. There are encouraging signs that* the improvement which has taken place will continue. The higher prices which have been obtained for its chief exports, while adding to the capital and increasing the income of the country, are restoring the confidence in its resources which for a. time seemed to have been almost lost by many colonists. This is shown, not only by the large amount of capital expended in industries which have been found remunerative, but in the extent of land which has been purchased- from the Crown and in parts of the colony from .large owners, who bave subdivided their holdings into, convenient areas and offered them for . sale, a large addition has been made to the land brought into useful occupation. While confidence is being restored among colonists and a renewal of vigour shown in promoting our industries, New Zealand is coming to be regarded with greater favor by persons outside the colony who are in search of a home or of a place of re'ovt for recreation and health. Judjed to by. the value of its securities in <he London market, the colony's credit has from month to month during the past year steadily advanced in England. My Government, while restricting unremunerative expenditure, nave recognised the advantage of a judi eious outlay of money in developing the resources of the country as occasion required. They have there* fore in pursuance of the authority given by you, let for construction such works as they believed were 'ikely, either directly, or indirectly to be .remunerative. Detailed infonna. tion on this subject will be laid before you. One of the most pleasing manifestations of the increased confidence of the people in the Colony's future is furnished by the determination of the inhabitants of Otago to hold in Dunedin, an exhibition of industries and fine arts, and by the favourable ' response which they have received from other parts of the Colony, to their invitations to join in the undertaking, my advisers regard the enterprise as one likely to have a bene* fioial effect generally, and you will therefore be ask*d to sanction an arrangement which has been entered into by them, to assist in bringing the exhibition to a successful issue. During the recess my Government have brought into operation the Government Railway Act 1887, and have placed the railways under the management of three locally appointed officers. After careful inquiry my advisers came to the con. elusion that it was impossible to get from abriad, for the salary which was authorised, or indeed for any salary which they were prepared to ask.you to vote, a Chief Commissioner to whom they considered they would be justified in trusting the great powers rested in that officer, while on the other hand their experience of Mr McKerrow pointed to his being the person qualified to fill the office. My advisers believe that their choice of Commissioners will be justified by results. The sales of public land within the colony have been very satisfactory, both as to to the quantity disposed of , and the cla«s of pe. so as who have acquired it. Much of the land has been taken up in small areas, and by persons who are making their hom.ea upon it. The sales of runs whiak lave lately taken place, show that there is increased confidence in its great industry of wool. My Ministers are confident that by careful adminstration and by taking advantag at seasonable times, of opportunities for opening up the country, Ifew Zealand will soon be made to occupy that prominence us a home for a thriving population whioh her position, climate, and resources fit her to attain. Gentlemen of the House of Bepre, sentatives, the estimates of the levenue and expenditure for the current year will be brought before you at an early date, when they will, I have no doubt, receive your careful consideration. The estimates for expenditure have been prepared with due r&ra ■ d to economy. Honorable Gen lemen of the Legisla* tive Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— There will be laid before you for your consideration * number of bills, dealing with matters of great pablio interest. My advisers arc also of opinion that the time has come when the laws regulating the election of members of the House of Representatives should be reviewed and a new departure taken, A bill will be submitted for your consideration, which will provide for » mode of t leotion founded anon what if commonly known as the Hut

system. The b'll v ill alo amend the qual fication required im- unctions, make new provision as to the inouu of registration, and provide anwrto^rative means . . of purifying the rolls. My advisers be* >? lieve that there and the other p-ovisions which the bill contains will render it possible for public will to be expressed - by elections. My advisers believe that until a measure classifying the civil ser- ™ rants and providing for their promotion . and remuneration upon defined principles shall have been passed into law, the Civil Service can never be placed upon a . proper footing; they also believe that this question is intimately connected with the economical carrying of all public debts, and they have prepared a bill dealing with the question. A subject which has been foutid difficult to deal with in all countries, that of the man' | agement of Hospitals and the distribu- ™ tion of Charitable Aid, hag engaged much public, attention throughout the colony. A -biH has been prepared in accordance with what my advisers believe to be the principles which have been found by experience to ensure relief of deserving persons, and at the same time to avoid the danger of increasing the evil which is incident to indiscriminate aid. Your careful and patient consideration will be asked for this difficult subject. ' ;\ My advisers have had the property 'tax under their earnest consideration, while the state of the colony's finances renders it impossible to forego any con- . siderable part of the revenue derivable ' from this tax, they recognise that same of the provisions of the Property Assess* inent Acts ought to be amended, with a view to remove objections which expert* ence h*» shown can reasonably be made to them. There will therefore be sub/ mitted to you, a bill dealing with this important matter. Among other measures there will be presented to you for consideration, bills dealing with the law of copyright in New Zealand, for con* solidating and amending the law relating to patents and trade marks; for regu. . lating the registration of medical prac. titioners and constituting a medical council; for improving the mode of > registering transfers of personal pro. kj>erty, and for consolidating and amendVtag the law of Bankruptcy. f I commend all these matters to your careful consideration, and I assurs you you of my earnest desire to co-operate with yog in your efforts to promote the welfare ahd prosperity of the colony, and I (pray that your labours may by tbe blessing of God conduce to the wellbeing and the happiness of it* inhabitants.