Opening of Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 25 June 1892, Page 2

Opening of Parliament.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. The third session of the eleventh Parliament of New Zealand was opened by the Governor, on Thursday, when his Excellency made the usual speech :— Honourable Grentleinen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House •of Representatives, — It gives me much pleasure to meet you in Parliament assembled bo soon after my arrival in New Zealand. I have also to express my pleasure at the warm and loyal welcome given me as Her Majesty's representative by the inhabitants of this city and district. I feel convinced that this is but an earnest of the cordial feeling of loyalty to our Sovereign entertained by "the whole people of the Colony— a feeling which found expression in the widespread grief and sympathy manifested some months since on the occasion of the sad and lamented death of Her Majesty's grandton, the Duke of Clarence. Since the prorogation of your Houses in September last, the statistics of arrivals and departures show a fair excess of the former over the latter. My Ministers are of opinion that this improved state of affairs is due, partly at least, to efforts made by the Bureau of Industries to accelerate the circulation of labour through the colony. The disposal and settlement of the waste lands of the Crown has gone on apace during the last twelve months. The returns to be laid before you by the Land Department, will, so my advisers think, prove that the rate of settlement in the colony is now chiefly limited by but three conditions : 1, The amount of Crown land still available for occupation. 2. The money in hand for spending on survey. 3. The willingness of Parliament to amend and improve such parts of the land laws as form, in the opinion of my Ministers, a hindrance rather than a help to rapid and genuine settlement. The purchase of Native lands has been carried on as speedily as financial considerations have permitted, and the demeanour of the Native tribes at various conferences witb members of the Government has been marked by a satisfactory inclination for fair discussion. The arrangement entered into with Tawhiao, by which he accepts a Government pension, marks, I trust, a removal to the last barrier to the peaceful development of that portion of the North Island which has, for a whole generation, been more or less isolated by what has been known as the "King movement." My Government has reoently been invited to send representatives to the proposed Australasian Conference, to consider the farther introduction of colonial labour into the northern continental colonies, but the invita f tion has not yet been accepted. Hon Gentlemen of the Legislative Council : — I deeply regret that your already diminished number have teen still further reduced by the deaths of three much esteemed members, by the resignation of a fourth, and by the temporary departure from the colony of others of your number. Gentlemen of the House of Repre • sentatives : — The estimates of revenue and expenditure , will be laid before you. The estimates of expenditure have been framed with strict regard to economy. Your will doubtless be gratified to learn that information, carefully gathered, points to the conclusion that the important reform to the direct taxation made by you last session will ba carried into effect without any loss to the revenue whatever. Hon Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : — Returns will be laid before you showing the results of the traffic in all branches of the railway. You will be asked to give your attention to the question of the future management of this large and valuable part of the national property. You will be asked again to consider Bills dealing with the land laws, the acquisition of private lands for settlement in small blocks, and for the relief of certain hard-pressed tenants of the Crown. The Electoral Bill as introduced last year will again be laid before you, with one very noticeable addition. The Juries Bill will this year contain certain further reforms, and you will be asked to pass a bill amending the law of bankruptcy, and another providing for the payment of members. There are also ready for your consideration bills dealing with civil servants and other employees of the State. Several measures relating to agricultural bills ; for amending the law relating to insurance companies and policies ; for dealing with unclaimed land and money ; for aiding the acquisition of the Native Land ; for dealing with the Native Land Court ; with the West Coast Reserves ; with technical education ; with the transfer of land ; with testamentary restrictions on property, as well as other bills relating to matters of public interest. In the opinion of my advisers, the time has now arrived for placing on the Statute

fiooka measure providing for the establishment of Boards of Coneililfc^ tiori and a Court) of Arbitratidn id cope with industrial disputes. Other measures, designed to improve the condition of the wage earners and workmen of the colony, will be laid before you. These matters I commit to your attention, assuring you of my earnest wish to aid your labours in the colony, and proving that your efforts may, with God's blessing, tend to the happiness and well-being of the people of New Zealand.