Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 25 June 1898, Page 3

Parliament.

Parliament was opened by the Governor at 2.30 yesterday afternoon. The usual speech was made and the following programme was outlined : —

You will again be asked to devote your attention to that most complicated social problem — the provision, under certain conditions, of a pension for the deserving among our aged colonists. A Bill to make such provision will be submitted for your earnest and careful attention. A Bill will be submitted to you with the object of putting the municipal franchise on a more equitable basis, and giving the residents in the boroughs a voice in the management of affairs most vital to their welfare. Other Bills for consolidating and amending local government, and tor the removal of restrictions which prevent a fair decision being obtained in respect to loans to local bodies, will also be placed before Parliament. The inspection of meat for home consumption and export, and also the inspection of stock, are matters deserving your attention; and where it is found necessary to destroy cattle, my Advisers deem it equitable that the State should to some extent compensate the owners thereof. It is also considered advisable that dairies should be inspected ; that dairy produce should be graded ; and that financial assistance, duly safeguarded, should be rendered to the dairy industry. The exports of products under Government supervision and inspection has, where tried, proved beneficial. Bills treating of these matters will be submitted. You will also be invited to consider a Bill to enable the people to pronounce at the ballot-box by vote their decision upon resolutions of both Houses, and upon rejected Bills, thus preventing deadlocks such as have occurred in the past, and have delayed the progress of important reforms. Important amendments of the law affecting native lands and the method of dealing with them will be brought under your notice. Bills dealing with the protection of young persons, accident insurance, compensation to workmen, master and apprentice, the hours ot labour, wages protection, industrial conciliation and Arbitration, payment of jurors, the jury system, technical education, irrigation, the gum industry, and other important matters will also be laid before you. A reform of the constitution of the Legislative Council is deemed necessary in view of an obvious existing anomaly. To effect this yon will ba asked to legislate so as to place all the members on an equal footing by conditionally abolishing the life-tenure. An amendment of the law to prevent minorities returning members to Parliament is considered necessary, and a Bill remedying a defect in oar electoral system in this respect will demand your earnest attention.