SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2751, 28 June 1924, Page 4

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.

OPENINGsOF SESSION LAST THURSDAY.

Wellington June 20,

The Governor-General opened the session with the usual ceremonial to-day, when the Speech from the Throne was read by Viscount Jellieoe.

- After referring to the presence of Mi Massey at the Imperial Conference, the speech says:— “The resignation of Ilis Majesty's Government as the result of the General Election held shortly after the Imperial Conferences referred to was followed by the accession to power of an entirely new administration which has in some important. matters arrived at conclusions differing from the resolutions passed by those conferences. However much they may regret this result, my ministers recognise clearly that an Administration whose Prime Minister was not present and which was not otherwise represeted at the Imperial Conferences must necessarily he absolutely free 1o determine whether if will or will not support in Parliament resolutions passed at such conferences.

“The policy of this Dominion which provides special preferenre to British Empire trade was adopted without request on our part for reciprocal treatment and remains unaffected. My Ministers will propose an extension of that preference bv an increase in the proportion of British productions or manufactures which gives the title to the advantage in customs duties.”

Mention was also made of the visit of the Special Service Squadron and the opening of the Empire Exhibition. SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Very satisfactory progress has been made for the relief of discharged soldier settlers by the Dominion Board established by the legislation of last session. With the assistance of the district revaluation committees the hoard has been able to consider a very large number of applications and my Ministers trust it will be found that the process of revaluation and reduction of rent and interest and in some cases of capital, will enable the majority of our discharged soldiers settled on the land to look forward to success with renewed hopes. It has for some time been recognised that the main difliculty arises in cases where the land was purchased by the soldiers themselves from private individuals, with a first mortgage to the Crown for its advance and .subsidiary mortgages to the vendors. In a number of instances of this class the board lias been able to effect satisfactory arrangements as between the mortgagor and the second mortgagee. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS AND WORKERS. The policy established by the Act, together with the approaching termination of the general mortgages extension, necessitated the increase (provided by your Act of last session) of the maximum amount permitted under the State Advances Act from £2,000 to £3,500 for settlers and from £750 to £1,250 for workers and the increase by £2,250,000 of the authorisation of loan for advances to settlers and workers. Applications for advances have been received far in excess of the increased authorities. The success of the efforts of the State Advances Department to cope with the increased demand is exemplified by the fact that during the financial year ended 31st March, loans to the amount of £8,000,202 were authorised and £0,205,080 actually paid. Further moneys are being supplied to the office and a constant effort.is maintained to deal speedily with all applications. EXPORT CONTROL ACTS.

The effect of the Meat Export Control Act, followed by the Dairy Industry Control Act of your last session, has been satisfactory to the producers. The establishment of a board with statutory authority to negotiate for shipping and freights and to control the rate of supply to the markets abroad has already provided many beneficial results. The fruit producers of the Dominion have indicated a desire for fire establishment of a fruit industry control board with similar powers, and legislation with that object has been prepared and will be submitted for your consideration. MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD.

The Main Highways Board has been established aftn has done much valuable preliminary work including liie definition of a number of highways. You will be asked to consider ways and means for providing sullieienl funds to enable the important duties of the board to be carried out.

MORTGAGES EXTENSION ACTS.

The' Mortgages Extensions Acts expire at the end of the present year and it is not considered advisable to continue the automatic operation of extension beyond that period. The present Acts apply only to mortgages executed before October, IUI'J, and there is reason to believe that the great majority of those mortga«*;ejs hiLve already been the subject oil* amusement between tlu* several mortgagors and mortgagees, having the effect of excluding the statutory extension, but it is also believed that there arc a limited number of eases where the immediate removal of all protection might create considerable hardship to the mortgagors. My .Ministers will therefore submit to you legislation which, while allowing the general protection to expire at the end of the present year, will entitle mortgagors who can prove special hardships to apply to a Supreme Court judge for a further extension not exceeding

two years. Under the previous nets the mortgagee has always had Ilia right to apply to the Court for leave to exercise his power- I hough very lit 11 o advantage has been laken ol the statutes in that respect. Cm lev the measure to he proposed to you any mortgagor who desires extension is compelled to apply to the Coart for an opportunity to prove his case and to satisfy the Court that there arc special reasons in his case which justify a brief extension. ' LAND MEASURES.

Two measures of special importance which were in part before you last session will, my Ministers hope, he agreed to and become law during your present session. The first is a hill to consolidate and simplify the land laws of the Dominion and the second a bill to bring all lands of the Dominion under the provision of .the Land Transfer Act within a definite period with special provision for the issue of provisional certificates'in the case of infirm lilies. INCIDENCE OF TAXATION.

Mr Speaker and genllemon of (lie House of Representatives:—The Royal Commission appointed to consider the system and (he incidence of land and income taxation in New Zealand lias presenled a unanimous report which in due course will lie laid upon the fable of your House. The report of another commission appointed to consider the ellecf ol forestry reserves upon the revenues of local bodies has also been received |>v me and will be made available for your deliberation. . DOMINION’S FINANCES.

The. receipts of revenue during the last financial year have been satisfactory. Economy has been practised in all departments, file-result being that the accounts of the year closed with a surplus of £1,812,306. Proposals for certain remission of taxation will he submitted. . RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Honourable gentlemen of tho Legislative Council and gentlemen* of llie House of Representatives:— Two specially qualified gentlemen from England are at present engaged in investigating the conditions appertaining to the railways of New South Wales, and my Ministers (impose to take advantage of their presence in Australia to institute a Royal Commission of which they will lie members, to carry out an exhaustive inquiry into the. whole system and control of our New Zealand railways and to advise thereon. FISHING RIGHTS.

The subject of fishing rights in the interior water.-, of the Dominion has been under the consideration ol my Government, and legislation is necessary to prevent 1 lie sale of such rights whether in gross or as attached to riparian ownership, and especially to prevent the acquisition bv persons not resident in the Dominion of power to exclude others from certain waters. A Bill having these objects will be laid before you. Mv Ministers anticipate that you may find it necessary to postpone linn'lly setting the whole subject matter pending special investigation into the nature and existence of the rights hut that, you may consider it sufficient, in the meantime to prohibit any such dealings. OTHER LEGISLATION.

In addition to the legislation to which I have made special reference, you will have submilted for consideration along with other measuies Bills dealing with the stamp laws the Chatels Security Act, motor vehicles, copyrights, public works, education, defence, local bodies loans, war funds, police offences and public debt reduction.