Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1884. THE GOVERNOR'S SPECH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 225, 20 August 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1884. THE GOVERNOR'S SPECH.

The digest given m yesterday's issue contained all the salient features m the speech put into his Excellency's hands by his responsible advisers to deliver at the opening of the new Parliament. It sounds very well, and sets forth a good deal that is calculated to appeal favourably to the several constituencies m both Islands. And yet we venture to predict that it will not be received with satisfaction on the part of the great body of the electors. Railway undertakings are recommended, and blocks of land are proposed to be acquired for settlement, with other similar proposals, all indicative of an early application to the London money market. We recognize the Yogel element throughout, and we think the colony will be inclined to view any proposals of his with a certain amount of misgiving. It is almost certain that had similar proposals emanated from a Ministry differently constituted, they would to a greater extent have commanded the confidence of the country at large. Had the people either North or South been satisfied with the personal of the new Ministry, public opinion with regard to their policy would have been less critical than it now is certain to be. Parliament and the constituencies will be inclined to analyse the proposals of the new Cabinet with considerable minuteness as to detail, and perhaps go a little further and seek to discern the individual motives for each particular proposal. Perhaps is is not altogether fair to criticise m an adverse spirit a policy at present only submitted m outline, and the details of which have yet to be practically developed. But with all the " taking" features that have been elaborated, we doubt if the press of the Colony will receive with favour the speech delivered yesterday, m which there was no reference to such important features as the commercial depression, Native administration, annexation, federation, colonial defence, or many other subjects generally touched

upon on such occasions as the opening of a new Parliament. We shall await with considerable interest the tone of the Press generally with regard to the questions of policy, if such they can be called, which have conjointly emanated from the YogelStout administration, and which at first sight are calculated to favourably impress those who take a superficial view only of the several proposals so plausibly submitted to the public.