GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 78, 27 September 1879, Page 3

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

'HONOBAKLB lißaiSl/AXITS/.. ,CpTT}TOiIJiPB3i : ;-... AH©.-; Q-BNTIiBMEir OF TE| HOTTBB 6/ EEPBESBHa?ATreEB,-i^..__.,-L _....;.... In opening" tlita .ther Seventh Parliament of New- Zealand; -I. am sure you will unite with, me* in an earnest; hope that the new Parliament 'may^.be distinguished for the enactment of such measures as shall De|most conducive towards promotihg'the happiness' and welfare of- the people. We have, reached what Is "perhaps, as, yet,themost ! important epoch m the history of the colony, and the future,will very.- much depend upon the impress which may j ! be stJamped .upon it by_ the. action, of this Parliament. : It it( matter- 'for. . congratu.-. lation tb^t ' notwithßtandiiigi> the. , savera monetary. • .pressure " and commercial gloom, whujH'have, f or: Borne time past, prevailed throfogbiPut the; w^qrld; the position of ithislcolonyis.jthorpughly sound. In accordance vnth Constitutional usa^e,' I'recently allowed an appeal, to' the. electors of the colony, and they have, availed theme lives of that opportunity to make manir f -at their wishes with regard to/measures ofgreat importance which it'v was- 'proposed should be enSsted as part of the permanent coristitutioiiai law. of the colony:' The elections having been completed , I have, at the .earliest pojjsible'period, called : - you together to avail myaelf of your, advice and assistance m considering these measures, m carrying on >the* 'tteceisarv' legislation of- thecourifcry. My- responsible advisers—following up.' the line pf policy 'which was indicated Ruling the last Session of the. late. i ' Parliament—- have prepared' measured giving effect to the vjews which v were then iniade, | .known • to! thej country.,- . -Aimongst" tliese there : will be submitted, ip you a Bill to amend the: law relating to" electors qualified * to vote, at the! election 6f for; the' Hoiise of Representative^ ; Inibhis measure the.brpwli principle is adopted that everyone wid p^yst4xes,and'i*3 otherwise affected by legislation^ Has a right to representation. A Bill whicTrwill also jijliiinv your attention is one which proposes tbsreduce the longest .period for; which the Houserof Representatives can iit from five to 'three: ;year3. This enactment iender ieach momber more directly accountable to. his v constituents than he at present is, and- will secure to the electors the power of returning members so frequently to the House of Representatives ''that public opinion- — which often, m young .countries, takes a new direction, from the •rapidly- varying circumstances of "such com- • munities-|-will be fairly 7 represented m ' every, phase which L i\i&t opinion miay aa;Bum'e,"'■;_ But these provisions will be of comJparatifely. little value unless the constitu-; encies are. so; arranged that, m as far-as : practicable^ population -m each ele.ctoral.dis-. • trict. respectively shall bo duly represented. This right was assured to, the'p«ople of NewZealand' by the British Parliament, m the 'Act which originally gave' them; a sentative constitution.-; rThemeasure on this subject wMch is., to.rbe submitted, to you, : i w,il£' substantially secure, a return, ana an adherence f or. the, future, to that important principle^ of- the. Constitution Act. These three measures are, m, the opinion of my adviser*,; >P ,equitable themselves^' and so accordant with' the spirit. ; bf- modern times, that should they become law, there is, the .Government believes, every prospect that a feeling- of general^ contentment would be permanently established^ m the. colouv. The power of legislation would-then largely reft' in the hands of the people, oorf r New Zealand, and it is hoped that, they will always j maintain within its limits an equitable system of taxation, a jusfciadnnnistrationof public lands, and a sound'system of local self-government. The alterar tions which will Jbe produced uxthd , Gpnstir Hution grant by the proposed measures will be but slis[ht,. whilst they are evidently m accord with the popular wish. A Bill will, be submitted for yoiir consideration to suspend plurality of voting m cases of elections of locnl governing bodies whilst those bodies j'are subidised oiitof the general revenue of the colony.. , Measures will also be snbimitted to you which will enable those desiring to occupy small farms, or rural allot,ments, to obtain possession of lands much > more, readily, and at a smaller, cost, than '• they.; can. be obtained under the present system.; , ' • . • ..: Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, the^estimates will be laid ; before you, accompanied- by financial measures calculated, m the.opjnjon of my Government, to promote the.interests of the colony and to ma'ntain it 3 eredifc.. A* vervgeneral desire nppeara to exist that consideration should be given to the; best means of r promoting and encouraging manufactures and local industries m this oplony. With a tie w to : give effect to thi3 : de3tre, you. may probably think it advisable to appointaselect.com;. . mittee to inquire into and report upon the suhject. The.public works m. progress continue to be; ; vig<jrpu9ly prosecutedj andryou will be asked to make provision. for the further prosecution of those works which have been authorised by Parliament m pursuance., of the attention of the Legislature, m, I.th1 .the i , , Session of 1878. Considerable pains haye . been $aken by the Public Works 'Departf merit to; .ascertain the best route for connecting by rail" the east and west coaits of the northej-n portion of the Middle Island, .and also the_bjest. route from Araberley to Cook's Straits./ As these are works of great .magnitude and •importance, and -' inu'st m volve a very- large expenditure of p.ublic money, it is deemed^ prudent, in^ order, to ;take advantage of every possijble means of 'ascertaining.the.bestiroutes, that the relative -merits of the' various lines' should be fully considered. With that view, you will vbe asked to submit the whole "question to ' full- and. exhaucitiye examination and inquiry byltSclect.Commitfcee. - HoNOEABiiE: LBeißiiA.Ti vB- CoirwciiiT.oas • and ~ Gentlemen op the Hottbe.of RssaESBNTATITES,-— : A measure will bs laid- before you: by ■'. by v^hich lands the property of natives, np*t by the Government for the pui)■hc, will henceforth he. sold m small blocks :-in the. open market, on. suck feruis a.s ir^aT ; sbe5 be agreed upon -with the proprietors"* Jsf .advisers are of- opinion that by the adop- i ftion ofthis ayst,em grent. advantages will.; [be secured to hhe whole Burppean' ]jppuia-?t.on.of-New Zealohd, whilst the natives will :have the satisfaction ofreceivingTthe full value of their, estates, and wilk no lop^er •be. subjected to those importunilies mid • temptations to induce them to part with .their lands which have hitherto proved a .fertile, source- of misunderstanding, and of evil: to "the;; fewo, racea. The. assumnce • Av-hich I was enabled to give to the. niem-. bers of Parliament at the., opening of the last. session, m regard to the peaneful andrlpyaJt- action of the. natiye. people geneiully , .has been borne out by the; results. No J further d.eTroeloppientJhas taken place. of the; i fanatical mpvemenf on, the: y?e^t Coast^ and the tribes con/jejjoedr apppar.' tb^ 'be quietly a.w.aiting the. action of the Parliament and p%- the ordinary courts of law.- "Steps are

being taken for tlie holding of a full inquiry ! into the existence and extent of the alleged unfulfilled promises iv regard to lands. Two intertribal disturbances, arising out of disputed claims to land, have occurred, m one instance attended with 1033 of life. The'VTiecessarymeasurts are being taken to vindicate the law. , ' A B ill will be submitted to your consideration to regulate the immigration of Chinese into the Colony. A valuable interim report as the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the subject of higher education has been received and Jaid before both Houses. When the final report; has open made, no delay shall take place m laying it before you, m,; communicating; to you the measures which the Government may racoramend for the adoption on the whole subject , which ■is one of paramount importance to educational interests m the Colony. Various other measures will be lriid befere you during- this session. On each of these, I am confident you will bestow your Icareful attention exerting yourselves m all < respects to promota the interests of the . Colony, the destinies of which Providence has, m solargea measure,, intrusted to you your charge. In all your efforts to attain this cud, you may rely on receiving my ready and earnest co-operation. I sincerely trust that a spirit of wisdom and of sound judgment may animate each branch of the