THE ROYAL SPEECH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 30, 19 August 1871, Page 2

THE ROYAL SPEECH.

[lndependent, August 15.] There is no document so severely criticised as a Royal speech. Looked forward to with much interest as an indication of a policy to be propounded, its every phrase is closely scanned ; and that speech approaches nearest to perfection which presents the fewest salient points alike to friendly and to hostile critics. It is constructed, we believe, secundum artem when there is not one proposition advanced which can be met by a direct amendment, and when nothing is omitted, the want of which provokes a hostile motion. On the present occasion of opening the fifth Parliament of New Zealand, the same interest is not felt, because no new policy is expected to be propounded. The policy approved of (almost unanimously) by the late Parliament was the policy of the present Ministry, with some important modifications voluntarily made in deference to suggestions from both sides of the House, and in rendering the measures designed to give effect to it as perfect as possible, they were cordially aided by their predecessors in office.

Ministers have entered upon the administration of this policy, loyally carrying out the intentions of the legislature so unequivocally expressed, andjin meetinga new Parliament they can have no new general policy to set forth. Charged by the late Parliament with the resumption of colonising operations, within limits to be year by year laid down by Parliament, Ministers can have only report the progress these have made during the year now ended, and to seek to know the pleasure of the House with regard to their prosecution in the year to come. But this policy of progress presupposed a continuance of peace. Without peace, no loans could have been contracted, or, if contracted, could have been advantageously expended, at least in the North Island.

The Native policy was and is therefore inseparably bound up with the progress of colonising operations. Here again, Ministers will have, to say, " Story, God bless you, we ' have none to tell you." The Native policy that met the approbation of the last Parliament has been, so far, at least, successful in maintaining peace, and no new Native policy is likely to be propounded by a Ministry in which the present Native Minister holds a portfolio. Taking these considerations into account, therefore, the only new measures of any great political significance tljat we expect to see adumbrated in the speech will be of a subsidiary character, and will have been suggested by experience gained in administering the colonising policy on which we have entered; such as measures for promoting the settlement of immigrants, the development and better government of our gold fields, encouragement to fisheries, &c. Doubtless the operation of some of the general measures of reform passed last year will be alluded to, such as the Land Transfer Bill, the Ballot Bill, the University Bill, &c, and possibly some intimation made of amending these in the direction which the experience of their operations has shown to be necessary. But the great bill of the sessiou will doubtless be the Education Bill, the Government.being distinctly pledged to bring one down. This will likely be the piece de resistance of the session. It is scarcely possible to conceive a question surrounded with so many difficulties. And this session will be for ever memorable if it sees a good colo nial educational measure passed. We understand that a new Bankruptcy Bill will be brought forward, which we hope will assume a very different shape from the merely tentative measure of last year. Unless it sweeps away all existing legislation on the subject, and greatly simplifies and cheapens the realisation of estates, we shall give it the same opposition as we gave to that abortive measure. The important measure of last year for providing a public trustee will, we presume, be again brought forward, and we trust this session with better success. Other measures have been reported to be in preparation, but of less importance and interest. Contrary to the generally-expressed opinion, we believe that this session will not be " the most remarkable ever held." We think 1870 will always remain the annus mirabilis in the political register

of New Zealand. In that session the attention Of the colony was concentrated for the first time upon the work of colonisation, and large powers were given to pledge its credit for the means of carrying it on. Never again, we believe, will the Parliament of New Zealand lose sight of this great work in mere party strifes, and the present session is not the time, as Sir David Munro eloquently explained yesterday, to seek to draw its attention away from the high duties it,has resumed, and the heavy responsibilities it has undertaken. The session of 1870 saw a complete disintegration of parties, and the whole House earnestly engaged for the first time in considering measures for the settlement of both Islands. In that session immigration and public works proposals were for the first time put before the House in a practical shape, and the subsidising of road boards from the consolidated fund passed from the barren region of abstract propositions. That session, too, made the first permanent provision for defence. Nor must we omit the many important reforms that were then carried. But over and above all those measures, important as they are, stands pre-eminent this —its crowning glory, that for the first time since representative institutions were established the contentions about forms of Government which had formerly divided the Colonial Legislature into two hostile camps, were seen in their true light as diverting the colony from its real business, the prosecution of which in a high and generous spirit contains their solution in gremio. The session of 1870 saw the sacred fire of colonisation re-illumine the whole political firmament, and attract by its radiance and warmth, those who had long wandered in the dark mazes of useless controversy. It is for the present and all future parliaments to see to it, that this fire shall ever be found burning, and that it never go out.