PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1292, 28 May 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Weixingtox, May 28. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— _ - r - -

In accordance with what was understood to be the wish of * both branches of the Legislature, I have called you together ait an earlier period of the year than usual, and after an' interval of little more than five months since the "last session of Parliament. When I last met you the country was suffering from severe jrjopsitary pressure and a. general depression in various branches of industry. and. trade. It is satisfactory for me to .be able, on the present occasion, to congratulate you on the partial relief which has .been experienced, and on the ; degree of confidence which has been revived by an abundant harvest and by the increased value, of f most •of the staple. products of the country. At .the same tinie, the condition of the Colony demands, your careful consideration; J a considerable amount/ of distress aiqqgg the working plashes.': I trust and believe this may .be only .pf a temporary character. It is engaging the serious attention of my Government, who have taken steps for inquiring into the means best calculated to encourage such locai industries as will afford steady and remunerative employment -to the people.. In ' accordance 'with" the decision of the Legislature 'I appointed a Royal ' gonjmission to inquire into the alleged grievances of a, portioii of the native race, in respect to their lands oil the west coast .of the North Island. The repprts and recommendations of that Commission will be laid before you. J trust that the measures, at once firm con? ciliatory, which have been adopted by my Government will issue in a permanent and satisfactory settlement of the difficulties which have arisen in - that .part of the colony. The determination which has been shown to redress grievances where they may be proved to exist, at the game time to assert the supremacy of the Grown, , cannot blit . fftyopfi.bly effect our. relations with the wjhole Maopi race. Steps which should .be'laken for the de'r fence of the, harbors 6f !the oolony have been carefully considered and ably re--ported on by Colonel Scratchly, an experienced officer of ■ the ißoyal Engir neers. You will be asked to consider the extent to ! which it-willjbe advisable to give effect to his suggestions. Gentlemen of the House bf Representatives— . . ..

Carefully, prepared estimates of the revenue an 4 pnsuing twelve nj6n.ths : . will Ue'laid before you. The fac£s fcyftHe Commissioners ■jyhojli % Jiave' appoiijtefl |to enquire intb the present pogitipn of-tlje QjvH Service will, 1 have no doubt, assist my responsible advisers, in effecting substantial red notions in the cost of that service, I regret to have to announce.to you that a falling off has taken place during the past financial period in almost all the principal items of revenue; while these : may in some measure be attributed to temporary causes it WQU74 be unwise to ignore the fact that prior to the. existing'depression, there had. been a time of extraordinary inflation, consequent upon the expenditure'of large sums of borrowed money, with the lessening of the abnormal influx of foreign /capital, ..The.' country must | look for a diminution ,in the rate of pro? gross it haa recently, been accustomed to, both in respect to its ordinary and territorial revenue. In thesSicircumstances my advisers entertain np doijbt a§ tp the courses'to-be pursued. Expenditure ipqst be decreased j luxuries niugt bp pur.tajled j the public works which have already been gonstruptgci. W?st bg made more pgproductiye. ,Jt ,is to industry and ebonomy that the Colony lias to look for a development of its resources and the maintenance of healthy' progress. You will be asked to consider a plan which :it is believed will place' the finances of the local bodies on a satisfactory basis, and will enable those bodies to carry on their works in a self-reliant and independent mannerHonorable Legislative Councillors apd Gentlemen of the House of Repre? sentatives—

At a time when it is indispensible, when the closest attention should be bestowed upon the state of our finances, upon the solution of grave questions of grave importance upon the settlement! of the waste lands, and upon the general economy of administration, it is not the: intention of my Government to ask you to devote a longer time to the work of legislation than will be required to complete the constitutional measures alypady initiated, and to deal with pressing questions of socia| and administrative, reform. Bills wjli be presented to you for con; soljdating and amendipg thp Jipgnsing

, . . . : 1 laws of the platotfg lidministration and table' lj|hich were inthe' laetsesslon/ of Parliament, fqi? re-adjusting the* repref Saws aftecting the'dealingwithnative land, and the constitution of the Native Lands Court. The work of" consolidating" the statutes, as authorised by you, has made considerable-= progr a.. uumber^<>fBills, the,result of tKe laHors'of*the Coihr" 'mtesidn,' 'Will also be placed before yon. ;3}he«®eceßsity -for the- -wholes system of legal procedure in forcjp m the of ; the has forced itself-upon the attention of my Government. The subject is too large to enter upon during the present session, but it proposed to institute an inquiry with the view of preparing such measures of reform as will render the administration of justice more speedy and efficatious, as well as less costly than at present. The work of opening up the waste lands of thfe Crown for settlement has been rigorously prosecuted, and blocks of land for occupationiiup'ohH the ; deferred payment and village settlement systems have been -set -*aside over- a large portion of the Colony. The desire which exists for the occupation of land in small holdings exhibits a determination on the" ; part of the people of~fhe~Colony to devote steadily to ;the.developmental its resources. "It Is t6 bfe regretted tgat some parts of the country land of thik class has. been bought ~on t.erras_ with which the purchasers- have ;fouiid it .impossible to comply. The subject is under, the careful consideration of my Government. &Ihow',leayeVyajxi.to) the laborsiof the session. I have to assure you of my earnest desires to t h -' your' efforts : to pfromote the welfare iof the: country, - and to my-hope that God's blessing may rest upon your deliberations. " L " " '' " ; '