Opening of Parliament.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 54, 25 June 1914, Page 5

Opening of Parliament.

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. [Put Press Association.] V Wellington, June 25. The following is the text of His Excellency the Governor’s Speech at the opening of the third session of the eighteenth Parliament of New Zealand to-day:— Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.—

It is with sincere pleasure that I again meet you in Parliament assembled. During the recess I have visited many parte of the Dominion, and have noticed with pleasure the general content which obtains amongst all classes. The settlers engaged in pastoral and agricultural pursuits are prospering, industries are flourishing, and the conditions of labor which exist in the Dominion are in the main sufficient to provide reasonable comfort and happiness for the prudent worker. It is gratifying to be able to congratulate you once ihore upon the remarkable prosperity of the country. Trade, as evidenced by the Customs returns, has been unexampled. The value of tho exports from our shores has reached an unprecedented height, and the imports represent in money’s worth an amount never before equalled. On every hand there are • signs of advancement. Settlement of the land is progressing rapidly, development is proceeding apace, and tho Dominion is steadily becoming a country in which the small holder predominates. The intercourse which I have enjoyed with the people has served to confirm my confidence in their loyalty to the Throne and devotion to our Most Gracious Sovereign. It is fitting that I should mention the loss sustained by Her Royal Highness; the Princess Louise, in the death of her husband, his Grace the Duke of Argyle. I cabled the condolences of my Government and the people of New Zealand, and they have been duly acknowledged. I have recently visited the Islands of the group which form part of the Dominion of New Zealand, and was accompanied by the Hon. Dr. Pomare, the Minister in charge of the Administration of the Islands. lam satisfi,ed .that the information obtained during my. visit wall enable my Minister? to improve the condition of these possessions of the Dominion. The measures to bo proposed to you by my Government in relation to education were explained,' and were received .i?ith great satisfaction by the Natives throughout the Islands. My Ministers recognise the responsibility which the Government of the Dominion has assumed in regard to the Islands, and have had under their consideration the legislation which has been enacted in past years. They propose to submit to you a measure by,which those laws will be re-cast, revised," and consolidated.

It is with satisfaction that I am ■ able to announce tha,t the smallpox epidemic which broke out in this Do-minion-Met year--has been cd|>ed with successfully. Every effort is being made to prevent the recrudescence of this disease.

The San Francisco mail service con. tract which, terminated in March last, has been renewed for a period of five years from the Ist April, 1914. Provision has been made for, a considerable reduction in the rates of freight for butter to ximerica by both the Vancouver and the San Francisco routes, and to meet the expected demand for space two larger steamers of improved design are to be placed in the service from the 31st December, 1916. During the past year, three new wireless stations have been established, two high-power stations at Awanui and Owarua, and a low-power station at the Chatham Islands. Under ihe land legislation of the last two sessions, full effect is being given to the intention of Parliament. Tenants of Crown and Settlement Land have been enabled to acquire th© fee simple of their holdings. The ‘ subdivision of privately-owned estates is proceeding rapidly. The tenure of land (including land with- . in mining districts) have been iin-i proved. Pastoral tenants have been granted the right to elect between accepting full valuation for improvements at the termination of existing licenses and a new license over tne whole or part ’of their runs, *at a revised rental* and in all parts of the country closer settlement has been promoted. v Th© legislation authorising the' constitution of special road districts, providing as it does for the expenditure of the moneys

received from th© land upon the con- . struction of roads and bridges, is . much appreciated, and will be of great value to the settlers living in remote and isolated parts pf the country. Tl\e Crown lands of the Dominion, which still remain unoccupied, are being surveyed and opened for selection as expeditiously as circumstances permit. During the last financial'year there hag been a gratifying increase in the revenue derived from Crown lands, and land for settlements estates, th© amount received having exceeded all previous records. I deeply regret that since I last, met you the Dominion has lost, through death, the valuable services of Sir William Russell, a member of the Legislative Council, and'' of Mr George Laurenson, member of Parliament for Lyttelton. The closing months of the year, 1913, were marked by an industrial struggle which seriously menaced the trade and prosperity of the country. At the commencement of the trouble, scenes of violence were frequently witnessed, and breaches of the law , were of daily occurrence, but thanks to the efficiency of the permanent police and the admirable public spirit displayed by citizens of the Dominion who proffered their services as foot and mounted special constables, peace and order were speedily reatored. The produce of the country was shipped without undue delay to the markets of the world, and a ‘ state of industrial quiet re-establish-ed. The problem of the cost of living has engaged the attention of my advisers during the recess, and certain proposals relating to this question will be placed before you for consideration. When I last met you, the conditions of the principal money markets of the world made it daffi-

cult to obtain financial assistance for public works and other services, and 1 am pleased to be able* to announce that during the last financial year circumstances combined to make money more plentiful, and my advisers were able to procure at reasonable rates sums of money sufficient to meet the general requirements of the Dominion, besides arranging for the redemption, renewal, and conversion of maturing loans raised in past years. The completion of the Main Trunk line between Wellington and Auckland has tended to open up large areas of Native and Crown Lands that were lying unproductive, but to-day the settlers upon these and other lands in the Dominion through want of adequate roads and railways are working under disadvantageous conditions. My advisers are of opinion that no policy of land settlement is sound which does not include a progressive scheme for road construction, and it is proposed to submit for your consideration a measure which makes provision for the creation of satisfactory means of communication in isolated and badly-road-ed districts. Further, the remarkable growth of settlement and the rapid expansion of the business of the country during recent years has convinced my Ministers of the necessity for a strong and vigorous policy of public works construction and the speedy completion of the more important lines of railway now jn progress. / The Tongariro National' Park, which lies half-way between Wellington and Auckland, comprising 62,300 acres and containing within its boundaries interesting mountain scenery and other natural attractions,can with very little expenditure be made one of the most popular holiday resorts in the Dominion. In order that this object may be achieved, it is intended to so alter the constitution of the present board as to provide for the inclusion of persons specially interested in the conservation of the natural beauties of New Zealand. ,

Mr Speaker, and Gentlemen of tho House of Representatives—

The Estimates for the year have been framed with due regard to economy, consistent with efficiency, and it will be duly laid before, you. Notwithanding the non-inclusion of the proceeds; of land sales and the loss of railway income consequent on the dislocation of industries by the strike and on the smallpox epidemic, the public, revenue for the past financial year has shown substantial increase. Full information regarding the recent loan transactions will be placed before you. The ever increasing demand on the part of the public for treatment in our general hospitals will entail additional expenditure upon buildings for the reception of patients and for the maintenance of patients admitted to those institutions. It has been recognised for many years that the system upon which subsidies have been paid apd grants from public funds have been made to local bodies for development purposes is objectionable, unbusinesslike, and uneconomical. A Bill will be introduced containing provision which, it is hoped, will ensure .a fairer apportionment and a more careful expenditure of these public moneys. Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and -Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.

A Bill providing for the election of members of the Legislative Council by the system of proportional representation in‘large electoral divisions was introduced the Legislative Council in the second' session of the year 1912, but it was then postponed by the Council for consideration in the following year. In the same session the House of Representatives passed resolutions affirming the necessity for reform of the Constitution in th© direction proposed by that Bill. In the session of 1913, another Bill to the same' effect but modified in some of its provisions, was introduced in the Legislative Council, hut failed to obtain tile approval of the Council. The Bill of 1913 will again be introduced during your present session in the Legislative Council. . At the commencement of the session of 1913 the Legislative Council consisted of forty-two members. On the Ist July, 1914,' if no new appointments were now made, the number of members of the Council would be reduced by effluxion of the terms of appointment and by death to 28, of whom seven hold appointments for life. It is, therefore, found accessary to make further present appointments, not only for the purpose of passing into law the Bill reforming the constitution of the Council, hut also for the due consideration of all legislation submitted to both Houses of Parliament. Inasmuch as the proposed change in the constitution has been postponed by the Legislative Council until the session immediately preceding a general election, my Advisers, following the Constitutional precedent of the act by which the abolition of the provinces was effected in the year 1875, now itroposo that the Legislative Council Act shall become law during the present session, but that its commencement shall be postponed until after the session of Parliament to he held in the year 1915. During the past year the training of the land force of the Dominion has made satisfactory progress. At the invitation of the Government, General Sir lan Hamilton, Inspector-Gen-eral of Overseas Forces, recently visited the Dominion and inspected every unit of the Citizen Army and every cadet company. The units of the field forces were assembled for their annual training, and his inspection of five camps enabled him to observe the organisation of the companies, the qualifications of the higher commanders and staffs, and the practice of the three arms in field operations. The conduct of the men of the Citizen Army and the cadets at the Territorial camps of the Cadet concentrations, and during.the journeys by rail and lea to and from the places

of assembly, was as a rule exemplary. The season was late, and the weather generally was unfavorable, yet notwithstanding these disadvatageous conditions, the spirit of the troops and cadets was all that could be desired, and afforded a valuable testimony to the benefits of the training. The assembling of the units of the Territorial forces in camp and all cadet companies for inspection at the same time taxed the organisation and administrative machinery of the Defence and Railway Departments, and it was only owing to the zeal and energy and unceasing hard work of those responsible for district and local arrangements that it was Tendered possible. The valuable criticisms and suggestions which the Inspector-General has made, and the advice which he has tendered, are receiving the consideration of the Government.

' Defence of the Pacific, a problem of great difficulty, has engrossed the attention of my advisers' during the recess, and in accordance with a decision commuicated to you during your last session of Parliament, Captain Hall-Thompson has been appointed to act as adviser to the Government on naval matters, and to command the training ship lent by the Admiralty. It is probable that during the forthcoming year a conference oil naval affairs, to which the Government of New Zealand has already been invited 'to send representatives, will be convened by the Imperial Government. Seven months ago the present general manager of the Dominion railways commenced his duties. He has since been engaged inspecting the various railway lines throughout the Dominion, and is making himself conversant with the railway system and its workings. In the comprehensive report upon this large Static undertaking, he is making recommendations which, if given effect to, will make the railways of the country more valuable to the commercial community, more attractive to the travelling public. To carry into effect the important works which must be undertaken to ensure the safe and proper working of the railways of the Dominion, proposals will be'submitted for your consideration.

In accordance with the legislation of last session, the Board of Agriculture ha s been constituted, and has commenced its duties. The Board consists of practical’ and experienced agriculturists, and it is confidently expected th" by its interest and advice the agricultural industry will be greatly benefited. The system of workers’ homes has bedn extended to the country districts. It is intended to submit legislation providing that the area of land attached to workers’ homes shall in such cases be regulated according to its quality or producing capacity, the object of my advisers being to give as many workers as possible an opportunity of owning their' own homes at reasonable prices and on easy terms, with land surrounding each home appropriate to the locality in which it is situated. The state of the Education System of the Dominion has .been closely investigated by a Parliamentary Committee, and by the members of the commission, and as a result of the deliberations my advisers have decided to lay before you a Bill which, while improving the conditions of employment of teachers, aims also at effecting a general advance in tho methods of Education.

The decrease of infantile mortality in New Zealand is most gratifying, and fully justifies the assistance being afforded by the Government to the Society for the Health of Women and Children in its efforts to disseminate by its literature and by the training of nurses and midwives a wider knowledge of all that pertains to the successful rearing of infants.

The visit of a party of members of the Imperial Parliament to New Zealand during your last session was welcomed by myself and my advisers, as evidencing the general desire in which I am well assured you join for closer association of the Parliaments of the Empire. My Ministers were enabled to confer with Lord Emnvott, the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, who was chairman of the party of visitors, upon several questions which are of interest to both Governments.

Early this year New Zealand welcomed at Auckland the tenth session of the Australasian Medical Congress.' My advisers are giving earnest consideration to the conclusions arrived at hy the Congress. During the present year the British Association will hold its. meeting in Australia. It lias been arranged that some of the distinguished scientific gentlement attending that meeting shall afterwards visit New Zealand and deliver addresses in their special subjects.

During next year a great exhibition will be held at San Francisco, and this Dominion has been invited by the United States to take part in their national event. My Ministers have made arrangements for the proper representation of New Zealand, and there is reason to believe that the country will as a result reap substantial commercial advantage. During the recess considerable discussion has taken place upon two subjects in respect of which it is apparent that public opinion is largely divided, firstly, amending of the licensing laws, and, secondly, the request, that definite questions relating to Bible reading in schools, shall be submitted to the electors by referendum at the ensuing general election. You will have the opportunity during the present .session of arriving at a conclusion upon both issues. Measures relating to the following

subjects have been prepared and will be placed before you for consideraition: Inspection of machinery, masters and apprentices, motor regulation and license, the iron and steel industry, the fruit preserving industry, inscription of loans, fire brigades, the law of libel, local authorities, local elections, rating and land laws, contractors’ and workmen’s liens, public surveys, superannuation, the New Zealand University, the Victoria College Council, and other matters. 1 commend all the matters to which I have referred to your careful onsideration, and I trust that under Divine Providence your efforts to promote the happiness and wellbeing of the people of New Zealand may be successful. —-The Address-in-Eeply will be moved in the House by Mr Leel (Oamaru), and seconded by Mr Sykes (Masterton). )