The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1900. PARLIAMENTARY PROSPECTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 106, 25 June 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1900. PARLIAMENTARY PROSPECTS.

If the Ministerial programme, as outlined in the Governor's Speech, can he taken to forecast the legislation of the present session, this is not likely to be of a very sensational character. While it may be taken for granted that the orthodox " Governor's Speech " is more remarkable for what it leaves unsaid than for what it discloses, it is yet possible to dimly discern the general drift or tendency of the proposals as a whole; and for all the cleverness displayed in extracting from these proposals every possible atom of colour before they are allowed to appear, it is not difficult to detect that which is dominant, whether it be the Red of the Liberal Party or the Blue of the Con- | servatives. In the present instance the Red is distinctly traceable. Through the references to the Colony's contingents, and the question of Home and Imperial defence, the " Thin Red Line" is everywhere weaned, while the richer Red of the " scarlet thread of kinship" is noticeable, not only in these, but also in the more humane references to the necessity for improving the lot of those who are now overcrowded in cities, continuing the psnsion to our aged people, protecting the interests of the sons and daughters of toil, teaching the rising generation various useful and necessary handicrafts, further assisting struggling settlers by means of the " Advances to Settlers Act," broadening the fields of our commerce, lessening the cost of the necessaries of life, and in other, though less direct, ways, making the lot of the common people happier and more prosperous. We do not think that the measures by which it is proposed to give effect to these recommendations are likely to contain anything very revolutionary or to excite much opposition. From the personnel of the present Parliament, as well as the temper of the colony generally, there seems to be every prospect of the Government framing and piloting into law a number of useful and ameliorative measures on the lines just mentioned. The questions on which there will probably be the greatest divergence of opinion are those affecting our military and defence matters, but the intentions of the Government in regard to these are not yet sufficiently clear to indicate, their character or extent, and therefore it is impossible to discuss them at present. Perhaps the broadest and most direct hint of an important nature to be found in the speech is that concerning the annexation of the " Islands of the Pacific." His Excellency says : "My Advisers consider it to be of the first importance to the Empire and this colony that British interests in the islands of the Pacific should be definitely conserved, and, in respect to several of the islands, that with the concurrence of the inhabitants annexation should, where possible, take place. With a view of removing difficulties and providing satisfactory administration the extension of the boundaries of this colony may be found necessary, and if so the people of New Zealand may be required to assume the increased responsibility." This statement, taken together with the remarks anent Australian Federation with which it is immediately followed, leave no doubt as to King Rjchird's ambition to form an empire of inlands as an offset to federated Australia, a " Japan of the South." And so far as can be gathered at present there seems no good reason why our colony should not be the controlling centre of such a union. At any rate, we do not think that serious opposition will be raised within our own islands or those it is proposed to annex. The past has proved that wo are a people able to govern ourselves and the native and alien people within our borders, and the proposal to extend this rule to the

scattered islands which come legitimately within our " Sphere of Influence " is just and reasonable to all concerned. The action taken by Parliament in this matter will be looked forward to with keen interest. Other matters referred to which will take some am.ount of consideration are those affecting local government, the gold dredging industry, oversea mail services, and the lands atitefced by the Midland Bailway iransactions, none of which present problems of a particularly intricate or difficult nature. Provided that the Cabinet has nothing sensational " up its sleeve," and that private member's are content to attend to business of Parliament without intruding on petty or interested projects, the House should be able to settle down to a session of useful work, the results of which would be useful and beneficial to the. colony at large and all who are connected with as. Such a creditable consummation is devoutly to be hoped for, and there appears np present reason why it should, not be teougbt about. I