The Governor's Speech.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7858, 28 June 1905, Page 2

The Governor's Speech.

The Governor the following speech from the throne : Honourable Gentlemen ot the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen ot tbe House of Representatives : It is with unfeigned pleasure that I again meet you in Parliament assembled. During the recess I have visited several parts of the colony, and made myself acquainted with the people. My preconceived conclusions as to theic loyalty to the Throne, and devotion to their most gracious Sovereign have been confirmed. The loyalty expressed in each of the addresses presented to me greatly impressed me, and the cordial reception tenderid me everywhere, whilst gratifying personally, marked due becoming respect to the high office I hold. Information I had respecting the great possibilities of the colony has oeen confirmed by what 1 have seen. Nature has been bounteous in hci gifts; you have here all and everything essential to the well-being of mankind. I am glad to be able to congratulate you upon the continued prosperity of the colony. The spending power of the people has increased, as evidenced by the returns from State services, notably railway and customs. The condition of the people .s much improved socially, whilst the outlook is most promising. Contentment and happiness obtain every where. I have to announce that the Hon. W. P. Reeves has been appointed HighCommissioncr for tbe colony of New 'Zealand. A copy of the warcant will be laid before you indue course. My Ministers, in accordance With resolutions of the House of Representatives, recommended and appointed a Royal Commission to enquire into the laws relating to land and land settlement. The Commission has not yet completed its labours, but will do so in a few days. 1 anticipate that the report will reach you within the time limited by the resolution passed on that behalf. With a view to ascertaining the dc : sires of the natives whose ancestors gave certain lauds situated at Porirua and other parts, of Uie North island to trustees,for specific purposes, I have, on the advice of'my Ministers, appointed a Royal Commission which is prosecuting an enquiry. The report will be placed before you. As authorised by Parliament, steps have been taken for holding an international exhibition at Christchurch, the exhibition to be opened during the month of November, IVW. Some time ago a New Jtealandcr under contract employment in United States, was not allowed to land: at San Francisco. On the ' voyage back to tbe colony he suffered at j Honolulu an indignity at the bands , of the State. The Secretary of State ! for the Colonics remonstrated with the United States Government, and a satisfactory conclusion resulted and reparation has been made. You will be gratified to learn that the population of the colony is steadily increasing, the excess of arrivals over departures being considerable, especially during the last twelve months. There is also an .increased birth-rate. Since 1890 the population has increased by 230,0<f0, and the total population of the colony, including Maoris, is estimated at 900,682. The arrival ol Chinese in large num. bcrs, and the fact that some fifty were recently a charge on the Otago Charitable Aid Board, are matters for serious consideration. Returns will be laid before you which indicate that there has been during the year a very large Increase of traffic oa our railways, showing considerable growth in our staplt products and an extension of the industries of the colony, whilst a great number of passengers demonstrates increased spending powers. Customs returns show a steady advance on the preceding year, and the result of the preferential tariff has been a slight improvement shown in the importation of goods from the United Kingdom; on the other hand the increase in importation from foreign countries has stopped, and there is now a slight decrease compared with previous years. The question of the export trade in perishable goods from this colony is of great importance. My advisers consider the sheep owners and dairy farmers of the colony should be placed in a position !hat will enable them to obtain an adequate return for their enterprise and industry; further,, that freights on goods from the United Kingdom should be as freight on the same class of goons from the United States is only 12* Mrn, ' *y* mtUX ***«»' •*»

A pleasing feature I have to announce u %t notwithstanding tie th„ < "r? d . aa ° unt received through &i S Ustoffi .\ 6 ener »' taxation per and 0 ( those employed My Ministers, in the interest o/ economy and uniformity, a"c oTLin ion that the whole Pirfi S O P. ,n " should be classified? am ' tnaf "*& superannuation allow*Zl „„» 'j c «i in the case of Pffict\ n dß^itf 1 " servants should be in»,u tJUOUghout the service C ÜBIVen * 1 ' an!t\pV C er^ t * , T tI -^ T rd\Sb«£ s^^e Teachers' Salartes WS"* *«■ «» milled fov AZnm * -view ol increasing SJ * ic«. The endeavour to nlotS.' 8alM " crannuation scheme for ers is beset widi ,uin 'fnool teachly in respeet o PKM ' years. washers of advanced

A scheme will he ut)m,i«i~i . ' my Ministers J* ,£} . soon piw ra to , aWj for £ u, « "»»V » "(promoting the industries S \ P T. colony and placing th«« on a s »s! factory basis. For providing for economical workiw

on anyUitag life equal fcOMWHS &£ J 50 "* 1 ' 1 ". *■*» »**» ** ' lower, longer noun ue worked «ad motive power ii nucb cbetuwr ttw

The occupation of native land* i*4\ desired by both natives and liurope- v aiis, as the spread of settlement is retarded by the large area* of «*• tivo lands lying waste, and with Mm necessity for closer occupation It if deemed essential in the interests of both European* and native* that 'internal euon should be made to place the ualive owners on such <A U»

lands as are required tor their we, and next that landless native* should be provided for as tenants, and that ihc surplus lands should be acquired under a law similar in character to the Lands for Settlements Act, the land to be dealt mUI through the Laud Hoards, and the proceed! to go 10 the native owners. The settlement ot natives on their own land* should be dealt with by '.ho Maori Councils. A BJU dealing ■nth this important matter will be uitroduccd.

As regards the industries Of tfco u,i«ay, both gold Md coal are in a *,' saUsiactory condition. The discovery ut reels on tbe East (Me 01 iuc main range between Canteruurj und Westlana i» important, and iiiac are reasons lor hoping that a permanent gold field has been louod .u ttiat locality. Dr. Bell, ol Uana* uu, i.as been appointed to the chain oi ine UeoJogical Department, aud the exploration ol aunietoui belts ot 1 country, is now being made. A eonlerouce attended by, warden*, niaJac inspectors and engineers has bee* bcid, and as a result extended and improved proposals lot prospecting will be submitted, lucreased water in Central otago is required not only lor mining but (or gOMtal itch gation purposes, and u provwed snould prove most beneficial.

J} e «2 oo ar"*"» J r "*"» he repweented at Bislcjr this year, the team Which uae wen selected will, it is anUciant, ed, fittingly represent tan cotoaj*The New Zealand lUe honour of winning the KolaM* Cup in ItIM, udltwiU be WYr»irtying should the team sow representing New Zealand mow* tot* ' taming the trophy. The Imperial Uorernneni baa alas* ed at toe disposal ol Nor Zauns* the gunboat Sparrow, and proposals will be submitted {or her eQUiumeat as training snip, and you will to asked to make in* necessary provtsion accordingly. ./ r From various causes eonsideraUe .- delay has taken piae: in hoiSng tie Paciiic Cable Coolereoc, I amTiawt eyer, pleased to say. it is now sitting. J* »■ with regret I raestioa the demise ol tne Hon. A. j. Cadman. . K.C.M.0., (or many years a Minister ol the Crown, and at,the time of Us death Speaker of tie LegliUttw . death ol Mr George Fisher, a former, ' Minister ol the 6 Crown, ejid tor many years member for tin City of Wellington in the House of ReprcW. Gentlemen of (he House of Representatives : . Estimates of revenue and expeadi<4.'. ture lor the year, will be placedbe-'» fore you, and in their preparation doe regard lias been paid to efficiency : and economy. The revenue for the i past year exceeded the estltaates. k l substantial surplus on the year's S transactions resulted, and so far thhv* year receipts are in excess of those'l lor the corresponding period of last,! year. The overniubscriptioa and aarfl returns obtained on «33 last year's loan, and the nhjuoatd prices our stocks are m f? i lapwument InpWlc. credit,.and lam pleated tosUielEuh the rate of interest is lower. TJ& stimulates industries and the dent- J opmevt of our natural fesourccs. &\ assures a saving to taxpayers. j The amount enquiredJor the pa/; ment of pensions to fa dim i itso ue less than three years aau Thai financial position of the oXnr ha*" much improved, and my advisers aaP pf opinion that the {teuton ahwMuS* increased, making tie weeklyHpnji * meat Ids instead of (he U mL, You aill be ,«W by <h, Works iM-oposata, which *3| |» *£ •nitted, to ~r ovl(Ie ibr tlie snow «T peditious construction of the import. ant railways, for tf* extmuEFt the telephone service to the back Mocks setUew, and h* the e*ris completion of roads on (he ovtmau of settlement. «"Hpowa ■JVw increase!* attendance at the schools in large centra. «r ,*»£: tic* nas to some extent Ksuttadfai, ■■ overcrowding, .ad the spread ofeev UeraentSSMeseitates provision b«W ««*> for additional' school aceohlv modatlon. You -WW *, rtqueetogtoal ""t!? I .* tal ** r tori •chooi bulMing. gSSmlly. and nlu> ticulariy for school fatriMbars In new-*] iy settled district*. """j The subsidies uat contribution* 4*H Urn fundi of local authorities IrmM the State require to be placed on «hl improved basis, and It e propostd terl grant net royaitiat on flax to severer local authetttJajr] whose roads are used and by the cartage of these product* 1 The Estimates will be.lacreaaed m~> tan amount required for tahteg- Usei «■■"•. ■*« jWfatfihg the eastot thev general elections. ; You will be Had to lean ttetttirfe tag the year * vary large ana *E land was acquired under the land fon !w t^TT i Act - . Bw, y •«* l «* ** ] the Undsay Bstata, la Hawse's law. and in the Greenfield Estate, Otaa*. ' has been tatan op, and! fa' the Flaxbourne Estata only oaeseaaflH section of five acres rem* as «•*, append 'or. Vet the earth husuM •till continues. --~; Though there are other tarn ewl tate. In both the North and «w3», Wands, in many, cases people t*+l aide in cramped, unsuitable Viffrtlnssf* and although provision has bsaa made under the Municipal Coraor*>tions Act onabHrw Borough OouaeihTi to provide worknion's homes, practh Qally notbJng two ««m done to? wS vent overcrowding and to house tf£ workers proporl}'. My Mintoew «m of opfiMon that the saiuu powura thMtl' are confctrod Mpms local KmiS should be taken by the BUto luST with power to build 'thSS' homes-or advance monies f a rt£. purpose, mid t*> enter upon the ieV cssury lugielatioh and BegoUatioSal as thp demand. f or closer aettleneaß omst be pr O TMed for. jH H is a matter far <x**jrretuUMog«nl thut Netlleinettt gonwally throughe«ifl the coloay has proceeded at a nuMfl rate. w*ikt the markets for mv 9 productr increased and good Mdoxa.9 continue to ruls.

Tbis a,re» of land which under 4aW.fi law an It now (rtanda may be KtUrSfl n, borough by any pereoa, urt ajMfelifl Ik exempt from belli taken »»j»rt- : l compulsory' provf stone of U* for ScttlonoDU A«t ronoVsv ~i*2f3M ing land for workmen'* homnTr]i<M«M ban districts prectioetty ImoatariaihS It U desirable bo reduced y land i« to ba talawtaaH the purpawH intended by U» bviM latur*;. Hew workm.it b»v« ihfl money wbmnrtth to pay for Utffl erection of botuoi,. and they borrowed money, kigh ratea offaH teratt resulting. The cxMlng kfflfl enabling advance* to bo mete 4eH wttleri, provide only for audi weal kuncea being ttuuk up to 50per >f 'the a-jiant'n intereat to die J«2bH leaned by him. My advlnem u«dH tplnion that larger advance* k th ttaivly be mode, and Ui ,-ou will bv aakad to amend Ij^H Cotfhderlnjr too oiktoim and •ortatot additional dutim >y them, the salarjce or XagfetrMflH hould. it it considered, be ■d. and proposal* on that tfthetf >e placed before ya». !^^H lon. Gentlemen of the foiirojl and Ocattumen Boom DllTi»iwmtatlTOe.~ l^H We fwyeWeeßea of Hfe lew «|fl inadequacy fj protect

under which luay be laid against, demands your early a titenS>5?V V* ll tlw Dpiu.uni of my Ministers the nsbriou# and rates -of iiv- ?**,' tarest charged for money lout in ' aonie instanced render it necessary "*! that a maximum rate of interest and ■Cf the charges in respect of 'the sovenai classes of security upon which monP ' eya are advanced should l;« lixed bj f "law. Proposals to this entl will be submitted. ■r : A further endeavour bay; been tuade "!, to -festaWish a mail between this colony and Vancouver. Th'o Government of Queensland was agree*' ■i, able. to forego it» connections, but ■' o«nei" difficulties have arisen and a ,;i further has been entered in- . to between the Commonwealth of- ; Australia and Canada. My advis- .'• e™ will continue •tlafir cflorta to establish a mail service betnieen Van- , couver and- New Zealand. file laws relating to local government require amending. This important matter has had the' atten- * tionofmy advisers, and proposals . win be submitted having for their ob- \ lee' the relieving of Parliament and the laovanment of certain public works, thus enabling wore time. 1 to ue devoted to larger questions, „ reducing the number of local authorities. conferring extended P9 wers *on those remaining, and putting them in a better tinaricial position. A measure will be introduced to effect. an alteration in the laws respecting valuation. My advisers deem it advisable that valuations made by the Vialu&tion Department should i n future apply only to-State, departments, leaving local authorities to make their owes valuations, tho State to have the right, in cases of disputed valuations, to acquire tflC&e projie'. ties on paying t«t« per Cent. over the owner's value. Tfie delays which have taken place ii dealing with matters under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act have caused considerable inconveriiArice. My Ministers are strongly of the opinion that eSectual stops are required-- to prevent a continuance of ' these delays, that a maximum time should be fixed within wnich awards : Bhould be given after the cases have ifcard, and that should this be I Impossible under ex sting conditions >k ;S#coW Court slifculd be established. This, jvlth other alterations in the I, 'Cottii Hation and Arbitration Act, , ypi| will bd asked to consider. ■ la the' administration of the WorkWt' Comgensation for Accidents Act the law, as it &ands, has been found , •to inconvenient, and it is consid- L ered expediq.it and desirable that cm- j ployees should be able to apply for, ( and obtftiw payment of lump sums ( in cases of permanent injury, anil : that interim 'payments (under due ■afcguards) should be -made at statc-d intervals pendingMhe applications Jbe- , lng dealt w.tJ* Jjy the (iiurt. Bills providing for the extension of control of electric lines, lor -the general of our electrical ' laws, for the suppression of gain tiling, for the more complete inspec- • - tfon and improvement of our hospitals and cnfaritable institutions, and , the inspection of private hospitals ' awj nursing homes, for making bolter ! . provision for the protection of litis . and property from' Are, for placing lire brigades oh an improved footing, for the-repeal' of ClUuse 3 of the Shops j and Offices Act, 1904, and otherwise j making- sudh amendments in . Utis ■ measure as seem, desirable, and tor the referring of matters direct to the ' people Jjy way of the referendum, and other necessary measures will be placed before "you for your consitiera- , Aion.

My advisers have concluded tjic protection of the public, and in fairness to all concerned, all goods manufactured in the colony should be stamped and marked as having been made in New Zealand. The rapid denudation of our forests is a matter for your earnest consideration. At the present output from our kauri gum forests it is 1 estimated that they will be practically ex bau*ted within twenty years. Con' set)uently forestry-and treo planting should be ■more Vigorously carried on. It is considered, top. that the rejSsrvatjon of some forests, the timbers of which are required for spefcial industries, ia worthy -of your attention. With tiwi'vipje of faciffitating .the exchange of native lands, afai of enabh'ng natives to transfer to each other, my 'Ministers consider that the time has come for the abolition of stamp duties on such transfers,' and that greater facilities for exchange slioluld be provided. Provision having been made by (Parliament last session, a nursing homo has been established at Wellington and stepq are bring taken for the establishment of similar ones in various parts of the colony. The legislation in respect to the registration ofmidwives has been passed,tor the training of maternity .and other nurses, and in this respect a long-felt want has been provided for by increasing the nursing power in the .colony* .... . Vqu will, X feel confident, give the position of Iho colony, astfl the several matters tbart, I have , brought under vour notice, together with the measures that are to be submitted, your earnest and careful canstderat on,, and I trust that your labours and dec sionS may, wjth God's blessing, result in. materially promoting the prosperity, well-being and lasting benefit of the people of this fair land.