Parliament Opens

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 31, 26 June 1914, Page 7

Parliament Opens

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. UPPER HOUSIi TO BE RECONSTITUTED. OPENING UP THE COUNTRY. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION TO BE PUSHED FORWARD.

Wellington, Yesterday.

Parliament was opened to-day in ideal weather by the Earl of Liverpool. Following is his speech, which occupied twenty minutes in reading:—

Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives

Tt is with sincere pleasure that I meet you again in Parliament assembled.During the recess Ihave visited many parts of the Dominion, and have noticed with pleasure the general contentment which obtains amongst all classes. The settlers engaged in pastoral and agricultural pursuits are prospering. InI ilustries are flourishing, and the conditions of labor which exist in the Dominion are in tie main sufficient to provide reasonable comfort and happiness for the prudent worker. It is gratifying to be able to congratulate you onee more upon the remarkable prosperity of the country. Trade, as evidenced* by the Customs returns, has been unexampled. The value of the exports from our shores has reached an unprecedented height, and the imports represent in moneys worth an amount never before equalled. On every hand there j are signs of advancement. I Settlement of the land is progressing ■ rapidly. Development is proceeding apace, and the Dominion is steadily becoming a country in which the smaller holder predominates. The intercourse which I have enjoyed with the people has served to confirm J my confidence in their loyalty to the j throne and devotion to our most gra- ! cious Sovereign. It is fitting that I j 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 con- | dolences of my Government and the pcoI pie of New Zealand, and they have been duly acknowledged. I have recently visited tbe islands of the group which form part of tbe Dominion of New Zealand, and was accompanied by the Hon. Dr Pomare, the Minister in charge of the administration of the islands. I am satisfied that the information obtained during my visit will enable my ministers to improve the condition of these possessions of the Dominion. The measures to be proposed to you by my Government in relation to education were explained and were received with 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 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 recast, revised and consolidated.

It is with satisfaction that I am able to announce that the smallpox epidemic which broke out in this Dominion last j-ear has been coped with successfully. Every effort is being made to prevent the recudescence of this disease. The San 'Francisco mail service contract, whih 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 rate of freight of butter to America by both the Vancouver and San Francisco routes, and to meet the expected demand for space two larger steamers of improved design are to bo placed in the service from 31st December, 1915.

During the past year, three new wireless telegraph stations have been established, two high pfiwcr stations at Awanui and Awarua, and a low power station at the Chatham Islands.

Under the land registration of the last two sessions full effect is being given to the intention of Parliament. Tenants of Grown and settlement land have been enabled to acquire the fee simple of their holdings. The sub-division of private-ly-owned estates is proceeding rapidly. The tenures of land (including land within mining districts) have been improved. 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 the whole or parts of their runs at a revised rental, and in all parts of the country closer settlement has been pomoted.

The legislation authorising the constitution of special road districts, providing as it does for the expenditure of the moneys received from the land upon the construction of roads and bridges, is much appreciated, and will be of great value to the settlers living in remote and isolated parts of the country. The 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 has been a gratifying increase in the revenue derived from crown lands and land for settlements estates, the 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 Lanrenson, 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 broaches of the law daily occurred, but thanks to the efficiency of the permanent police and to the admirable public spirit displayed by the citizens of the Dominion, who proffered their services as foot and mounted special constables, peace and order were speedily restored. The produce of the country was shipped without undue delay to the markets of the world, and a state of industrial quiet re-established. The problem of the cost of living has enRil "e<l the attention of my advisors 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 difficult to obtain financial assistance for public works and other services. I am pleased to be able to announce that during the last financial Tear circumstances combined to make money more plentiful, and my advisors were able to procure at reasonable rates sums of money sufficient to meet the general requirements of the I Dominion, besides arranging for the re- | demption, renewal and conversion or maturing loanß raised in- past years.

The completion of the Main Trunk | line between Wellington and Auckland has tended to open up large areas of lative 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 arc working under disadvantageous conditions. My advisors are of opinion that no policy of land settlement is sound wnich does not include a progressive scheme for road construction, and propose to 9ubmit for your consideration a measure which makes provision for the creation of satisfactory means of communication in isolated and badly roaded districts. Further, the remarkable growth of settlement and tbe rapid expansion of the business of the country during recent years have 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 in progress. The Tongariro National Park, which lies half way between Auckland ann Wellington, comprising 62,300 acres, and containing within its boundaries interesting mountain scenery and other natural attractions, can witb 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 natural beauties of New Zealand.

Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, —

Estimates for the year bave been framed with due regard to economy, consistent with efficiency, and will be duly laid before you. Notwithstanding the non-inclusion of the proceeds of land sales and loss of railway income, consequent on dislocation of industries by the strike and the smallpox epidemic, the public revenue for the past financial year Ha shown a substantial increase Full information Warding the recent loan transactions will be placed before The ever-inerßfeng demand on the part of the pubic for'treatment in our general hospitals will entail the additional expenditure upon buildings for reception of patients and for the maintenance of patients admitted to those institutions. It has been recognised for many 3-ears that system upon which sudsi r dies have been paid and grants from public funds have been made to local bodies for development purposes is objectionable, unbusinesslike, and uneconomical. A Bill will bo introduced containing provisions, which, it is hoped, will ensure a fairer apportionment and a more careful expenditure of these publie moneys.

Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives—

A Bill providing for the eketnon of members of the 'Legislative Council toy the system of proportional representation in large electoral divisions was introduced in the Legislative Council in the second session of the year ISH2, but was then postponed by the Council lor consideration in tjlws following year in th/ 3 same session. The House of;_ Representatives passed resolutions affirming the necessity for reform of the constitution in the direction proposed by that Bill. In ihc session of IUI3 another Bill to the same effect, modified in some of its provisions, was introduced in. the Legislative Council, but failed to obtain the approval of tie Council. The Bill of 1013 will again be introduced during your present session iu tlue Legislative Council.

At the commencement of the session of 1013 the Legislative Council consisted of fortv-two members 1 . On the Ist July, 11914, "if no new appointments were made the number of members of the Council would he reduced by effluxion of the terms of appointment and by Icatli to 28, of whom seven bold appointments for life. It is therefore found necessary to make further present appointments, not only for the purpose of passing into law the BUI reforming the constitution of the Council, but alao for due: consideration of all legislation submitted to both Houses of Parliament, inasmuch as the proposed change in the constitution lias 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 propose that the Legislative Council! Act shall "become law during the present session, but tlhat its commencement shall !be postponed until after the session of Parliament to be. held in the vear 1915.

During the past year the training of the land forces of the Dominion lias madw satisfactory .progress. At the invitation of the Government General Sir lan Hamilton, Inspector-General of Oversea Forces, recently visited tire Dominion and inspected every tmit 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 troops, the qualifications of the higher commanders and stall's, and the practice of the three aims in field operations. The conduct of the men of the citizen army, and of the cadets at the territorial camps at tih-e eiulot concentrations, and during '.ho journeys by rail and siea. to and from the ;ptaccs of assembly, was, a-s a rule, exemplary. The season was late, and the weather was generally unfavorable, yet notwithstanding "these disadvantageous conditions, the spirit of the troops and cadets was all tlhat could be desired, and 'afforded a vahuiWe testimony to the benefits of the training.

Tilie assembling of the units of -the territorial forces in tamp and all cadet companies for inspection at tOic same time taxed the organisation and administrative machinery of the Defence and Railway Departments, and it ivas only owing to the zeal and energy and uilr ceasing hard work of those responsible for district an i Jocal arrangement* that it waa rendered possible. Tlie valuable criticisms and suggestions which the In-spector-General lias made, and Uiui advice which he has tendered are receiving the consideration of the Government. The defence of the Pacific, a pro Mem )f great difficulty, has engrossed the attention of my advisers during, the recess, and in accordance with the decision commiunieated to you during your last session of Parliament, Captain HallThompson has been appointed to act as adviser to the Government on naval mat-l-cis, and to coiummd the training ship lent by the Admiralty, ft is probable that during the forthcoming year a conference <in naval affairs, to which the Government of New Zealand lias already been invited to scud' representatives, will be convened by the Imperial Government..

Seven months sigo tlie present General Manager of the Dominion railways /ommenced his nc-w duties. He (has sraoo I>een.engaged inspecting tlie various railway lines throughout tlie Dominion, and in making himself conversant with the railway system and itfe workings. In the comprehensive report upon tdiis large , State undertaking,, which' the General Manager ia \ repining, re-

: commendations ivßidoJi, if given effect to, 1 will make the railways of the country more valuable to the commercial community and more ailraetive to the travelling public. To carry into effect the Important works, -which'must be undertaken to ensure the safe and- proper working of the raibway;;- of the Dominion proposals will hi ".übmitted for your consideration. In accordance with the legislation of last session a Board of Agriculture has been constituted- and ilias commenced its duties. The Board consists of practical and experienced wgricultm-alists, and it is confidently expected that by it:* interest Hid advice the agricultural industry will 'be greatly, benefited. The system of workers' 'homes has been extended to the country districts, ft is intended to sulbmit legislation providing that the area of kind attached to workers' homes s'hafl in su* cases bo. 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 Iheji own Ihomes at reasonable prices and on easy terms with land surrounding each tome appropriate to the locality in which it is situated.

The state of the education system of the Dominion lias been closely investigated by a Parliamentary committee, and by the niemberfe of a" Coimraisaion, and as a result of deliberations my advisers have decided l to lay More you a Bill which, while improving tilie con ditions of employment of teachers, aims also at effecting a general advance in methods of education. '

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

Tfc -visit of a party of member* of the Imperial Parliament to New Zealand during your lfsx session was welcomed by myself and my advisers a* evidencing the general desire in which, I am well assured, you join for cJoser association of the Parliaments of the Empire. Mv Ministers were enabled to confer with Lord Emmort, the Under Secretary of btate for the colonies, who was chairman of the party of visitors, upon several questions wJiidh are of interefet to both (governments.

Early this year New Zealand welcomed at Auckland the tenth session of the Australasian Medical Congress. My ad yisers are 1 giving earnest consideration to the conclusion arrived at Iby the con-l

During the present year the- British Association will hold its meeting in Australia. It has ieen arranged that some of the distinguished scientific gentlemen attending (fat meeting shall afterwards visit New Zealand and ddldvet addresses m> their special subjects.

During next year a great exiiroitior, will be held at San Prancifeco, and tKa Dominion has been invited by the United event. My Ministers flmvc made ,lrhTTlt* f ? ,«•• P">Per Tepresentason to believe that the country will asa result, reap substantial comniereial'advantage.

.During the recess considerate discuswon hiaa tafcn place upon two subjects eSpe °- -° f Which " ia apparent ffi public opinion is largely divided—iirstly, amending of the (licensing laws, «nd seconly «!,«,request that definite questions gating to the Bible reading in schools MiMl -be submitted to tfie electors bv re.erendura at the ensuing general election. You will J iave opportunity dunV tiie present of arriving at a con"-t-.usion upon both issues'. / . Measures relating to the following subPlaced before you for eonsideration-in-section 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 and rating, and laws contractors' and workmen? SV* superannuation, tfe New Healand University, the Victoria College Council,, and other matwltl, J T """"""J ail the matters to which I have referred to your careful DWufp 10 "'/'" 11 ta "t under vX I I 1 *™* yOUr effort& t0 Promote the happiness and -well-bom" of thereof New Zealand may