THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1646, 13 October 1887, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The first session of the tenth Parliament of Now Zealand was yesterday opened by the Governor, when His Excellency was phased to make tho following speech Hon. Gentlemen of' the LegislititbT Cotjnoil and Gentlemen of thb Hoxtsb of Represent vtives,— ' I have great pleasure in meeting you in Parliament assembled. It affords too much gratification to be able to announce to you that the ceremonies on the occasion of the 50th year of Her Majesty's reign were celebrated with a splendour unsurpassed in the annals of our country, and evoked the most cordial feelings of loyalty, enthusiasm, Hnd public,reverence and respect in all parts of Her (Majesty's dominions. The Imperial Cpnfsreuco held in London to discuss subjects relating to the prosperity and- advancement and protection of all interests affecting her nasty's colonial possessions, concluded its sittings on the 9th M»y last. The results of its deliberations are regarded by the Imperial authorities and by the Colonial representatives as being of a satisfactory nature. The most important point of agreement is the dotermination to provide for the more efficient defence of Her Mnjasty's distant possessions;against attack. Papers relating to the subject will be laid bffore you. In its results the geooral election just concluded points to a firm reso've on the part of the people of New Zealand to ensure effective and substantial retrenchment in the cost of the Fublic Service. My Ministers feel it is thoir first duty, and it is their intention to propose to Parliament. large reductions in the public expenditure of the colony. These reductions \»i'l be made in a manner best calculate riot to produce inconvenience and hardship. To the subject of land administration my Ministers attach great iuiportacce, and I am assured they will m;.ke increasing efforts to secure (he location of iTosremiiß c'nsaee of settlers upon the lauds of the colony. It has boen well said that New Zealand stands unrivalled among British an a field for settlemeot, and the aim of all of whatever political creed should be <o promote the estab'iahment of a nnmeroiu ;<n-\ prosperous agricu!uVr«l community, wliOmo industry cannot fail to add ro the materJTii progress of the colony as a first step, and as soon as piac'icable, p:opo*ils will be submitted to you to render the land system less (vindicated, and to make tho lands of the colony m -re easy of acquirement in small holdings, and upon such tenure as selectors may prefer. My Ministers- also recognise the difficul y undar which some small holders of land from the Crown are atruegling, and will consider what, can be done to aff<>rd them masonab'e reli f. In regard to our railways, it is the opinion of many competent to judge that the ays em und«r which th. 3 rat'ways «re worked ia una n,Ufactory, and it is believed that judicious changes can ba made whereby the public convenience will be more consulted and better revenue obtained. My Ministers recognise that alterations in the tariff ir-3 required to remove the anomalies which havo btf*n brought hto ex'stence by the altered cmHiUon of fiinga. Tn?y were anxious to ha*e laid before you proposals for a readjustment, of dmies, but umil you give your opinion upon their measures for t-ff cting retrenchment in the Public Service they fee! that alterations r>f a thorough and satisfactory nature cannot be made. They will, however, during the coming reenss give the'matter their care'ul conaideiation *nd will bring Wafora you measures dealing with this import.i:t suhj-el. A« the recess will ner-es'uri'y be a short one, the time lost trill, in the opinion of my Ministers, be more than compensated for by the «nbj*ct b«ingrf»»«lt with deliberately and thoroughly! My Ministers have under consider ttion the necessity of arrending the laws relating to Naii»e lands, and it will pro.Ks'bly be necessary during th* present seßUon to pass some measure of a temporary charao- *»X torto allay tho feeling of dissatisfaction which at pr-*ent exH«, After .ssceryb* ing during the recess the views and wNiSes of the Mative people, and after weighing the mbjeot carefully in all its bearings, comprehensive m»asup*s wflj be for j our consideration, Gentlemen of the Housjb o» sentatives,— "'«^-' The estimates of revenue »nd exoenl™ 1 lure nill show in detail the reductions 16 which I h-ive already alluded. I regret to say that at the present time our pr{r rjL pal source of revenue, the Customs, <d> >« 00 of improvement, but jny v's-ti trust thdt by limiting the pn' {; fJf«'»"'d't tuie it will be possible t -1 void pacing further burden« 00 f- • p vple,

HON. GENTLEMEN OF THE LeGISLATITB Council and Gentlemen of the House or Representatives,— This tbo second session of the year being necessarily held at an inconvenient period, and under extraordinary circumstances, it is proposed to submit for your consideration only such measures as may be urgently required. Negotiations relative to the construction of the Midland Railway are still pending, and you will be required to express your opinion on certain important points which yet remain to be Battled. Consistently with their dnty to the colony, my Ministers will use every effort to enable Parliament to arrive lit a fair and reasonable solution of the existing difficulties in connection with this important work. My Government view with satisfaction the strong feeling manifested by people of the Colony generally in favor of oqr Education system, and desire to convey an assurance that whilst its expense will be curtailed wherever practicable no step will be taken by tbem which would have the effect of impairing its efficiency. I commend to your attention the important questions that will bo brought before you, and I hope that under th« bles'ing of God your labors raiy prove of great service to the colony.