OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3296, 15 July 1879, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

THI2 &OVEBKWS SPEECH

[By Telegbaph.J

*; Wellington* This da|. Ihe *New Zealand Parliament was opened this afternoon in the usual form. The following is the Governor's Speech : Hon. Legislative Councillobs and Gentlemen oftA House of Kbpeesentatives-*'

It is a great pleasure to me, so shortly after najr assumption of the Government of this (polony, to meet the Legislative Council and the Eepresentatives. of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. *S|)uring the limited time which. h& elapsed since my arrival I have endeavored^as far as possible to make myaelf acquainted nwith the capabilities *nd requirements of the country, and to gain, by personal in: tercourse, a knowledge of itf public men, and of the various- communities Bpread throughout its wide extent. The first iimprlssions which I have%ormed are very favourable. I have been much grttified by the loyal and cordial receptions which has everywhere been accorded to me as Her Majesty's representative t afld I bave not failed to, note witb,kadmiratioh>the extent and variety of the resources ¥of the country, and the and enterprise which are developing them with such marvellous rapidity. I gladly avail mjrse|f of this opportunity to expresi to you, as representing both races of the people of New Zealand, my. grateful ackriowledgmentioY |he welcdmjb,which has been extended tomi, and to offer my congratulations upon the fair, healthy, and fertile country* which Providence** has g|yen to you as an inheritance. My responsible advifers fully recognise^ the desire that .exists for the enactment; of measures Which will gecure*a more equal rejjjpesetitlon^of the people; for a more: frequent return of jngmbers to their constituencies fq| re-election ; for an equitabl*Jiistribu* tidn of burdens of taxation; and for a mode for just and judicious dealing with public lands, an|l«with those belonging to nacres as a first slsp tqwards giving effect to these desires. Thl following .measures will amongst others be laid before ,y"jOUj:jA bill to amend the law relating to eleCr tors qualified to vote at the elections of members of House, of Eepresentatives, and able to make the provision for representation of people in the General Assembly, These measures, if they receive your sanction,, will secure manhood suffrage on a residental qualification io Europeans, and will give the franchise to men of the native race who are enrolled on .a ratepayers' roll, or who hold individual grants from the Crown of land to a certain value. The effect of the measures will also be to adjust representation as far as practicable on the basis of population, and to.limit duration of future Parliaments to 3 years. A measure will be submitted to you providing that in future no reserved lands shi'll be dealt with only by public auction or public tender thereby abolishing 1 the present monopoly of dealing lands, securing the best price for native owners,'and giving to everyone an opportunity of competing for sales or lease. It is also under consideration how far the principle of public; auction ought to be fairly anid beneficially apppliedjto such native lands as now remain unsurveyed,or the titles to which have not been investigated by the, Court, the disposal of such land with the consent of the Native -owners under the existing land laws of the colony, would greatly promote the increase of settlement, while at the same time it would secure to the Native owners the full value of their estate. Inquiries are now being made to ascertain the Native opinions generally, and if acceptable to them a Bill for this purpose will be laid before you. The fanaticism which has prevailed on the West coast of this island for some years past has during the recess assumed a- somewhat alarming appearance; the 'necessary steps have been taken to secure the peace of the district, and it is possible that a peaceful solution of the difficulty prill be found. Papers in reference to this matter will be laid before you. | The negotiations irith the Waikato Natives have been suspended, and all offers of settlement have been withdrawn, so that future negotiations mus^becom- Tmenced on a new basis. The behaviour of Tawhiao and his people continues friendly and peaceful, and my advisers have good reason; to believe that' these relations will be maintained. At (he same time the wellknown chief Eewj has given further important proof.of his good faith and loyalty. The attitude taken by him affords a guarantee for the continuance of peace, and the maintenance of this would in a short time lead to the opening up of the interior for settlement. Generally the behaviour of the Native people has been peaC3ful. . J Very great progress has been made m acquisition of native lands as public estate, especially in localities through which the proposed trunk lines of railway in the North Island are likely to pass. ; Gentlemen op the House of Eepbesemtatives— :'■ ■■■■"'■' ] It could be gratifying to you to learn that the revenue received under nearly all heads having amounted to about £190,00 J. Under the head of Land Eevenue a large deficiency has occurred, but it. must be borne in mind that, whilst a deficiency of the Customs Eevenue of that charactor would be b loss to the Colony which could be never replaced, a falling off of Land Eevenue practically means only that so much less Crown land than was calculated on has been sold. During the period in question, the Crown land, which is the capital of the country still, remains for sale, and can be sold when the progress of settlemeut will give it an enhanced value. The policy which you sanctioned last year of reserving Crown lands from safe in districts through which railways are in course of formation until their construction is complete, will necessarily add to the value of the proceeds which may be anticipated from the Bale of such lands.: : The falling off in the sal* of Crown lands, during the year may be attributed in part to the depression

which has prevailed through*the world, formally less in New Zealand than else- : where, but chiefly to the postponement of the sales of confiscated laud. '!£e probable continuation during the current financial year of a decreased land revenue renders it requisite in the opinion of my Government to impose fresh taxation to get the requirement of the colony in "accordance with the principle of equalising the incidence of taxation. A measure *will be presented to you for imposing a tax on income. One result of that-tax will be, that so soon as the finances of the country admit of*it being done, the Legislature can lessen, and ultimately* abolish all duties which;now press heavily on the necessaries of life, and th« spring's *f industry. Those railways wjbich, under Parliament have> been completed between luge centres of population are now yteldiog a yearly revtuue'wincft, not only meets the charge of their maintenance but pays a large proportion of the interei^ 6a the cost o|; their.; constraetionv; :.*he'estimated* "gross revenu% of k *Jhese raiU ways* 1 ifor ; ■ the * 'euiljenir - ) year is '■£$50,000. Th«f have'given a greatly^enhanced value to property throughjjLUfcgthe colony, hafe > materially promoted . -4he development of its resources, fin* * coufcfgod by this experience the Government propose to proceed vigorously with the construction those lines which have already been,made or authorised by Parliament the completion of which will be of great advantage to the entire community, anWibritKat'j^^ to be submitted *to you authorising an additional loan of £500,000 to be raised. The Estimates, wtiich wijl be laid before you, haie been prepared with a careful regard for economy.

HbN. tiEOISIiiTItE OScfrC&tdßis GBisxijetMEi?., of, ,;,???,, House o% SBPEEdEN^iXJVBS-^-"' 1-" ' ■ ' »* My advisers are of opinion that the * present system of County local* Jelf* , Kovehinient should be placed on v*? better footing, and that this should fife done, without impairing self-governing powers* possessed by Eoadßo*rd# tod municipalities*. A bill will, therefore, be sub* mitted to you for enabling County Councils to raise under certain conditions and subjedt" to theiassent ofthe ratepayers, loans for public works such as can now be raised !byoMunicipalftiesli> rTbt>^B*lh#ill contain, provisions intended to encourage the'union bt W6'W< more couritieirQ'or executing such works, but it^will not be sought to with'.liold't^'poWera'froitf'Sny county standing alone, provided the various conditions are complied with. . \ , ; It would be manifestly impossible for the Government to present duringthis session measures which would effect in ; their entirety, all the objects wjhich have been undecided, nevertheless''the Ueasures which will be proposed are aft in -' the direction which: my advisers believe to be inconsistent with the wishes ,of the PQuntry. , , ■■ - ,t r ' 'Among other important •'Bills ■Kwhich have to be submitted to you are & Bill to suspend plurality ,of .voting in cases of election to local governing ! bodi9B,,,whjigt those bodies are. subsidised out of, tte general revenue of the Colony. •, , iU \ A Bill for the better management;lnd the Maintenance of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions, and a Bill to Begulate the Immigration of Chinese inaccordsiice with the intention stated in to^ predecessor's speech last session. ' " ' ■"■'>~'^ ' A Koyal Commissioner has been ap- . pointed to inquire into the subject of higher education. Papers on the subject will'be laid-before you. :■ ilf ./, >I am confident that your careful attention will be bestowed on all measures which may be. brought before you in the interests of the Colony. I desire to unite cordially with you in carrying out-the wisheß of our Most Gracious Sovereign, for' the welfare rind happinessU^of of Her Majesty's subjects of both ra^ej.in New Zealand. I humbly express my hope that Divinel Providence may bless our endeavour to attain those beneficent ends. , , .. ..