THE SESSION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9614, 7 October 1909, Page 5

THE SESSION.

TO-DAY'S OPENING. FORECAST OF GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. As the few days' sitting of Parliamert in June last ranks as a session to-day's function will be officially know as the opening of the second session of the seventeenth Parliament. The principal reference in the Sp:ech will, of course, be to the recent Defence Conference in London. Parliament will be aaked to ratify the proposals already outlined by the Prime Minister in respect to naval defence and the Govern.nent's intentions in regard to land defence will aibO be dealt with. It has already been announcad hi the Premier that Cabinet will ask Parliament to affect in our existing laws a number of amendments found necessary to facilitate either their smoother operation or a wider sphere of usefulness. The Government's chief desire will probably be declared to be not to pass a large mass of new legislation, but to restrict efforts to improving aril perfecting the operation of existing mea ures, "Sdf-help must precede State help," 13, a doctrine laid down by the Prime Minister, and it is on this doctrine tint two important measures 'o be introduced will be based. These are the National An • nuiths and LanJ Settlement Finance Bills, both have already been bef jre Parliament. The latter, as it tippeared before, provides that five or more men without land and without the means of getting land, could acquire a limited area of freehold by the State' guarantee. The State woal.l merely guarantee the lender of thj purchase money any deficiency which might arise under his security. The measure is regarded by Sir Joseph Ward as one which would be of immense importance in the promotion oE the settlement of our land. As to the National Annuities or Provident scheme, the Government's attitude is expected to bs that it may require modification in detail, but that the principle will be made law. It is designed to enable the people to mßke provision against sickness and accident, and also to provide for their old age. The probable intentions of the Government in respect to native land legislation were explained recently in the Age. It is anticipated th&t reference will be made in the'--Speech to the evergrowing need of pushing on a vigorous native land settlement policy. The consolidation of the mass of legislation affecting native areas over a long series of yeais will in itself mean a good deal, and the new proposals for snsuring more speedy and satisfactory occupation of these lands than has been the ease in the past will be looked forward to with no small amount of interest. Particular interest centres in the tenurs that will be proposed.