OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10297, 28 July 1911, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH

The following Speech was delivered by His Excellency tho Governor (Lord Isliugton) at the opening of tho last session of tho New Zealand Parliament yesterday: — SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives. —

It affords me much nlensure to again meet you in Parliament assembled. During the recess I have visited,most of the larger centres of the Dominion, and several of the outlying districts, and have mado myself acquainted with tho people. My preconceptions regarding their loyalty to the Throne, and their devotion to our Most Gracious Sovereign, have been amply confirmed, and this greatly enhanced the pleasure of my visits and was most gratifying to mo both as the representative of His Majesty and also personally. THE CORONATION. The Coronation of His Most Gracious Majesty King George V. took place on tho 22nd .Time with befitting ceremony, and tho loyalty and enthusiasm displayed, not only in Great Britain and Ireland, but also throughout His Majesty's va-t Dominions, gihow thin, his subjects far and wide repard him an unworthy successor to his noble father, and that it is with infinite { trust that they leave in his hands tho | serous and arduous task of guiding J the destinies of the Empire through •rll difficulties and complications of domestic and international affairs. Congratulations were sent to His Majesty from the Government and people of New Zealand, and addresses were sent from the women of'the Dominion and the Maori populatijn. ] These were most graciously p.nd acknowledged to the people of New Zealand in common with those J of the other Oversea Dominions. The I ceremonv wa« ' of xmprecedented in- !. teres* in vie;r of the fact that His Majesty, as Duke of Cornwall and York, was the first of his illustrious line to visit every portion of the Empire. x

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. \

An Imperial Conference of the Prime Ministers of the Overseas Dominions a?id representatives of the British Cabinet was summoned to meet in London. This Conference was attended by .my Prime Minister and Attorney-Genera,!. The results of the Conference have been most satisfactory, and the details of its proceedings will be placed before you. • THE WEBSTER CLAIM.

The claim made by the Government of the United States of America against the Imperial Government, known as Webster's claim, has received careful attention by the Prime Minister and Attorney-General. Your representatives had several Conferences with the British Embassy in -America, and also with the Home Government in London, which have resulted in an arrangement between the Home Government and the Government of this country which they ; consider comparativelv satisfactory to the interests of New Zealand. OBITUARY. - During the twelve months death has, removed the Hon. "William Cowper Stnith, of the. Legislative Council,-a gentleman who had earned for himself the esteem and respect of both branches of the Legislature. CONTINUED PROSPERITY. I cm gki to be able to congratulate you on the continued prosperity of the Dominion, and on the increase in the material well-feeing of the people. As evidenced by the returns and reports of the State service?, the condition of the people generally is much im- - ' proved, contentment and happiness obtaining everywhere, and the outlook for our producers, and those engaged in manufacture, trade and comi.merce, is encouraging.

. THE FARMING INDUSTRY. The farming industry, equally with tjhe other industries of\New Zealand, continues to develop not only rapidly, but on a firmer 'basis than in the past. Although lire stock products still form; the great < bulk of our exports, .flnd wool easily maintains its position., fas the most valuable of these, yet the Dominion is by no means so dependent as formerly upon the price on any one staple. Closer settlement of extensive tracts of country once grazed ; : in ; large areas is: now reflected not only in the increased value, but also in tlie greater diversity of exports of farm produce, the most noticeable ;features in this healthy change being the increases in production of butter and cheese. Having in view the conditions of the world's markets for commodities that New Zen land exports and alw) the probable effect of the 'competition of other countries, my advisers consider that there is ever£ reason to expect. <a continuance or even an augmentation of the prosper■■'}iv which has lately characterised the Hrifde and industry -of the-Dominion.

DEVELOPMENT WORKS. During tho past year my advisers", have' continued the work of ashisting 'the settlement of the country by steadily pursuing the construction of 'railways, roads and bridges in various parts of New Zealand tinder authorities granted by Parliament. The means of communication in districts more remote from the principal settlements have l>een appreciably improved by the formation and extension of roads and tracks. More progress might have been made in this direction, but for the fact that during the last year the labour which was expected to be available for road works during the summer was. to a. larger extent than usual, absoi-bed an other industrial pursuits, and was not obtainable during the months most favourable for work in tho backblocks.

NEW MAIL SERVICE. My advisers have completed arrangements on satisfactory terms for the establishment of a mail service between Now Zealand and Cnnadf. via Fiji and Hawaii. The service from New Zealand will commence on' the 4th of August next, and from Canada on the 6th Soptember. •THE CENSUS. - ■ The result of last census is- most

gratifying, the population having increased to over one million, exclusive of Maoris. The Maori population shows an increase of over two thousand. Exclusivo of the Maoris, the increase since the census of 1906 is 119.829. Tho estimated population to 31st March, 1911, was 1,006,757, a difference of only 1650 from the census population taken two days later, which must be considered as a very close estimate. The estimated increase of births during the five years since 1906 was 80.367. and the increafo by immigration 36,712. The arrivals in the Dominion have been largely in excess of the departures.

REPRESENTATION COMMISSION. The Representation Commission to delimit the boundaries of tho electorates on the basis of the population rtastics, revealed by the census, is fitting, jnid the result of its labours will be duly placed before you.

ASSISTED IMMIGRATION. My Ministers have continued their policy of granting assistance towards the payment of passages of farm labourers and domestic workers from the United Kingdom, and during the yea/ the number of persons thus assisted amounted to 2624. Arrangements were made with tho shipping _ companies trading to the Dominion; whereby young women domestic workers were enabled to obtain passages at a much reduced rate. Included ir the number mentioned above there are 831 of these workers. CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Tho demand for land 'or closer settlement still continues under the Land for . Settlement A't and evow endeavour is being made to acquire land for this purpose. Areas, however, that are suitable and can be seciired at a reasonable price are becoming restricted. On the other h<md. under the Land Settlement Finance Act very satisfactory progress is being made, and, as time goes on, it isexpected that the provisions of the Act will be more largely taken advantage of.

NATIVE LAND. The general benefit arising from recent legislation affecting Native lands is now being felt. In all parts of the Dominion the Natives show a strong de-siro to bring themselves into touch with closer s-ettlempnt. They are using the machinery of the Native Land Court and Boards for the adjustment of their title and the. disposal of their lands. The Native Land Purchase Board' has acquired a considerable area of land, which will be further augmented as soon as the necessary surveys and valuations now being pushed oil vigorously are completed.

HOSPITALS CONFERENCE. The recent conference of' hospital authorities, and the tone of the discussions on the various important problems with which the Hospital Boards are, confronted, show that they are very much alive to the need for a general extension of our hospital system in the 'direction of the prevention as well as tho cure of disease. The decisions arrived at at'tho Conference were based oil intimate knowledge of tho needs of the Dominion, and my advisers arc giving careful consideration thereto.

"ROYAL COMMISSIONS. Tho Commission apnointed. under thn Gaming Act Amendment Act of last se~si«n, the Commission appointed to inquire .into the route of the North Auckland main trunk railway, and the Commission appointed under the Kaiapoi Reserve Act, have concluded their inquiries and submitted their reports. These will be placed before you in due course.

FINANCE. Mr Speaker, and Gentlemev of the House of Representatives,—- • Tlie estimates of revenue and expenditure for, the year will be placed before you. They have been prepared with due regard to economy, consistent with efficiency. The revenue for the past year exceeded the estimate, and show* an increase upon that for the previous financial year. I am, therefore, pleased to say that the year's transactions resulted in a substantial surplus. The post audit system has been introduced, and id working smoothly and" satisfactorily, and is decidedly conducive to prompter payment. "- ■ NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND.

..TliQi National Provident Fund Act of last"Session is*now "."''an:'■'' operation, placing within easy reach of our peo-r vile, the'j means of lightening the burdens of maternity as well as protecting- a young family, and ensuring independence,in old age.

WATER POWER; The professional gentleman selected by my advisers to act as chief electrical engineer in connection with the development of hydro-electric power has arrived in the Dominion, and has entered upon his duties with an energy and enthusiasm which encourages the hope that the first large scheme to be undertaken will, within a reasonable period, be in successf;:! operation. Much valuable investigation in connection with this undertaking has been accomplished by the assistant electrical engineer who was in • charge for' a short, time nending the arrival-of the principal electrical; engineer from England. , IRRIGATION. .'■ Survey work in connection with an

important scheme for the irrigation of a largo area of suitablo land in the Ida Valley, Central Otago, has been completed, and my responsible advisers are now in a position to enter into contracts for tne supply of water to land-owners in accordance with the provisions of the authorising legislation passed during the last session of Parliament. The Last Chance water-race, originally constructed and used for many years in ' connection with mining operations, has been acauired by the Government on favourable terms, and it is propos- : ed to utilise the race as a source of supply for the irrigation of consider- [ able areas of land at Bald Hill. Earnscleugh Flat, and the intervening country. Other irrigation schemes presenting favourable features are receiving careful attention.

MINERALS. The outputs of gold and silver from out- mines show a slight decline, but this is more than compensated*, for ov tho increase in the output of coal, which, for the first time, reached ever two million tons. The mining industrv produced minerals during the year to the total value of over £3.750,000. Sine* the commencement of mining within +ho Dominion, wealth to the value of over £111,000,-000 has been won.

THE LABOUR MARKET. In regard, to the labour market, I am informed, that the outlook for the immediate future is very promising indeed. Although we are well into the winter, applications for employment at the various bureaux of labour have been fewer than for many years past.

WORKERS' DWELLINGS. Great interest has been taken in the Workers' Dwellings Act passed last session. ,under which workers in any part of New Zealand are now enabled to apply for the purchase of residences on. payment of the small deposit of £lO, thohalance being payable by eavy instalments covering a period of twenty-five years and a half. In resoonse to the large number of applications received, arrangements have already been completed for the erection of a number of dwellings.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. To ascertain whether the scheme for insurance against unemployment should be adopted in New Zealand inquiries are being made into the various schemes formulated by Great Britain and other countries of Europe, and the intention.of the Government will be announced later. " DEFENCE. '

In pursuance of the, recommendations of Lord Kitchener, and in Accordance with the general scheme of defence, a commandant of the defence forces has been appointed, and my advisers have been fortunate in securing the services of so eminent a military expert as Major-General Godley. 1

am glad to bo able to announce that ' under the new system of universal training brought into operation by the Defence. Act, youths between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one have been registered, and are now being Medically examined for service in the senior cadets and territorial forces of the Dominion. Tho results of registration have been satisfactory, and the spirit in which this call upon pat-, riotism and the sense of duty of the people have been met is highly commendable. Tho youths registered will be posted to various units of the forces, and it is confidently expected that the scheme adopted for the training, clothing and equipping of the new force thus brought into existence for the defence of the Dominion will very shortly 1->o in fr l ! working order. jAnart. from the military '-"snect of the movement, and even if +ho r n n nro never rermired to nrm for the defence ef the'V the cnl training of o"r youths r.bonld p™;i mar lro <" 1 in efficiency. a"d rmysiquo of the cit ; 7"T"! of New The i.eiv sehemo wan es+ablished at Tanherenikau nnd proved most fuecessfnl. In connection wit 1, tbis, r». '"onort bv the director of military training will be dnly placed before you a-. ,t-> mnendix to the annual vtyport of the General Officer .commanding.

, OUR DREADNOUGHT. I am happy to congratulate y>n np--<n the launching of +-he Dreadnought "New Zealand." -which took pnlco nt Glasgow on the first clay of this month, in the presence of a large number of spectators. .

THE PRISON SYSTEM

The revision or the existing prison svstem is progressing steadily, and a Prisons Board has been set up under the legislation of last sesr.ior. A report of t\w operations of. the Board will be furnished to you in due course.

NEW LEGISLATION. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, —

"For fomo considerable time no sub■■•rai'tial amendment .has been made in the law relating to per-ons of unsound mind. ..Legislation dealing with men■MW defective persons needing oversight, care and' control will be submitted to you. A Bill amending the Native Land Act. 1009, will be submitted for your consideration. It will deal with various matters that have been noted in pn*6tice during the period since the Bill came into operation. Bills effecting improvements *n the existing law will be, submitted to you in respect to workers' compensation, industrial conciliation and arbitration, and wage? protection. A measure dealing with the important question of town-planning will be .submitted for your consideration. The question of the eradication of noxious weeds has become one of vital importance. Something may be-dono to minimise the evil by a regulation of the sale of seeds, and a Bill dealing with the matter will be introduced. .The-Administration Act, the Births and Deaths Registration Act, the Marriage Act, the Pharmacy Act; tho Shipping and Seamens'Act, and the Mining Act require amendment in many important details, and measures for that purpose will 1«» .submitted for your consideration. Bills will be introduced dealing with loans to local bodies, local government, patent*, designs and trade .marks, registration of pluiribers, -sale' of poisons., 'and-other important matters. A SHORT SESSION;

In view of the lengthy session last j year, and the large amount of import- ] ant legislation which then passed, my j advisers are of opinion that this ses-, sion may be a comparatively short one in order that the general election may be completed as early as possible. Commending the proposals of my Ministers to your earnest attention. I pray that with the blessing of Almighty God, the resplts of labours may be for the good of the Empire, 'and of lasting benefit to Uio people of New Zealand.