The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1887. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2583, 27 April 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1887. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Either Sir Robert Stout or Sir Julius Vogol could write a vigorous, telling, eloquent Governor's speech, but. inthe dry, circumstantial statement, which we publish in ourprcsont issue, wo find but little trace of their knightly pens. Perhaps • tho composition of the documont was relegated to some trusty, official Barnacle, who could be relied upon to tone down the various florid proposals to which Ministers wero committed during the recess, and to present them-to the House in a form, favorable for assimilation. For example Mr Balance's resumption of private estates bill, or aq'uis'ition of land measure, or spoliation of freeholds project, or confiscation of crown grants proposal, is put in the following distressingly mild form:—" It will bo for you to consider whether exceptional legislation is not desirable to establish Small Farm Settlement, where there arc no Crown Lands available." Poor Mr Ballance's bold scheme is pretty well planed down Lore, but compensation is extended to him in another part of the speech, where a foolish flourish of trumpets is made over his native administration. This is calculated to aniuso those members to whom it is now a matter of notoriety that the efforts of the Native Minister have resulted in a fiasco, which is every day becoming more and more apparent. . There is a lot of Imperialism in the speech, but this element is ono that will not excito much interest outside tho circle of knights and expectant knights, who are specially interested in Court favors. Very little is said in tho speech about finance, the most serious deficit the Colony has yot had to face being dismissed by a curt paragraph, recognising the necessity of limiting the expenditure of the Colony. A Bill for tho reform of tho Legislative Council is promised in connection with the representation measure, possibly as a bait to the doctors when Parliament is dissolved. A protoctivo tariff is indicated in two lines which affirm tho utmost importance of encouraging industries. The Railway Board of Advice Bill is also a part of tho Ministerial 'programme That the numerous and important measures embodied in the statement have not the ghost of a chance of becoming law' during the present necessarily brief session is as plain as a pikostaff, Thoy may be regarded rather as Ministerial fireworks to be let oil' for the edification pf the electors of New Zealand in the coining campaign.