THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1192, 10 July 1874, Page 4

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

[WESTPOBT EVENING STAB.] As usual the Governor's speech at the opening of Parliament deals in little beyond generalities. With one exception, it defines no new lino of action, and plainly hints in the concluding sentence that neither the Governor or his advisers are in favor of a prolonged session. The inexpediency of not inviting " legislation on questions which do not press for immediate solution," very plainly means that attempts at introducing new laws, or amendments of those already existing, will receive scant favor from the ministry. The exception proposed to be made in existing regulations has reference to the system of Government Life Assurance, and, following the example of commercial associations, it is proposed to give policy holders the benefit of periodical participation in profits. A concession which policy holders have a just right to expect, seeing that the financial success of the Government Life Assurance scheme has already placed it on an equal footing with private associations of long standing. The measures to provide additional electoral qualifications will have public approval even if extending to woman suffrage. Means for guarding against difficulties between the two branches of the legislature should, if having any force at all, curb much of the antagonism which has many times hampered the conduct of public business and marred many judiciously conceived measures. Reference to the civilization and settlement of the Polynesian Islands as important to the progress of New Zealand may be taken as meaning more in the future than the immediate present. Taken all in all the Governor's speech, if saying little, possibly says quite enough.