The Waikato Times. SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1870.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1100, 12 July 1879, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1870.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or Tjolicical. Hero shall the Press the People's right maintaiu, Unawed hy influence and unhribed by gain.

The fourth session of the present parliament was opened yesterday by commission, three-fourths of the members of the Assembly being present. But little business, and that of a mere formal nature, as may be seen from our telegrams published elsewhere, was entered into. In the election of Mr O'Horke as Speaker, the Assembly has acted wisely. Its choice could have fallen on no better man, nor on one who could have, with the same ease and bonhomie, still preserved the dignity of the House, as Mr O'Eorke will be able to do. He is for the office to the manner born. To a thorough knowledge of parliamentary routine and precedent, he adds | a commanding, yet genial address, and personally, and as a member, commands the respect and goodwill of his brother legislators. The Chairmanship of Committees, so long 1 and ably held by him, has not yet been filled up. Messrs. J. C. Brown and Mr Seynioar George again officiate as Government Whips, and Captain Morris undertakes that duty for the Opposition. The Governor's* opening speech, which will be delivered at the meeting of the House on Tuesday, is naturally looked forward to with much expectation. That it will be short and concise we are already told, but we I can scarcely see that he can avoid foreshadowing the policy of the Government on the most important and probably the earliest question that has to come before the Assembly — that of finance. It will not be sufficient to tell us that there is a very considerable deficit. The House and the country will naturally be anxious to know by what means the Government propose to deal with the emergency, whether by loan or by increased taxation, and, if the latter, what direction sach .increase of taxation will take. The Premier, wo are told, m his double capacity of

Colonial Treasurer, is now busily engaged on the preparation of the Financial .Statement. And truly important as that statement is m every session, there never was an occasion m the parliamentary annals of the colony, whon a Treasurer's Budget will need greater care and consideration m its preparation, or be subjected to keener sera tiny at the hands of the Opposition, than that which must shortly come before the House.