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departments, and development ol resources, there must necessarily be an exceeding cost. The estimated increase in the expenditure is proportionate to the estimated revenue. The owners o£ large areas oi land resident outside the colony are not taxed through the Customs, and seeing that the aggregation of large estates continues, my Ministers conclude there will not be any serious objection to increasing the present Absentee Tax. The Graduation of Land Tax, as now assessed under the 'existing law, also requires adjustment to make the same'fair in its coincidence. You will be invited to enter into a new agreement under which the New, Zealand and Australian squadron is to he strengthened and under which New Zealand officers and men are to he trained under favorable conditions. To enable a reasonable preference to he given in favor of certain goods produced in the Mother Country, important fis-' cal changes are necessary. How and in what manner it will be for you

to consider and determine, paying due regard to our own industries. The lines adopted hy Canada would hest help the British manufacturer, without causing undue irritation to other nations. During the recent elections several defects were found in our electoral system, and my advisers are of opinion that it would be consonant with democratic principles if the now existing anomaly was removed and single electorates alone obtained. The wisdom of assisting, by way of subsidy to steamers, the placing of our produce in South Africa has ’been clearly demonstrated by the splendid growth of trade ‘ with that country. Stock from the Argentine being prohibited owing to disease, a further extension and development of trade may reasonably, be expected, and for some years to come, South Africa will be a good market for the staple products of New Zealand Further, niy Ministers consider that it would be to the advantage of the colony should the sale of New Zealand meat be extended to the manufacturing centres of the United Kingdom, and that assistance to this end should be rendered. “ ’Tis well the British-bred should be British-fed.” Satisfactory progress in the placing of the people on the waste lands of the Crown has been made during the year. A large area of land is now open for selection. In respect to bush lands proposal's will be submitted allowing tenants to be rent free for a time, and other conditions which, owing to the want of proper communication, ’are now restricted, will be relaxed, and special efforts are being made to settle cooperative men and returned troopers on the land. During the year a large area of land has been acquired under the Land for Settlement Act The demand is unabated, and should be met: The sons of farmers in one part of the colony should not be compelled to leave their homes to settle elsewhere, while large estates exist in the vicinity of their parents homesteads. The Defence forces are in a much improved condition. The number is maintained, and fair discipline observed. The cadet movement is very popular, and the training of our'youth in the public schools and ordinary cadet corps will materially assist the volunteer movement The ordinary defence charges will be less than last year, and the liabilities and permanent cost entailed by the sacrifice made in South Africa are now almost ascertainable. As

the law exists officers and troopers whose hedl'th was impaired and who were permanently, injured, otherwise than in action, can receive neither pensions nor gratuities. Proposals to remedy this defect in the law will 'be submitted. My Ministers are of opinion that a State Fire Insurance Department could "with advantage to the colony be established, and that by enabling those insuring to participate in the profits good business would ensue. Legislation assigning a proper position to fire brigades, and ensuring them the revenue necessary to carry on their good work, my advisers deem necessary. The -existence of trusts and combines is

inimical to the producers, for such organisations limit the sale to one buyer, and this tends to keep below fair market price the value of products. The consumer is injuriously affected by the selling price being raised. The object for which these combines are formed, namely, to purchase cheaply, and to sell at extortionate prices, is attained, and the trusts arc enabled to obtain

large profits for shareholders. _ My Ministers deem it in the best interests of the polony that In respect to the housing, food, and clothing of the people legislation should be passed ensuring fair competition. The guarantee given by the colony to the Bank of New Zealand expires by effluxion of time next year, and it will be necessary for legislation respecting this question to bp passed this session. Proposals in respect to this, and the issue of bank notes will be submitted. The hospitals for mental disease arc, in the opinion of my Ministers, unfitted for children or; the aged and infirm. The conditionof things now existing in this re j \ spect is worthy, of investigation. The erection of the Industrial School building at Levin will soon he finished and a complete classification of children in the Government industrial schools is advisable. To obtain that end my advisers propose to obtain additional land and erect the -necessary buildings and a wellequipped training-ship for hoys will also help to solve a difficult problem. Measures providing for the direct reference to the people of issues on large questions, for dealing with shops and offices, compensation for accidents, arbitration and conciliation, and for improving the present system of land valuation, for the extension of the rating on the unimproved value of land, for improving the position of civil servants and school-teachers, and tor amending the law and system of weights and measures—these, with others, will be submitted in due course.' Next, year there is to be a great Exposition at St. Louis, and New Zealand has been cordially invited by the United States to exhibit its produce thereat. My Ministers consider that good would result therefrom, and further that an exhibition at no distant date on an extensive scale in New. Zealand would be to the advantage of agriculture, commerce, and the other industries of the colony. ' I fervently trust you may strenuously perform your arduous duties, so that with the blessing of God Almighty the result may be to tiie advantage of New Zealand and promdtc the happiness and well-be-ing of) its people.’’-

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GIST19030701.2.43

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 930, 1 July 1903, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,070

Untitled Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 930, 1 July 1903, Page 4

Untitled Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 930, 1 July 1903, Page 4

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