June 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 683

Parliament, my Ministers have not hesitated to reduce the cost of their different
departments wherever this could be fairly and prudently done. In this way
substantial savings have been effected, the details of which you will, as a matter of
course, have every opportunity to discuss.

My Ministers are of opinion that the time has come for effecting a bold reform
of the chief part of the direct taxation as now levied, and Bills have been prepared
for this purpose. In these proposals, however, my Advisers have studiously borne
in mind that financial changes should, as a matter of expediency, be made gradually,
so as neither to shake the public sense of security nor to run the risk of any
inconvenient loss of revenue.

Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the
House of Representatives,—

A measure will be submitted to you providing for the reform of the Legis-
lative Council in a manner which, my Advisers believe, will be found to be in accord
with public expectation.

It will be in your recollection that some time since the Imperial Government
invited this colony to enter into an arrangement by which the rate of postage
to Europe would be reduced to 2½d. per letter. The late Parliament signified its
wish that this arrangement should be made, and this has accordingly been done,
with most satisfactory results. Following on this you will be asked to assent to a
still more important postal change which it is thought should be acceptable to all
sections of the community.

Returns will be laid before you containing information of the results of all
branches of traffic upon the railways. These will present one or two features calling
for your special attention.

There are now ready for your consideration Bills for consolidating and
amending the law relating to electors and elections, and for completing the aboli-
tion of plural voting; for classifying and improving the Civil Service, amending the
law affecting goldmining and the working of our coalfields, altering and consolidating
the law of bankruptcy, defining the law of libel, amending the laws relating to
companies and to juries, fixing the liability of promoters and directors of companies,
and consolidating and codifying the criminal law; as well as other Bills dealing with
matters of public interest. These Bills will shortly be placed before you.

My Advisers propose to prosecute with vigour the construction of reproductive
public works out of such moneys as are or may become available for the purpose.
In letting contracts for public works my Advisers have endeavoured to discourage
the practice known as “subcontracting,” and they propose, as far as possible, to
encourage the association of workmen on the co-operative principle.

In the session of last year a number of Bills dealing with matters referred to in
the report of the “Sweating” Commission, and with other matters of special
interest to employers and employed, were introduced, but only one passed into
law. My Advisers propose to again introduce these Bills, with certain amend-
ments, and will ask you to give them your earliest and most careful consideration.
In addition to these, another Bill providing for the establishment of Boards of
Conciliation and Courts of Arbitration to deal with industrial disputes has been
prepared, and will be laid before you. My Advisers believe that a measure of this
nature is earnestly desired by thoughtful observers of the many and undiminishing
difficulties which beset the relations of labour to capital.

I commend these matters to your attention; I assure you of my heartfelt wish
to aid your efforts to further the interests of the country; and I pray that your
labours may, with the blessing of God, promote the happiness and welfare of the
people of New Zealand.

By Authority: George Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.