Sept. 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1675

You will also be invited to consider Bills to amend the Constitution by
abolishing the life-tenure of members of the Legislative Council under certain
conditions, and by providing for the reference of resolutions of both Houses, and
rejected Bills, to the direct vote of the people thereupon; to limit the hours of
labour of persons engaged in factories or in and about mines to eight hours;
to prevent usury; to provide an optional system of Government fire insurance;
to amend the law relating to masters and apprentices; to extend the municipal
franchise and consolidate and amend the laws relating to municipal corpora-
tions; to extend the operation of the Land for Settlements Act; and to insure
satisfactory export of products: and other necessary measures will in due course
be submitted for your attention.

You are no doubt aware that for some time past litigation has been pending
between the Crown and the Cassel Gold-extracting Company (Limited). To end
this matter, but without prejudice, an agreement has been made by which the
Crown, subject to the approval of Parliament, acquires the rights of the company
for the sum of £15,000. You will be asked to consider a Bill to give effect to
this proposal.

The principal Mining Act of the colony was passed in 1891. Since that
year there have been numerous amending Mining Acts passed, and experience
proves that the necessity exists for consolidating and simplifying the laws
affecting goldfields and mines, and for provision being made to meet the altered
circumstances attendant on the development of our mines which has taken
place during late years. It is also necessary to extend the tenure in cases where
the proper working of the mines involves large expenditure of capital. For these
purposes a Mining Bill will be laid before you. You will be pleased to hear that
the mining legislation of last year is working satisfactorily.

During last Parliament an Act was passed for the purpose of ascertaining
what number of aged people there were in the colony who, under certain conditions,
would claim pensions should the State decide to provide the same for them. The
returns will be laid before you, and you will be asked to give your attention to
this most important and necessary though complicated social question, and to the
means by which provision may be made for aged and deserving persons without
casting a stigma on the recipients.

It having been proved that in certain portions of our colony beet-root can be
grown with satisfactory results, my Advisers consider that the time has arrived
when the production of sugar from New-Zealand-grown beet should be further
encouraged. A Bill to amend and extend the present law will be submitted to
you for your consideration.

For some time past exception has been taken to the tax imposed upon
non-resident commercial travellers; it has been looked upon by the other
colonies as unneighbourly, and in the Mother-country it has been stated that the
existence of this tax prevented merchants and manufacturers from sending
representatives to New Zealand. Under these circumstances, and a healthy
exchequer permitting it, the question of repealing the existing law will be
submitted to you for your consideration.

The trade and commercial prospects of the colony are good, and the
settlement of the people on the land is progressing satisfactorily. During
the recess there was a slight falling-off in exports, but this was in value
more than in volume. On the other hand, a legitimate increase in imports took
place, evidencing comparative prosperity, increased population, and enlarged
spending-power on the part of the people. The advance in the price of bank,
insurance, gas, shipping, woollen, meat, railway, and building companies' shares
shows confidence, and proves that the financial mist which clouded the business
horizon three years ago is fast disappearing, and that larger investments are
flowing into natural and reproductive channels.

I feel assured you will devote your best energies to the development of the
resources of this richly-endowed colony, and to the promoting of the welfare and
happiness of its inhabitants. It is my earnest desire to help and assist you.

I now declare this session of Parliament opened, and I trust that, by the
blessing of Almighty God, its proceedings may advance the honour of Parliament,
and redound to the credit of the Empire and to the good of the people of New
Zealand.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—1897.