✨ Governor's Speech Continuation
1048 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 48
A reform of the constitution of the Legislative Council is deemed necessary in view of an obvious existing anomaly. To effect this you will be asked to legislate so as to place all the members on an equal footing by conditionally abolishing the life-tenure. An amendment of the law to prevent minorities returning members to Parliament is considered necessary, and a Bill remedying a defect in our electoral system in this respect will demand your earnest attention.
Complaints have been made, and with some reason, that the Stamp Act presses unduly on mining companies whose articles of association contemplate other operations than those directly involved in mining, inasmuch as, even while carrying on mining operations only, they are called upon to pay stamp duties. You will be asked to amend the law in the direction of giving the relief sought.
At the Conference held last year between the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Colonial Premiers it was understood that, for reasons there given, the question of preferential duties on goods manufactured in the Mother-country would be brought by the respective Premiers before their colleagues. This has been done, and my Ministers are of the opinion that an opportunity should be given to Parliament to discuss this important question, believing that, if the finances of the colony permit it, an alteration in the Customs tariff might be made in this direction, with advantage to the Mother-country and to this colony.
The volume of exports has been maintained, and commercial prospects are cheering. There has been a fair increase in the imports, and investments generally are satisfactory. The drought in some parts of the Middle Island diminished to some extent the yield of grain, but the prices obtained have partially compensated for this.
With confidence I commend to your earnest attention the matters that may be brought under your consideration. You may ever rely upon my co-operation and assistance; and I trust that, with the blessing of Almighty God, your labours may prove beneficial to the country, and promote the well-being, comfort, and happiness of its inhabitants.
By Authority: JOHN MACKAY, Government Printer, Wellington.—1898.
NZ Gazette 1898, No 48
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Governor's Speech Opening the Third Session of the Thirteenth Parliament
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration24 June 1898
Parliament Opening, Governor's Speech, Legislative Council, Stamp Act, Electoral Reform, Customs Tariff, Exports, Imports, Drought, Grain Prices
- John Mackay, Government Printer