10
THE LEADER
(SUPPLEMENT)
REGINA, N.W.T., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1903.
N.W.T. ASSEMBLY OPENED.
Second Session of Fifth Legislature
Has Begun Its Labors.
At three o'clock this afternoon His
Honor
Lieutenant Governor Forget
formally opened the second session of
the fifth Legislative Assembly of the
North-West Territories. He was escorted from Government House to the
Assembly chamber by a detachment of
15 or 20 men of the N.W.M.P. under
command of Insp. Heffernan. Sergt.
Major Church was second in command.
Lt.-Col. Macdonell, D.S.O., acted in
the capacity of A.D.C..
The Speech with which His Honor
opened the Assembly was as follows:—
MR. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY:—
I have much pleasure in welcoming
you on the occasion of the opening of
the Second Session of the fifth Legislative Assembly of the Territories.
Although, owing to adverse climatic
conditions at the critical time of harvest, the expectations formed at the
beginning of the season have not all
been realised, I can still congratulate
you on the continued growth and prosperity of the country.
It being the opinion of my Government that the public business will be
greatly facilitated by a change in the
time of the meeting of the Legislative
Assembly, I have called you together
again at this early date in order to
enable your ordinary Sessions to be
held hereafter in the autumn instead
of, as hitherto, in the early part of the
year.
By legislation passed at the late
Session of the Dominion Parliament,
your legislative jurisdiction has been
extended so as to enable you to deal
with the qualification of Members of
the Legislative Assembly, and a Bill
dealing with that subject will be presented for your consideration.
Your power to legislate with regard
to certain matters affecting the admininstration of justice has also been in
creased, in consequence of which you
will be required to make some provision
for the establishment of Judicial Districts and the appointment of Police
Magistrates. Bills concerning these
subjects will be presented to you.
The rapid increase of population in
the Territories, and the wide area over
which that population is scattered,
have led my Government to the conclusion that a gradual decentralisation
of the work at present performed by
the central Government has become
necessary. This important matter has
been the subject of careful consideration by my Government during the
recess, and your co-operation and
assistance will be asked with a view to
the establishment of a simple, efficient
and economical system of rural organisation.
Measures for the creation of a University; dealing with the powers and
liabilities of Trustees; and the levying
of Succession Duties will be be submitted to you; as will a consolidation of
the law relating to game; and Bills
amending the Municipal, School and
Fence Ordinances.
Estimates for the coming year have
been prepared, having regard for the
conditions of the Territories.
GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY:—
I leave you all these and such other
matters as may be brought before you,
in full confidence that your earnest
endeavours and consideration will be
given to them, and in the belief that
your labors will be Divinely guided to
a successful and satisfactory issue.
This individual participated in: