PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18721, 18 June 1926, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11) amendments of the existing law relating to public revenues, local bodies'loans, and the National Provident Fund, will be submitted to you for consideration. "Information is now being collected for the purpose of preparing legislation to assist people with large families and small incomes, and it is hoped that a BUI dealing with this important matter will be presented to Parliament. Members will also be asked to consider various.proposals dealing with industrial and social legislation. "The importance' of finance to the farmer and settler has been the subject of special attention, and in September last I appointed a Commission to investigate .conditions regarding rural credits and agricultural banks operating in other countries. The Commission has almost completed' its enquiries, and its report will be duly laid before yon. The Land. '■The subject or agricultural education has been engaging tlio attention of ray xUinisters, wuo are impressed with the need lor a greater extension of scientific farming methods, among our primary producers. Proposals for. the establishment of a central Agricultural College for the development of farm. training schools for lads, and for increasing the number of agricultural instructors throughout the Dominion, are at present receiving earnest consideration, and legislation where necessary to give effect) to these proposals will bo laid before you. "The question of closer settlement is engaging the attention of the Government. The gradual reduction of laud values to a basis giving .a greater measure of stability has enabled niy Ministers to purchase areas for subdivision. ' Satisfactory progress is being made in connexion with irrigation' schemes, particularly in Otago. By this means large tracts of country otherwise' unproductive are being made' available for settlement. Legislation will be • submitted dealing with' thesettlement of pumice and gum lands. "In. the opinion of my Ministers some further supervision should be imposed over borrowing by local authorities, and a Bill dealing with the question will be introduced. Hon Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Eepresentatives. "I note that tho gross' trade.in tho Dominion has .been fairly well maintained in the past year, although the value of exports, owing to a.fall■ in prices, does not... balance, favourably, with imports, which show a substantial increase. I have no doubt, however, that with a realisation, 'of the position tho adjustment of the trade balance will' be gradually brought about. ■ . ' "My Ministers have , arranged for. the Dominion to be represented at ,the l Toronto Exhibition in August next, thus recognising the importance- and' desirability of •.inter-Empire trade and [ communication. ! i "By arrangement with the Govern- ' ment, Sir Frank Heath, Secretary to the Department of Scientific and In-, dustrial Research in England, visited New Zealand in February < last, to advise on the question of scientific organisation for the assistance of primary and secondary industries. _ .My Ministers' have carefully considered the proposals "contained in the report, and legislation in this connexion. will he submitted., ' Other-Bills. • ./.'A measure dealing with tho important subject of town-planning'\yill be laid before you for consideration. Bills will be submitted to you for the purposo' of compiling' and amending the existing' law with. regard to mining, hospitals, and .charitable institutions, and fire brigades. "A Bill will also be laid before you for the purpose of effecting improvements in the licensing law. . "You will be asked. to' cousider legislation designed to make better provision for University- education in the Dominion. A comprehensive measure has" been prepared on the lines suggested by the Royal Commission, whose 'report was laid before you last year. It is intended to repeal all existing legislation relating .to the University, of. New. Zealand and its affilir ated colleges, and to reconstitute the University as a ! Federal' University. ."Other Bills will be laid before-yOu dealing with , amendments to: tho; law relating, to .lands, dahy produce export control, census and .statistics, destitute' scenery preservation, aiid other matters. •' : ■ ••■••■'• ■ "In comniending these various matters to your. consideration, I. trust your deliberations will be directed by Divine Providence..'.' .-.?. THE HOUSE. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEQBAH.)' WELLINGTON June 17. When the House resumed, the Hon. C. E. fcjtatham announced that he had that day been, presented to his Excellency ■■' the Governor-General ', as Speaker of the House, and his Excellency, had been pleased to express'lris approval of his election. Announcements were also made regarding the results of the. Westland and Lyttelton election petitions.',. . ' By consent of the Prime Minister, a certain amount of formal. business Was taken. The Prime Minister moved, pro forma, the, first reading of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. ' Tlier House rose at 3.50 p.m. , LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. After the reading of the GovernorGeneral's speech, the Legislative Conn-: cil met for the transaction of business at 3.5 p.m. ■ . The following members were sworn i n: _ The Hon. D. E. Guthrie, the Hon. L. M. Isitt, the Hon. G. Witty, and the Hon. T. S. Weston. The Hon. T. S. Weston gave formal notice of his intention to move the Address-in-Reply The Council adjourned at 3.25.