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Stratford Evening Post, Issue 45, 27 June 1929, Page 5

Mr Speaker and Gentlemen oi 1 the House oi Representatives-

It is most gratifying to note that

'the industry of our producers m conjunction .with an excellent sea-

son in New Zealand and the good prices abroad has resulted in the exports from this, Dominion for last year being raised to the record total of £57,154,000. These exports exceeded the imports by over £12,000,000, which, following upon the favourable balance of trade for the

previous year has greatly strengthened the banking and general finan-

cial resources of the Dominion

STIMULATION OF BUSINESS.

These facts augur well for the immediate future, when a general stimulation of business should greatly assist in overcoming unemployment which/ unfortunately still a feature of our economic life. It is regretted that the operations of the public finances-for the year ending 31st March last resulted in >a deficit of £577,000. My Ministers recognise that the position must be rectified without delay, and are giving the matter their earnest attention. The Estimates for the present year are being most carefully scrutinised, but some adjustments of the incidence of taxation will he necessary proposals t 0 this end will be submitted for your consideration.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT.

Realising existing anomalies in motor taxation arid also the part £hat transport plays in the industrial, commercial and social life of the community, my Government have constituted for the first time in New Zealand a Department 0 f Transport, over by a Minister of the Crown and assisted by a Transport Advisory Council composed of practical men. The recommendations of this Council will, my Ministers J»»jlieve, result in beneficial changes being made, by which adjustments in taxation can equitably be brought about. A Bill providing for the establishment of the Department of Transport will be placed before you.

TWO- HIGHWAYS BOARDS. ' In order to" facilitate the adniiniaUation of the Main Highways Act, it is intended to submit amending the setting up of a Highways Board for the North Island and the South Island respectively.

With the general improvement of main highways and roads the coinpetition of motor traffic with the railways must inevitably result in diminished revenue to the State, and, recognising this fact,. my Government as a matter of policy intend in the future not t 0 construct short branch railways to feed main lines, but to regard good roads in such cases as being the proper feeders to main lines in order to meet the needs of settlers.

WHEAT INDUSTRY. The question of the welfare of the wheat industry is one which is deserving of your earnest attention. It is of primary importance that the Dominion should, as far as possible, produce sufficient wheat for the requirements of the population and not be dependent on outside sources of, supply. My ministers therefore propose t 0 ask you to set up a select committee to go into the subject and to submit recommendations which it is confidently hoped will result in placing the industry on a sound economic basis, which will be satisfactory both to the growers and t 0 the consumers. HOURS OF PARLIAMENT.

As you are aware, a select committee was set up last session to revise the standing orders particularly relating to their bearing on the hour of sitting of the House of Representatives in . the recess the committee has met from time to time and on the presentation of their report and recommendations the opportunity of fully considering their proposals and their effect on the conduct of Parliamentary business will be afforded.

Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council audi Gentlemen of the House of Eeprejsentativesw-

During the recess my Minister of Lands has personally investigated the prospects of further settlement of the undeveloped Crown Lands' of the Dominion and as a result, proposals wu> be submitted to Parliament for providing finance for the purpose of reading and preparing such lands for settlement, a«id also for assisting settlers on Crown and settlement lands in the early stages of the development of their holdings.

SPECIAL PURCHASES. To meet tho keen demand for settlement farms which exist throughout the Dominion, my 'Government ban made several purchases of areas suitable for agriculture or dairying, and these are now in the process of being subdivided and opened for selection. Much difficulty has been experienced in acquiring suitable blocks, and as it is imperative that closer settlement of the occupied lands of the Dominion should be put into effect, it is proposed to amend the compulsory clauses of the Land for Settlements Act, so that they can be applied more effectively. It is confidently anticipated that these measures will result in bringing into production lands which will add considerably to the wealth of the Dominion.

PUMICE LANDS. The inspection of the large areas of pumice lands in the Dominion has been carefully undertaken, and proposals for their settlement will be submitted for your consideration. Irrigation as well as the development of swamp lands is engaging the close attention of my Government, and such practical assistance as may be deemed necessary in both avenues will be provided.

EMPIRE MIGRATION. My members are firmly of the opinion that British migration within the Empire is a sound policy, but as far as New Zealand" is concerned, assisted migration to this country must be regulated at times by the economic exigencies of the Dominion. The; .restrictions on this class of 'nnmigra*. tion which it Was necessary to improve . two years ago must continue until such time as local conditions become sufficiently stabilised.

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. My Government are . fully seized with the importance of encouraging the ■ healthy growth of secondary industries in the Dbmiiffon, and will extend every reasonable facility for their expansion and establishment. My advisers consider that the policy with relation to forestry and timber will have an important bearing on the economic and industrial future of the Dominion. The certain and rapid decrease of our native timber supplies and the undesirability of depending upon other countries to meetlocal demands call for serious thought. Provision for an adequate supply of home grown timber for local consumption is very necessary, while the conservation and cultivation of the timber which still remains an approved silvicultural principles must be carefully taken in hand. It has been decided that reasonably sized and suitably situated tracts of country which are not and never can be arable or pasture land should be utilised in the future for timber growing, thus preventing the use of farming lands for forestry purposes.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. It is the intention of my Ministers to foster the activities 4 the Department of Scientific ami /dustry Research realising as they do that the application of scientific methods must play a very important part in increasing the production from the poorer lands of the Dominiori. The extension of this knowledge among ouf primary producers is fully appreciated by my Government, and since it assumed office increased financial assistance has been provided in this respect. The administration of native affairs will continue to receive the earnest consideration of my ministers.

EDUCATION SYSTEM. My advisers are of opinion that alterations in our system of education are desirable, in the words of a leading authority "to enable the pupil to reveal and discover his interests, aptitudes and capacities fco that these may be strengthened by suitable, training, and he* may be thus assisted in choosing a career mostly likely t 0 be of benefit to himself and the State." In view of ou/r dependence upon the great primary industry an agricultural bias will also be gwen in our State system, facilities in the country districts will be) improved by a policy of consolidation and a vocational guidance office* ! w iH Ti e appointed as a connecting lank

■between the lift} at school and the world of work outside. A select committee! upon education will be set up taken. from the farming;, techiff&il Indus-, trial aifld professional groups with, » view to. ascei taanino- the best method of giving effect to such a policy. My advisers realising that there are men and women who in their old age have fallen upoii hard times, avfd who ending to their incapacity to meet the requirements of modern Jjife are brought •before) the courts propose to introduce legislation tk> enable magistrates to avoid,! the neeessity of committing such unfortunate people to prison and to provide discretionary i>ower to sMhd them to some suitable institution where they 'may spend their declining years in (plensan't surroundings. A Bill will he laid before "~~ybii dealing with relief of unemployment, land river protection, land drainage, rating of farm land s in bonraghs, baivlc and other holidays, and town planning. I commend these various matters to your careful attention pud I earnestly hnne that l>Vin© Providence mav swdte your to t>« furtherance) of to "Wdlfaro of thfj Dominion.