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neers andfother experts, together with the necessary office assistance, have therefore been, as I have already stated, to deal specially with electric undertakings. The whole of the energies of these officers will be concentrated on the completion of the schemes, and on the supervision and the assisting of the Power Boards and other distributing authorities. As circumstances require, their numbers will be added to. Further legislation dealing with hydro-electric matters is under careful consideration. In the meantime it is proposed to set up an advisory Board consisting of business men of standing to advise the Government on various questions connected with the business management of its power undertakings, and on. questions of policy in connection with the development, distribution, and sale of hydro-electric power. WAIHOU AND OHINEMURI RIVERS IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT. The larger stop-banks have been built by dredge on the left bank of the Upper Waihou River to a length of 93 chains ; and the smaller preliminary stop-bank, by hand, on the right bank, to a length of 113 chains. In addition to these, the stop-bank on the right bank of the Ohinemuri River has been closed up so as to positively protect the town of Paeroa. Two concrete culverts of three and two barrels have been, completed. The dipper dredge has worked on the Rotoko.hu drain since last September and has done 103 chains of dredging, chiefly solid material. The Ngahina Wharf has been completed. Ringbarking and clearing has been in hand. Timber is on. hand for construction of Naghina Bridge extension, right bank, Waihou River. In October, 1919, the Rivers Commission sat at Paeroa and reported upon the works proposed along the Waihou River below Ngahina Bridge, and. its recommendations have been adopted. CONCLUSION. In putting forward the above statement it lias been my endeavour to so allocate the funds placed at my disposal as will best serve the interests of the Dominion as a whole. While it has been impossible to proceed this year with all the works for which requests have been made, I am of opinion that concentration on fewer works will result in all the necessary undertakings being carried out not only more cheaply, but also more expeditiously in the long-run than would result from an attempt to carry on simultaneously a greater number of works than can be adequately supplied with men and material. Though the sums placed on the estimates exceed the amounts appropriated during the last few years, it must be borne in mind that the cost of everything has so much increased that the larger sums on the estimates, when expended, will not produce as great a result as similar amounts have produced in pre-war times.