8.—6

40

Secondary Industries. Development of secondary industries complementary to successful land-settle-ment. Requirements of local market sufficient to justify more extensive secondary industries. Government assisting (in addition to Customs duty on imported goods) by technical investigations by Department of Industries and Commerce. Education. Requires to be developed on more practical lines. Select Committee's report on education at present being considered by Government. Country schools being consolidated. Correspondence School now provides a secondary course. Special tuition for backward children. Total cost of education now exceeds £4,500,000 per annum. Unemployment Relief. Additional employment provided on Government works. Total expenditure by State for last year was £1,415,592. At 31st March, 1930, 16,197 men employed on Government works. Subsidy payable to local authorities on labour costs of relief works undertaken in urban and suburban districts increased from £l for £l to £2 for £l. Legislation now before House giving effect to main recommendations of Unemployment Committee's report. Reparations. Matter of German reparation payments now placed on satisfactory basis. Government Trading Departments. With exception of railways, all trading Departments earned profits for the year. Earthquake Relief. Total subscriptions received in excess of £147,000. Government arranged for reopening of main roads and restoration of public buildings. Railways. Gross revenue for year, £8,288,1] 6, and working-expenses, £7,358,859. Total net loss for year, £1,211,269, due basically to competition of motor transport. Advance of £150,000 made from Consolidated Fund to enable expenditure to be met. Subsidy on branch lines and isolated sections discontinued as from Ist April, 1929. Expenditure being drastically overhauled and unremunerative services curtailed or eliminated. Royal Commission set up to review whole position of Railways. Transport. Co-ordination essential and regulative provisions necessary. Matter cannot be left to be settled by unrestricted competition, which Dominion cannot afford. Legislation to be introduced this session.

year.