1480
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 52

During the year a large area of land has been acquired under the Land for Settlements Act; the demand is unabated, and should be met. The sons of farmers in one part of the colony should not be compelled to leave their homes to settle elsewhere while large estates exist in the vicinity of their parents’ homesteads.

The Defence Forces are in a much-improved condition, the number is maintained, and fair discipline observed. The cadet movement is very popular, and the training of our youth in the public schools and ordinary cadet corps will materially assist the Volunteer movement. The ordinary Defence charges will be less than last year, and our liabilities and permanent cost entailed by the sacrifice made in South Africa is now almost ascertainable. As the law exists, officers and troopers whose health was impaired, and who were permanently injured otherwise than in action, can receive neither pensions nor gratuities. Proposals to remedy this defect in the law will be submitted.

My Ministers are of the opinion that a State Fire Insurance Department could with advantage to the colony be established, and that, by enabling those insuring to participate in the profits, good business would ensue.

Legislation assigning a proper position to fire brigades, and insuring them the revenue necessary to carry on their good work, my Advisers deem necessary.

The existence of trusts and combines is inimical to the producer, for such organizations limit the sale to the one buyer, and this tends to keep below fair market value the price of products. The consumer is injuriously affected by the selling-price being raised, the object for which these combines are formed—namely, to purchase cheaply and to sell at extortionate prices—is attained, and the trusts are enabled to obtain large profits for shareholders. My Ministers deem it in the best interests of the colony that in respect to the housing, food, and clothing of the people, legislation should be passed insuring fair competition.

The guarantee given by the colony to the Bank of New Zealand expires by effluxion of time next year, and it will be necessary for legislation respecting this question to be passed this session. Proposals in respect to this and the issue of bank-notes will be submitted.

The hospitals for mental diseases are, in the opinion of my Ministers, unfitted for children or the aged and infirm. The condition of things now existing in this respect is worthy of investigation.

The erection of the industrial-school building at Levin will soon be finished; and complete classification of the children in the Government industrial schools is advisable. To attain that end, my Advisers propose to obtain additional land and erect the necessary buildings; and a well-equipped training-ship for boys will also help to solve a difficult problem.

Measures providing for the direct reference to the people of issues on large questions; for dealing with shops and offices, compensation for accidents, arbitration and conciliation, and for improving the present system of land-valuation; for the extension of the rating on unimproved value of land; for improving the position of Civil servants and school-teachers; and for amending the law and system of weights and measures—these, with others, will be submitted in due course.

Next year there is to be a great exposition at St. Louis, and New Zealand has been cordially invited by the United States to exhibit its products thereat. My Ministers consider that good would result therefrom; and, further, that an exhibition at no distant date, on an extensive scale, in New Zealand, would be to the advantage of agriculture, commerce, and the industries of the colony.

I fervently trust you may strenuously perform your arduous duties, so that, with the blessing of God Almighty, the result may be to the advantage of New Zealand, and promote the happiness and well-being of its people.

By Authority: JOHN MACKAY, Government Printer, Wellington.