June 27.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1533

A further endeavour has been made to establish a mail-service between this colony and Vancouver. The Government of Queensland was agreeable to forego its connections, but other difficulties have arisen, and a further contract has been entered into between the Commonwealth of Australia and Canada. My Advisers will continue their efforts to establish a mail-service between Vancouver and New Zealand.

The laws relating to local government require amending. This important matter has had the attention of my Advisers, and proposals will be submitted having for their object the relieving of Parliament and Government of certain public works, thus enabling more time to be devoted to larger questions; reduction in the number of local authorities; conferring extended powers on those remaining and putting them in a better financial position.

An alteration in the laws respecting valuation my Advisers deem advisable, and that valuations made by the Valuation Department should in future apply only to State Departments, leaving local authorities to make their own valuations; the State to have the right in cases of disputed valuations to acquire the properties on paying therefor 10 per cent. over the owner’s value.

The delays which have taken place in dealing with matters under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act have caused considerable inconvenience. My Ministers are strongly of the opinion that effectual steps are required to prevent a continuance of these delays, and a maximum time should be fixed within which awards should be given after the cases have been heard; and should this be impossible under existing conditions, then that a second Court should be established. This, with other alterations in the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, you will be asked to consider.

In the administration of the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act the law as it stands has been found to be inconvenient, and it is considered expedient and desirable that employees should be able to apply for and obtain payment of lump sums in cases of permanent injury, and that interim payments (under due safeguards) should be made at stated intervals, pending applications being dealt with by the Court.

Bills providing for the extension of control of electric lines; for the general improvement and consolidation of our electoral laws; for the suppression of gambling; for the more complete inspection and improvement of our hospitals and charitable institutions, and the inspection of private hospitals and nursing homes; for making better provision for the protection of life and property from fire, and for placing fire brigades on an improved footing; for the repeal of clause 3 of “The Shops and Offices Act, 1904,” and otherwise making such amendments in this measure as seem desirable; and for the referring of matters direct to the people by way of referendum, and other necessary measures, will be placed before you for your consideration.

My Advisers have concluded that for the protection of the public, and in fairness to all concerned, all goods manufactured in the colony should be stamped and marked as having been made in New Zealand.

The rapid denudation of our forests is a matter for your earnest consideration. At the present output from our kauri forests it is estimated that they will be practically exhausted within twenty years, consequently forestry and tree-planting should be more vigorously carried on. It is considered, too, that the reservation of some forests, the timbers of which are required for special industries, is worthy of your attention.

With the view of facilitating the exchange of Native lands, and of enabling Natives to transfer to each other, my Ministers consider that the time has come for the abolition of stamp duties on such transfers, and that greater facilities for exchange should be provided.

Provision having been made by Parliament last session, a nursing home has been established at Wellington, and steps are being taken for the establishment of other similar homes in various parts of the colony. The legislation in respect to the registration of midwives has been given effect to, and a large number have been registered. Provision has been made for the training of maternity and other