1768
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 51

Annuities Bill. Proposals will also be submitted providing for superannuation
for employees of local public bodies, tramway, gas, and electric light companies.

Difficulties and objections in connection with our present method of public
audit have induced my Advisers to determine upon a change in the system,
and amendments of the law will therefore be proposed bringing the public
audit of this country into closer harmony with the system which prevails in
Great Britain and most of the oversea dominions.

During last session two Acts were passed providing schemes for classification and superannuation of the officers of the public service. The necessary
preliminary work of bringing these Acts into operation has been pushed on
diligently, and they promise eminently satisfactory results. Some minor
machinery defects will be met by an amendment which will be laid before you.

The estimates of the revenue and expenditure for the year have been compiled with due care, having regard to both economy and efficiency, and will
shortly be placed before you for your consideration. The accounts disclose,
as in recent years, the gratifying result of a substantial surplus on the year's
transactions, and I am happy to say that, so far, this year's receipts are in
every way satisfactory.

My Advisers have been increasingly impressed by the needs of settlers in the
less accessible localities of the Dominion. These settlers courageously endure
many hardships, and in view of the beneficial result of their labour to the whole
community my Advisers are of opinion that the State should extend a strong
helping hand to them in such directions as are prudent. To this end you will
be asked to make a special and liberal provision for the construction of roads,
telephones, and such other conveniences as will assist them in their work of
settling and improving our outpost lands, and relieve as far as possible the
hardships incident to their lives. The success of closer settlement justifies
the vigorous promotion of that policy, and among the cardinal objects of my
Advisers will be the further extension of closer settlement and the early completion of the main lines of railways now in hand.

After mature consideration my Advisers have decided to increase the contribution paid by this Dominion to the British Navy, as they are confident that
the truest interests of the people of New Zealand will be best served by having a
powerful navy under the independent control of those responsible for directing it
in time of peace or war. You will be asked to make provision accordingly.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,—

My Advisers have asked the British Government for a larger vessel than the
“Amokura” so as to train up to a thousand young men at a time. A proportion
of the men thus trained would then be available for manning His Majesty's ships
in New Zealand waters. It is also contemplated that the training of young men
for the mercantile marine should be undertaken on the New Zealand training-ship. The advantage of this proposal is that in time of need those who are
engaged in this occupation will be sufficiently trained to man His Majesty's
ships if required.

Steady progress has taken place during the past year in the agricultural
development of the country. My Advisers have constantly kept in view the
necessity for up-to-date methods in farming operations and the application of
science to agricultural pursuits. The various experimental stations are enlisting the sympathies of farmers throughout the North Island, and the extension
of the system to the South Island is in contemplation. Satisfactory progress
has been made in the direction of the establishment of a dairy school at
Palmerston North and of a veterinary school at Dunedin.

My Advisers are of opinion that, with the near approach of the completion
of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, the time has arrived for the State to
acquire the Manawatu Railway line, and the proper preliminary legal steps have
already been taken to that end. Legal difficulties which may possibly emerge
in the further proceedings to be taken will be met by legislation if they threaten
any serious delay in the acquisition of the railway-line by the State.