JUNE 25.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2513

possible an opportunity of owning their own homes at reasonable prices and on
easy terms, with land surrounding each home appropriate to the locality in
which it is situated.

The state of the education system of the Dominion has been closely
investigated by a parliamentary Committee and by the members of a Commission,
and as a result of their deliberations my Advisers have decided to lay before you
a Bill which, while improving the conditions of employment of teachers, aims
also at effecting a general advance in methods of education.

The decrease of infantile mortality in New Zealand is most gratifying,
and fully justifies assistance being afforded by the Government to the
Society for the Health of Women and Children in its efforts to disseminate by
its literature, and by the training of nurses and midwives, a wider knowledge of
all that pertains to the successful rearing of infants.

The visit of a party of members of the Imperial Parliament to New Zealand
during your last session was welcomed by myself and my Advisers, as evidencing
the general desire, in which I am well assured you join, for closer association of
the Parliaments of the Empire. My Ministers were enabled to confer with Lord
Emmott, the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, who was chairman of
the party of visitors, upon several questions which are of interest to both
Governments.

Early this year New Zealand welcomed at Auckland the tenth session of
the Australasian Medical Congress. My Advisers are giving earnest consideration
to the conclusions arrived at by the Congress.

During the present year the British Association will hold its meeting in
Australia. It has been arranged that some of the distinguished scientific
gentlemen attending that meeting shall afterwards visit New Zealand and
deliver addresses on their special subjects.

During next year a great Exhibition will be held at San Francisco, and this
Dominion has been invited by the United States to take part in their national
event. My Ministers have made arrangements for the proper representation
of New Zealand, and there is reason to believe that this country will as a
result reap substantial commercial advantage.

During the recess considerable discussion has taken place upon two subjects
in respect of which it is apparent that public opinion is largely divided—firstly,
amendments of the licensing laws, and, secondly, the request that definite
questions relating to Bible-reading in schools shall be submitted to the electors
by referendum at the ensuing general election. You will have opportunity
during the present session of arriving at a conclusion upon both issues.

Measures relating to the following further subjects have been prepared and
will be placed before you for consideration: Inspection of Machinery; Masters
and Apprentices; Motor Regulation and License; the Iron and Steel Industry;
the Fruit-preserving Industry; Inscription of Loans; Fire Brigades; the Law
of Libel; Local Authorities; Local Elections; Rating; Land Laws; Contractors’ and Workmen’s Liens; Public Servants’ Superannuation; the New
Zealand University; the Victoria College Council; and other matters.

I commend all the matters to which I have referred to your careful consideration, and I trust that under Divine providence your efforts to promote
the happiness and well-being of the people of New Zealand may be successful.

By Authority: JOHN MACLAY, Government Printer, Wellington.