Aug. 28.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2703

factorily completed. The acquisition of the Horahora installation will
enable the farmers of the Waikato and surrounding districts, and the
boroughs and factories, to be supplied with electric power as soon as
reticulation-lines can be erected.
New Zealand has not entirely escaped the unrest which is prevalent in
many other countries of the world and which is the aftermath of the Great
War, but I am confident that the good sense and industry of the citizens of
the Dominion will more than counteract any attempts to spread the
pernicious doctrines which have proved so mischievous in certain European
countries.
The failure of supply of coal has caused my Government much anxiety
during the recess, and my Ministers trust that you will find time sufficient
to enable you to consider fully the position. The shortage has been due
to two causes: Firstly, the reduction of the output from New Zealand
mines; and, secondly, the difficulty of supplementing that supply by
cargoes from Australia. There is now good ground for hope that
one of the reasons which has prevented import from Australia may be
shortly removed, but deficiency of shipping exists, and to a certain extent
must for the present continue. My Ministers view with anxiety the
conditions which leave this Dominion dependent upon sources of supply of
coal from other countries. At the present moment the freezing-chambers
are full of meat the property of the Imperial Government, on account of
which millions of money have been paid by that Government, and every
obligation of honour and duty requires that while such meat remains in
store coal shall be supplied for the efficient continuous working of the
freezing machinery. It has been found absolutely necessary to cut down
the railway service to an extent which has caused great inconvenience
to the public and loss to the industries of the Dominion. The loss of
revenue consequent upon that reduction has been most serious, but that
loss constitutes by no means the principal ground of the present anxiety of
the Government. The supply for every household has been necessarily
curtailed to a limit which has caused general inconvenience and considerable
suffering during the winter months. My Ministers hope that some
satisfactory basis of arrangement may be arrived at under which, by increasing
the production of existing mines and opening new mines, the Dominion
may become self-reliant in the provision of coal for its industries and its
homes.

MR. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,--
The sums granted by Parliament for repatriation and land-settlement
of our soldiers have been found to be wholly insufficient to meet the
requirements. My Ministers have felt that it is impossible to delay the
process, and they have therefore in anticipation of your support expended
moneys and entered into obligations largely in excess of the amounts
authorized. My Ministers do not doubt that you will confirm that action
and will grant the very large further supply which is necessary to enable
the country to fulfil its obligations to the men of the Expeditionary Forces
and to the relatives of those who died in our service. The public throughout
the Dominion has united in the endeavour, by the cordiality of welcome to
every transport carrying returned soldiers, to emphasize the general sentiment
that what our soldiers have done for us demands in return from us the
utmost that we can do for them. Such obligations cannot be met wholly
from revenue, and my Ministers do not doubt that you will cheerfully
grant them the borrowing-powers they will propose, and confer your
authority to raise the necessary moneys.
With regard to the ordinary revenue and expenditure, you will find
that the authority granted in your last session has enabled my Government
to carry on the business of the country beyond the period when in
ordinary years supply ceases. Fortunately both the collection of revenue
and the expenditure on public services till a late day in the present month