On the 14th May last I appointed my Attorney-General, the Hon. Sir Francis
Bell, to be Prime Minister, and on his advice I confirmed the surviving
Ministers in their several Ministerial offices and in their membership of the
Executive Council, and also appointed the Hon. William Nosworthy to be Minister of
Finance and Minister of Stamp Duties, those offices having become vacant by
Mr. Massey's death. On the 30th May Sir Francis Bell tendered to me the
resignation of himself and his colleagues, and on his advice I sent for the Hon.
Joseph Gordon Coates, M.C., and appointed him to be Prime Minister. On
Mr. Coates's advice I appointed the members of the Government who had
resigned to hold again their respective offices and their membership of the
Executive Council, except that in the case of the office of Postmaster-General
the Hon. Sir James Parr was appointed in lieu of Mr. Coates.

It had been my intention before my first meeting with you to have visited many
parts of the Dominion, and also the Cook Islands and our mandatory territory of
Samoa, but the recent severe epidemic of infantile paralysis which caused so much
sorrow and anxiety throughout the country, combined with the circumstances of
Mr. Massey's illness and death, rendered such visits inadvisable. I hope to be able
later to make myself more fully acquainted with every part of New Zealand and
its Dependencies, and with every section of its people. It has been my happiness
so far to find everywhere loyalty to our Sovereign and his Empire, general prosperity
and contentment, and an absence of that unemployment which has caused and is
causing so much anxiety in the Mother-country.

I take this opportunity of thanking the people of New Zealand most warmly
for the kindness and consideration extended by one and all to Her Excellency and
myself since our arrival in the Dominion. The kindly references to our parents
which have been so frequently made have touched us greatly. The extreme
courtesy and goodwill of the welcome which we have received have added much
to the pleasure of our return to the scenes of our childhood, and have given us great
encouragement in undertaking the duties which fall to us.

It is with pleasure that I have received evidence of the increasing well-being
of the Cook Islands Dependencies and of the prosperity and welfare of the people
of Western Samoa.

A complete reorganization and control of the public railways has been brought
into operation, and has provided improved facilities and service to the people.
Important works and improvements have been put in hand which, when completed,
will greatly increase the efficiency of the Department and service to the public.

The Board created under recent legislation to inquire into and make recommendations upon the finance of discharged soldiers settled on the land has nearly
completed its work, and there is reason to believe that action taken under your
authority in pursuance of those recommendations has enabled many deserving
soldier settlers to realize that they have opportunity in the present and hope for
the future in their enterprise.

The conditions developed in certain areas of Crown lands in the North Island,
by deterioration of pastures, which are gradually becoming replaced by native flora
of various kinds, have been investigated by a special committee, which has submitted a valuable report. It is proposed to establish methods of dealing with such
lands, and to assist settlers occupying them to carry out necessary improvements.
You will be asked to make the necessary financial provision for the purpose.

My Ministers realize that the development of our primary industries demands
an extension of the instructional services of the Department of Agriculture. It is
proposed to increase the trained staff of the Department in order that information
and advice may be provided directly to producers through the medium of trained
Instructors stationed at various suitable centres throughout the Dominion. The
existing services of the Department have already been the means of rendering
material aid to producers, and provide a basis upon which a wider and more
comprehensive service can be established.

The measures prepared for your consideration during your present session
include provision for the amendment of Acts relating to Chattels Transfer, Local
Bodies' Loans, Stone-quarries, Property Law, Land Transfers, Official Appointments and Documents, Public Works, Nurses Superannuation, Destitute Persons,
Forests, Workers' Compensation for Accidents, and the Kauri-gum Industry.