June 27.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1755

It is confidently anticipated that these measures will result in bringing into production lands which will add considerably to the wealth of the Dominion.

The inspection of the large areas of pumice lands in the Dominion has been carefully undertaken, and proposals for their settlement will be submitted for your consideration.

Irrigation, as well as the development of swamp lands, is engaging the close attention of my Government, and practical assistance, as may be deemed necessary in both avenues, will be provided.

My Ministers are firmly of the opinion that British migration within the Empire is a sound policy, but as far as New Zealand is concerned, assisted migration to this country must be regulated at all times by the economic exigencies of the Dominion. The restrictions on this class of immigration, which it was necessary to impose two years ago, must continue until such time as local conditions become sufficiently stabilized.

My Government are fully seized with the importance of encouraging the healthy growth of secondary industries in the Dominion, and will extend every reasonable facility for their expansion and establishment.

My Advisers consider that the policy with relation to forestry and timber will have an important bearing on the economic and industrial future of the Dominion. The certain and rapid decrease of our native-timber supplies, and the undesirability of depending upon other countries to meet local demands, call for serious thought. Provision for an adequate supply of home-grown timber for local consumption is very necessary, while the conservation and cultivation of the timber which still remains, on approved silvicultural principles, must be carefully taken in hand.

It has been decided that reasonably-sized and suitably-situated tracts of country which are not, and never can be, arable or pasture land should be utilized in the future for timber-growing, thus preventing the use of farming lands for forestry purposes.

It is the intention of my Ministers to foster the activities of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, realizing as they do that the application of scientific methods must play a very important part in increasing the production from the poorer lands of the Dominion. The extension of this knowledge among our primary producers is fully appreciated by my Government, and since it assumed office increased financial assistance has been provided in this respect.

The administration of Native affairs will continue to receive the earnest consideration of my Ministers. The examination and arrangement of a basis of settlement of Native grievances regarding confiscated lands and Kemp’s purchase of the South Island; the readjustment in view of deterioration and other factors of conditions affecting Native leaseholds; the consolidation of Native-land titles in North Auckland, the King-country, and portions of the Bay of Plenty, involving a consideration of local taxation difficulties; and the effective settlement of the Maoris themselves upon land under special conditions as to title, finance, and supervision are all of them matters in respect of which my Government hope to make definite progress towards solution.

My Advisers are of opinion that alterations in our system of education are desirable, in the words of a leading authority, “to enable the pupil to reveal and discover his interests, aptitudes, and capacities so that these may be strengthened by suitable training, and he may be thus assisted in choosing a career most likely to be of benefit to himself and the State.” In view of our dependence upon the great primary industry, an agricultural bias will also be given in our State system. Educational facilities in the country districts will be improved by a policy of consolidation, and a vocational-guidance officer will be appointed as a connecting link between the life at school and the world of work outside. A Select Committee upon education will be set up and evidence taken from the farming, technical, industrial and professional groups, with a view to ascertaining the best method of giving effect to such a policy.