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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 24

Recent developments in Europe have still further shaken the confidence
of the world, and my Ministers have been anxiously considering the situation
resulting from Germany's military reoccupation of the Rhineland. They
have been kept fully advised of developments by His Majesty's Government
in the United Kingdom, whose policy up to the present they have, in general,
endorsed, and it is their intention to use whatever influence this Dominion
possesses always in the direction of peace, while at the same time maintaining
the inviolability of international engagements voluntarily accepted.

On the advice of my Ministers Parliament has, on this occasion, been
summoned earlier than usual in order to enable my Government to lay before
you legislative provisions designed to apply, as soon as possible, the principles
upon which they were elected. It is their belief that the measures that they will
lay before you will lead to an early and material improvement in the well-being
of all, and particularly of those upon whom the effects of the depression have
fallen with greater severity. In applying their policy, however, it is my
Ministers' intention to ensure that no injustice is done to any section of the
community.

My Ministers regard the question of unemployment as one of pressing
urgency, and they have already taken what immediate steps were possible
to alleviate the position of the more unfortunate of the people. They
intend, under the direct control of my Minister of Labour, to attack
this problem, and in the first place they propose not only to extend the
public-works system of the Dominion, but also to facilitate the provision of
employment by the expansion of existing industries and the encouragement
of new industries.

For this purpose my Ministers have associated with themselves a Bureau
of Industry competent to advise in the consideration of proposals for new
industrial projects that involve State assistance; and this bureau will also
advise my Ministers in connection with plans for the co-ordination, increased
efficiency, and development of existing industries. My Ministers have already
adopted measures for the stabilization of the wheat-growing, flour-milling,
and bread-baking industries, and have also fixed the wholesale and retail price
of motor-spirits in the Wellington city and suburban area. These measures,
it is anticipated, will result in an improvement of conditions for the employers,
the employees, and the consumers.

My Ministers propose to lay before you legislation designed to ameliorate
the working-conditions of the people by the establishment of increased wages
in industry and shorter working-hours. Amendments to the Industrial
Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1925, will also be introduced with a view
to restoring the right to refer industrial disputes automatically to the Court
of Arbitration in the event of failure to arrive at a settlement in Conciliation
Council, and an amendment is proposed to the Workers’ Compensation Act,
1922. My Ministers have as a further step arranged for the Dominion to be
represented at the International Labour Conference to be held at Geneva
next June.

My Advisers fully recognize the value of the application of scientific
principles to industry, both primary and secondary, and are giving special
attention to the closer co-ordination of the scientific services at present
available in the Dominion.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

As one step in my Ministers’ co-ordinated plan to restore the standard of
living of farmers and agricultural workers, legislation will be introduced to
inaugurate a system of guaranteed prices for the farm products of the
Dominion which will ensure a reasonable reward for the time, energy, skill,
and experience involved, and at the same time steps will be taken to adjust
farm indebtedness in relation to total farm income. Arrangements will also
be made to market the primary products of the Dominion in the simplest and
most efficient manner possible.