MAY 30.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1261

butter, cheese, wool, and other primary products of the Dominion, all of
which have been placed at the disposal of His Majesty’s Government in
the United Kingdom. The arrangements thus made are capable of
considerable expansion as circumstances may require. My Ministers, with
this object in view, have taken steps to encourage production to the fullest
extent, and, in order to meet the situation created by the withdrawal of
men to the fighting services from commerce, industry, and agriculture, they
have arranged for the preparation of a National Register of Man-power,
and have established District Councils with the object of ensuring an
adequate supply of labour for purposes of public necessity. In this
connection it is recognized by my Ministers that further reductions in the
number of men employed on public works are essential if necessary labour
requirements are to be fully met, and steps are being taken accordingly.

My Ministers have established a substantial organization to deal with
questions of supply, including the raw materials and other commodities
necessary for the industries of the Dominion, as well as many of the
requirements of the armed Forces. Steps have been taken also to control
the consumption of petrol, with the object of eliminating wasteful
expenditure of a commodity vitally necessary in time of war, and at the
same time conserving foreign exchange which is essential to facilitate the
purchase of materials required for the Allied cause.

I am happy to say that the provisions made by my Government for
controlling the collection and expenditure of public contributions for the
purpose of providing comforts, amenities, and relief for the members of
the armed Forces have proved effective, and the organizations established
for this purpose are performing a most useful function in ensuring the
efficient and economic administration of the large sums so generously
subscribed by the public.

Notwithstanding the outbreak of the war, the one-hundredth anniversary
of organized settlement and government in New Zealand was celebrated with
enthusiasm throughout the Dominion. The National Centennial Celebrations
at Waitangi and Akaroa were successful in a marked degree not only as
historical and commemorative functions, but as a means of cementing
the national spirit so vital to the country at the present time and of
strengthening the determination of our people to defend and safeguard
their inheritance.

MR. SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:—

Exports for the year ended 31st March, 1940, amounted in value to
£59,643,000, an increase of £1,776,000 as compared with the previous year,
and exceeded only in the years 1937 and 1938. Imports for the year ended
31st March, 1940, totalled £45,571,000, compared with £54,408,000 for the
previous year, a decrease of £8,837,000. This substantial decrease is
attributable, firstly, to my Government’s import selection policy—a policy
designed to ensure that the Dominion’s overseas funds are utilized according
to the relative importance of the demands for goods and services—and
secondly, to the physical difficulty of obtaining imports, which is the result
of war conditions. In giving effect to the policy of import selection,
preference is given, where possible, firstly, to goods of United Kingdom
origin; secondly, to goods from other parts of the British Commonwealth;
and, thirdly, to goods from other countries within the sterling area.

The public accounts, which reflect very intimately the economic conditions
within the Dominion, closed with a surplus of £319,000, full details of which
will be given to honourable members during the present session of
Parliament. This surplus was achieved, notwithstanding the extra
expenditure incurred as a result of the introduction of Social Security
benefits.