JUNE 25] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 769

countries of the British Commonwealth and with the Government
of the United States of America, the New Zealand Army group
of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan is being
reduced to a strength of 2,400.

The devastation and acute shortages resulting from six years
of large-scale warfare have placed in jeopardy the lives and
well-being of many millions of human beings. New Zealand is
a member of several international bodies which are co-ordinating
the work of individual nations in alleviating the desperate plight
of many countries and people. Parliament will be made aware
of the work of many of these bodies—such as the International
Refugee Organization and the International Children’s Emergency
Fund—and practical proposals will be made by my Government
of ways in which New Zealand can make the most effective
contribution to the attainment of their ends.

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

During the financial year which ended on 31st March the
public revenues were buoyant, and the accounts closed with a
surplus of £4,611,000. Benefits distributed from the Social
Security Fund amounted to £36,121,000, which was £1,000,000
more than had been anticipated in the Budget.

Legislation was enacted last year to effect a reduction in
income-tax and sales-tax. Further relief was accorded taxpayers
this year by the elimination of the remaining 6d. in the pound
of national security tax, and the necessary legislation to validate
this reduction will be introduced during the present session of
Parliament.

In recognition of the enormous burden that the United
Kingdom carried throughout the war and is continuing to bear
in the post-war period, a gift of £12,500,000 was made to His
Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom as a token of New
Zealand’s appreciation of the magnificent effort of the British
people in safeguarding the freedom of mankind. A grant of
£250,000 was also made to the fund initiated by the Lord Mayor
of London for the alleviation of distress caused by the recent
disastrous floods in Britain.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,—

It is gratifying that New Zealand is making a substantial
recovery from the economic dislocations of the war.

The success of the rehabilitation scheme gives special
satisfaction. Ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen have had
the widest opportunities to secure remunerative employment.
Over 11,500 ex-servicemen have availed themselves of the trade-
training scheme. In addition, 3,251 ex-servicemen have wholly
or partly completed training as farmers.

My Government’s land-settlement proposals are designed to
place at least 9,000 ex-servicemen permanently on the land.
3,893 ex-servicemen have acquired farms of their own with
rehabilitation finance. For the settlement of ex-servicemen the
State has so far acquired or set aside 742,000 acres of land.

Over 25,400 ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen have received
grants to assist them with their education. Already 21,000
houses have been provided for ex-servicemen, and financial
provision has been made for a further 4,600 houses. Of the
186,000 ex-service personnel registered with the Rehabilitation
Department over 132,000 have, so far, received some form of
assistance. The total outlay for rehabilitation now amounts
to just on £51,000,000.

In the primary industries there has been a notable achievement. The previous season’s output of meat, which was a
record, is, on preliminary evidence, likely to be surpassed in the
current season.