JUNE 28] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 823

In the fields of health, education, and social security my Government will ensure that the moneys allocated for these services are efficiently spent so as to return the greatest value in terms of the welfare of the people as a whole.

My Government have examined closely the programmes of national development which are needed to increase New Zealand’s productivity in the years ahead. Essential public works will be proceeded with and will be related to the co-ordination of transport services. So long as development works are financed on a sound basis, the cost of the agreed programme will be well within the capacity of the country.

In promoting the effective rehabilitation of all those who served in the recent war, my Ministers will direct particular attention to housing and land settlement. In the furtherance of my Government’s housing policy generally, the aim will be to encourage the fullest degree of occupation of homes by families on an ownership basis. With this end in view provision is being made for more generous loan facilities designed to encourage private house-building, to meet the housing requirements of the rural community, and to assist tenants of State rental houses to purchase their homes.

The Land Sales Act will be abolished in progressive stages, but so long as it is necessary to ensure preference for eligible ex-servicemen in obtaining farm properties some measure of control must be retained. Legislation will, however, be brought down to ratify the action already taken by my Government to vary the basis of valuation of farm properties and to exempt sales of urban land.

In the important field of Maori affairs, land development will be carried forward as expeditiously as possible. Generous loan provisions for individual Maori home-builders will enable a substantial increase in the number of houses built, while in the cities and towns provision is being made for Government hostels, so urgently needed for Maori youths.

Although the labour force continues to expand, there still exist acute labour shortages in essential industries and services. In seeking remedies, the Government are extending the immigration scheme, with the object of bringing to New Zealand an average of ten thousand assisted immigrants annually over the next ten years. This total cannot, however, be realized immediately, as it will first be necessary to expand the accommodation facilities here, a task to which my Ministers are giving high priority.

Recognizing that the maintenance of industrial peace is essential to national well-being, my Ministers will strive to encourage the utmost co-operation between the workers’ and the employers’ organizations. In the view of my Advisers the maintenance of harmonious industrial relationships necessitates the provision of special and adequate machinery for investigation, for speedy interpretation, and for adjudication upon matters in dispute. It is proposed to amend certain sections of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act with the object of enabling industrial unionists, where they so desire, to express their views by democratic methods, such as the secret ballot, on compulsory unionism, and other issues.

The staffs of the public services can be assured of favourable terms of employment in recognition of the value of their work in administering Government policy, and every effort will be made to ensure the maintenance of their high standards of efficiency and loyalty.

In the light of this review of the country’s prospects in various fields there is good reason to be optimistic about the future. Conditions in the farming industries are favourable to an expansion of production. Increased exports will provide the means of exchange so necessary to enable the purchase of more imports, both of consumer goods and of raw materials for the development of local manufacturing production. Flourishing conditions in the business world will thus

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