also be asked to consider Bills dealing with rehabilitation, education,
civil aviation, gaming, town planning, soil conservation, the Justices
of the Peace Act, the Juries Act, the Family Homes Act, the Infants
Act, the Licensing Act, the Family Protection Act, the Divorce and
Matrimonial Causes Act, the Sea Carriage of Goods Act, and the Deaths
by Accident Compensation Act. Bills will also be presented to
consolidate the Shipping and Seamen Act, the Hospitals Act, and
the law relating to coroners, and to the registration of births and
deaths.

The work of law reform is continuing with the full co-operation
of the Law Revision Committee, consisting of representatives of the
Law Society and the Faculty of Law. A Criminal Justice Bill, designed
to protect society against hardened criminals and to further the work
of reformation of young offenders, will be presented to you. There
will also be legislation to increase the criminal jurisdiction of
magistrates.

An Official Secrets Bill will be submitted for your consideration.
This measure will replace the United Kingdom Act of 1911, which is
the only legislation on this subject in force in New Zealand, and will
bring the law on official secrets into correspondence with present needs.
The Bill has been prepared with regard to experience in other countries
in recent years.

The continuing prosperity experienced by all sections of the
community, and particularly the primary producers, is a matter for
gratification. My Government attaches the greatest importance in its
policies towards the maintenance of the basic industries which are the
source of our national wealth—those industries based on the soil and
whose output governs in such direct measure the standard of living
which the people as a whole may enjoy. Prices received for farm
products have increased and seasonal conditions have on the whole,
been favourable. Dairy production has been maintained at record
levels, and, though meat production has declined, the statistics of
live-stock population indicate a very sound position.

As a result of the survey made of the national health scheme,
amending legislation will be submitted to you for the reconstitution
of the Central Milk Council. My Advisers regard the town milk
industry as one of special local concern, and it is intended that the new
Council will take every opportunity to develop local responsibility.

The preservation and development of our forests and rural lands
continue to receive close attention. Offers from private enterprise to
join with the Government in establishing a pulp and paper industry
have been invited by my Ministers.

The task of rehabilitating ex-servicemen continues to engage the
attention of my Government. The development of land for settlement
by ex-servicemen has been maintained, and upwards of 3,261 ex-service-
men were assisted in building their own homes last year.

The report presented by the Royal Commission on War Pensions
has been considered, and effect has already been given to certain of
the recommendations providing for more liberal pension payments.
Legislation to validate these payments will be submitted to you.

The provision of housing in town and country for Maoris and
Europeans continues to receive close attention. Encouragement is
being given to the ownership of houses by families who occupy them,
and the response by occupants of State rental houses to the offer of
purchase of these houses has been good. More than one thousand State
rental houses, valued at more than two million pounds, have
already been sold, and applications continue to be received at a very
satisfactory rate. My Ministers recognize that there will always be
some families who, for various reasons, are unable to undertake the
responsibilities of home ownership, and, to provide for such cases, the
policy of building State houses for rental purposes will be continued.

The advancement of the social and economic welfare of the Maori
people is a matter to which the Government attaches the utmost
importance. The development of Maori land is being carried forward
as speedily as possible. To meet the needs of the Maori people coming
to work in the cities it has been decided to subsidize the establishment
of suitable hostels.