transferring electric power from the South Island to the North Island by
submarine cable and plans are under way for further large-scale
development of both our hydro-electric and thermal resources.

Employment expanded again in 1956, and good industrial relations
have been maintained with no major stoppages since I last addressed
you. My Advisers continue to give their close attention to the problem
of reducing the level of accidents in industry.

Efforts by my Government to ensure adequate housing for our people
have been fully sustained and the number of houses completed last year
once again reached a record total.

My Government is pleased to be able to report progress in the first
phase of an extensive building programme for our university colleges.
My Ministers are also engaged in an examination of the measures
necessary to encourage and assist the development of technical and
agricultural education to meet the future economic and social needs of
our people. Steps have been taken to broaden the scope of child welfare
activities and during this year children's homes controlled by voluntary
organisations will, for the first time, receive direct financial assistance
from my Government.

The inoculation of children against poliomyelitis has now commenced and my Government hopes during this year to make the benefits
of this outstanding achievement in preventive medicine available to a
wider range of our young people. You will be asked to consider a Bill
which, while retaining local management of our hospitals by elected
boards, will make provision for my Government's responsibility in the
financing of a national and comprehensive public hospital system. A
Bill will also be placed before you for the purpose of consolidating
social security legislation.

As always, the well-being of the Maori people is a major concern of
my Government and special emphasis is placed on welfare, education,
and employment among the young people. During the past year
authority has been given for the development of a further 15,000
acres of Maori land in Northland and 5,000 acres in the King Country.
In addition, finance and building facilities have been made available
for the erection of more than 550 houses.

Evidence of my Ministers' continuing attention to matters affecting
the people of the Island Territories is provided by Bills which will
be placed before you to promote further constitutional development
in Western Samoa and the Cook Islands.

One important measure that you will be asked to consider is a
revision of the Crimes Act to bring its provisions, particularly those
relating to penalties, into closer harmony with modern views and with
public opinion. Other proposed legislation in the field of criminal law
and procedure includes a consolidation and revision of the Justices of
the Peace Act and an Extradition Bill. Legislation to provide for the
holding of a referendum on the question of capital punishment will
be placed before you.

Among miscellaneous legislation which my Ministers propose to
submit for your consideration is an amendment to the Mental
Health Act making changes in the procedure relating to committal
of persons to mental hospitals and to persons charged with criminal
offences, a Simultaneous Deaths Bill altering the present rule determining succession to property, and a consolidation and revision of the
Religious, Charitable, and Educational Trusts Act. Other consolidating measures will deal with the Police Force, the postal and telegraph
services, and the law relating to dangerous goods and explosives. Bills
dealing with the control of our national archives, with the adjustment
of valuations for certain rating purposes, and with the law relating
to shipping and seamen will also be placed before you.

All these matters I commend to your careful consideration and I
pray that Divine guidance will attend your deliberations.

BY AUTHORITY: R. E. OWEN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER; WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND—1957