New Zealand's economic relations with other countries; and the
advancement of the peoples of the Pacific islands for whose welfare it is
responsible.

Within the United Nations, my Government is at present devoting
particular attention to the work of the Economic and Social Council
to which New Zealand was last year elected for a three-year term.

Within the Commonwealth, my Government has endeavoured to
extend the procedures of consultation and personal contact which are a
special feature of the relationship. It has established diplomatic posts
in India and the Federation of Malaya and a trade commission in
the West Indies.

It has continued to participate actively in the operation of the
Colombo Plan.

My Prime Minister attended the meeting of the Colombo Plan
Consultative Committee in Seattle and both within that forum and
in the United Nations General Assembly has indicated the importance
which my Government places upon international action to deal with
the problems of poverty and hunger.

My Prime Minister also attended a meeting of the ANZUS Council
in Washington and in February of this year visited Japan in
response to an invitation extended by the Government of that country
following the Japanese Premier's visit to New Zealand late in 1957.
In April last my Prime Minister acted as Chairman of the 5th Meeting,
held here in Wellington, of the Council of Foreign Ministers of SEATO.
This was the first international conference of such dimensions to be held
in our country.

My Government has continued to watch closely the implications
for New Zealand of economic integration in Europe and the effects on
New Zealand's trade and economic relations of policies of agricultural
protection which result in impediments to the trade of efficient
producers.

As part of a vigorous trade promotion policy my Government has
entered into formal trade arrangements with Japan and the Federal
Republic of Germany and has revised the 1932 Agreement with the
United Kingdom.

My Government has taken important action bearing upon the future
of Western Samoa. It has outlined a programme for the final stages
of the constitutional advancement of the territory and this has been
endorsed by a special Trusteeship Mission of the United Nations.
Legislation will be introduced this session to enable the establishment
on 1 October of this year of a form of Cabinet Government in Western
Samoa.

It is my intention to proceed in HMNZS Royalist next month on a
visit to Western Samoa, the Cook Islands, including Niue, and the
Tokelau Group. My wife and I look forward with keen anticipation
and pleasure to this opportunity of meeting the peoples of those
territories, whose fine qualities have won for them such high regard,
and of seeing for ourselves those islands of the Pacific so justly famed
for their natural beauty and fruitfulness of soil.

In October next my Government will be represented at a Conference
on the Antarctic which will meet in Washington. It is hopeful that
agreement will be possible on arrangements which will keep Antarctica
free of political rivalries whilst ensuring to all countries free access for
peaceful purposes. Units of our scientific and exploration personnel
continue to support New Zealand activities in the area.

In pursuance of its policy of maintaining, in close association with
our allies, a proper contribution towards the collective defence of our
way of life, my Government is proceeding with plans to re-equip our
Armed Forces with modern ships, aircraft, and weapons. A second
regular battalion of the New Zealand Regiment is at present undergoing
training in preparation for the relief later this year of the
battalion now serving in Malaya. Our Air Force squadron in that
area has been re-equipped and is now operational in its new role.