A Bill will be placed before you designed to improve existing
legislation as regards soil conservation and rivers control.

You will also be asked to consider the measures that will be necessary
to facilitate detailed investigations as to the feasibility of a major iron
and steel industry based on New Zealand's iron sand resources.

My Ministers are gratified that, for the first time in several years,
the country is free from restrictions on the use of electricity and it is
their constant aim that this satisfactory position be maintained. The
Commission, which my Government has appointed to inquire into the
distribution of electric power throughout New Zealand, should assist
in large measure in the resolution of existing difficulties and anomalies
in this field. My Government has also appointed a Gas Council to
assist with the task of preserving and expanding our valuable gas
industry where this can be done to advantage. Bills will be placed
before you dealing with bulk supply charges for electricity, and with
the certification and registration of electric linemen.

To both our primary and our secondary industries, as well as to other
fields of national activity, an essential and positive contribution will
continue to be made by my Government's scientific and research
agencies.

Production in our farming and manufacturing industries has
increased substantially. Manufacturers in particular have been required
to increase output rapidly and the success of their efforts has done
much to satisfy consumer demand.

You will be asked to consider proposals for the minor amendment
of the Harbours Act 1950 and the Fisheries Act 1908. Experience in
the operation of legislation concerning shipping and seamen has
prompted my Ministers to prepare for your consideration certain amend-
ments to the present law. The action my Government proposes to take
this year in calling world-wide tenders for the construction of a new
rail-sea ferry for operation across Cook Strait is a major step towards
the introduction of a service which will effectively bridge a long-felt
gap in our rail and roading systems.

New measures which my Government has introduced to counter
the prevalence of motor accidents have led to a marked reduction in
fatalities. This problem, however, remains serious and my Ministers
will spare no effort to achieve a high standard of road safety. A White
Paper will be placed before you recording the findings of the Com-
mittee which my Government appointed to examine the whole field
of the transport of goods by road.

Marked improvements in our internal and overseas air services in-
clude the introduction of the most up-to-date types of aircraft. My
Government continues to give close attention to the provision and
development of appropriate airport and air navigational facilities.

The importance of communications in the business and domestic
spheres of our rapidly developing country is also recognised by my
Ministers in the maximum effort they are making to meet the needs
of the people for increased telephone facilities.

My Government is encouraged by the success of the measures they
have promoted to stimulate the building of houses. During the year
just past a record number of houses was constructed and my Ministers
will intensify the steps already taken in their endeavours to ensure
that every family will have the opportunity of obtaining adequate
accommodation.

The rate of increase in our labour force during the past year has
been one of the highest since the Second World War while the main-
tenance of a good record of industrial relations is illustrated by the
fact that time lost in industrial stoppages during 1958 was the second
lowest in the post-war years.

My Government, in pursuance of its policy gradually and progres-
sively to introduce equal pay for equal work under equal conditions
into New Zealand, has decided to appoint a Committee to advise how
this objective can best be attained in the State services as a first step.