8 JUNE THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1237

My Government has accepted the targets for growth in New Zealand
manufacturing presented to the National Development Conference.
To assist in achieving these targets my Ministers will continue to
promote the diversification and growth of efficient manufacturing
industries, so enlarging job opportunities for the growing labour force,
providing a greater range of goods for both producers and consumers
in New Zealand and extending the range of New Zealand’s exports.

During last year my Government made a major contribution to main-
taining the productive capacity of the sheep industry, which had
been threatened by a combination of depressed wool prices, a
reduced lamb schedule, and higher costs of production. The Stock
Retention Incentive Scheme provided much needed financial assistance
and helped to check the decline in sheep numbers. The return of
more prosperous conditions in the sheep industry, including a very
substantial increase in wool prices and more recently in lamb prices,
has relieved the position considerably.

The Wool Board and other elected representatives of the farmers
have recently endorsed a scheme for the establishment of a corpora-
tion to acquire and market New Zealand’s wool. This is now being
discussed by wool producers, and subject to its general acceptance
by them my Ministers will submit for your consideration a Wool
Marketing Corporation Bill to implement the scheme.

Earnings from dairy exports have reached record levels and this
welcome return to prosperity after several poor trading years will
enable the industry to build up its reserves and expand and further
diversify its productive capacity.

Honourable Members, my Ministers are concerned that unemploy-
ment has increased. Productive employment is being provided on a
temporary basis with Government departments and local bodies for
unemployed persons and other measures have been adopted to stimulate
demand in the short term. A longer-term solution to the problem will
be provided by the economic growth which the government is promoting.
My Government has also established a new employment service, initially
in the Auckland region. Its aim will be to provide an advisory service
to workers and employers.

The employment problems of Maoris and other Polynesians are
receiving my Government’s special attention. There has been a steady
expansion of the special vocational courses for young Maoris and other
Polynesians from country areas. The scope of the Maori Trade Training
Scheme has been enlarged and the number of girls and boys taken
on pre-employment courses has been increased. A special vocational
course for city girls and boys has now been introduced.

My Ministers have been considering proposals for a review of the
existing law on industrial relations. At the same time the Employers’
Federation and the Federation of Labour have been holding joint
discussions on the form the new industrial legislation should take. The
parties have reported to the Government on the results of these discus-
sions. My Ministers propose to introduce a Bill which will revise
entirely the present industrial legislation. Its provisions will take into
account the views of the Employers’ Federation and the Federation of
Labour.

My Ministers have carefully considered the recommendations of the
Commission of Inquiry into Equal Pay and the views of interested
parties on those recommendations. An Equal Pay Bill will be introduced
this Session which will substantially adopt the Commission’s main
recommendations. There will be some consequential amendments to
other legislation.