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what use can best be made of resources, how large the population might advantageously become, and what steps of general policy might be taken to secure the ends which are shown by investigation to be desirable. Economic planning begins most naturally on a national scale. It is concerned with those problems relating to New Zealand's best role in -the world as a whole, how far she should develop manufacturing in relation to primary industries, how fast her labour force is growing, what proportion of her national income and physical resources should be concentrated on the task of improving her physical environment and capital equipment, and what proportion should flow into the production of consumer goods. When translated into terms of particular areas and industries, it provides a basis for physical planning without which the physical planner must work somewhat in the dark. Economic research of a comprehensive nature is not at present the primary function of any Government Department, though it is at present being carried out to some extent in a sectionalized form divided between many Departments, such as the Rural Development Division of the Agriculture Department, the Stabilization Commission, the National Employment Service, the Industries and Commerce Department, and various others. Because of the intimate connection between physical and economic planning, the many far-reaching economic consequences of decisions taken in the physical planning field and the many economic aspects of major works proposals which must be thoroughly examined before sound recommendations can be made to the Government, it has been found necessary to provide in the Ministry of Works the nucleus of an economic research staff to deal with these aspects. / Perhaps the best example of scientific planning related to the productive use of land which is available in New Zealand at the present stage is the intensive survey of the Whangarei County, which is at present being undertaken by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. After a most exhaustive examination of the land itself, the climatic features, the .growth, and the uses being made of the land, it has been possible to show what changes in land use might be brought about to the best advantage, which areas should revert to forest, and which might well be developed for farming purposes. It has been estimated that if all the land were to be used in the manner which this exhaustive research has indicated is the most advantageous, then the income arising from the whole area would probably be doubled. Another notable example of comprehensive planning has been provided in the Huntly-Pukemiro Extra-urban Scheme. Maps have been prepared by the Lands and Survey Department to show, inter alia, details of coal and other resources, present and potential uses of productive land, areas proposed for residential construction, for amenities, and for other forms of development in the future. The connection between work of this type and the drawing-up of works plans is very real and direct. The whole subject will be covered comprehensively in the future by the general adoption of regional planning principles, Legislation relating to regional planning has been on the

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