ECONOMIC FRONT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 40, 26 November 1938, Page 6

ECONOMIC FRONT

GOVERNMENT’S DETERMINATION.

APPEAL FOR CO-OPERATION. SPEECH BY MR SULLIVAN. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “The Government has its plans ready and wo are going out to fight on the economic front, just as we fought them on the political front a few weeks ago.”

Those were the words of the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. 1). G. Sullivan) when he spoke to members of the Avon electorate branch of the Labour Party last evening.

The Minister said the Government was fully alive to the fact that a section of the community were not playing the game by New Zealand. Having made their money in the Dominion, some of them were sending it out of the country. The Government, was determined, and was confident that with the support of the people it could win. Jt was proposing to expand the secondary industries and in a few days would launch an appeal for the co-operation of the people. “We were given a. straight-out majority and an unqualified mandate to put our policy into operation,” said Mr Sullivan, “but it is only the political victory that has been won. There is no need to remind you of that. There is another big battle to be fought and won before the Government can put the economy of New Zealand on a sound and stable basis that will yield for the people that standard of living that is in conformity with the ideals of the Labour Party.” Mr Sullivan said that the Government’s reply to the attack being made upon it by a few disgruntled financial interests would be to build up industry internally. With the help and cooperation of its political supporters and also those of its opponents who were capable of placing patriotism above politics it could win this new battle for New Zealand it was called on to enter. The Government was called on to expand the secondary industries ot the country and build up the body of production. Although the task ahead was difficult, the problem would, be surmounted and the Government was going to win just as it had won at the election.