SCOTLAND TO-DAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 137, 22 March 1948, Page 2

SCOTLAND TO-DAY

Great Liking for New

Zealand

ADDRESS BY SIR JOHN FALCONER ‘I am speaking of Scotland tonight, and if I am to tell you of it truly, 1 must mention our likes and dislikes ; wliat attracts us and wiial does not. 1 must not be uittictcnt. 1 must tell you tne trutn; ana with joy in my heart I tell you that never was there such admiration and affection in Scotland tor New Zealand as, there is to-day.” These remarks were made by Sir John Falconer, former Lord Provost of .Edinburgh, in a broadcast last night.

“But wliat of our lives to-day I-” lie. said: "1 Know that you read in some quarters that we are dissatisfied, disheartened, irritated, un-unitecl and so fourth. Ot course we rather love to nave a grievance, but not so much as the Insn. i cry aloud that I am allowed too have only two eggs a month and one rasher ot bacon a fortnight. But what of it? 1 never felt better in my lite. Others are; not so fortunate. 1 hate being without a little petrol; and 1 dislike paying income tax, and being occasionally a trine cold, iou see with income tax at Os in the pound U really means that i hand over to the State halt of my earnings; or in other words, I work for nearly six Out of tiie twelve months for the State. Only the other half I have for myself. 1 don’t like that. I don't like being told that 1 cannot get myself a shirt because 1 have not the coupons.

”1 disliked it entirely when, one day I was doing a. tour of inspection with a New Zealand general, he showed me one of the sample suits of clothes which were being handed out to demobilised troops, I was unable to to try it on when he offered. I could not do so because I was a little sensitive about the state of my own underwear—although I did not tell him that. But all these things are very minor complaints. Everyone gets, the same amount of food, and the same amount of clothes; and, after all. we have great cause to be thankful Our hearts should be full of joy and gratitude. If the war had not been won we would have been the slaves of modern savages. Now we are still free. The flag of liberty still *flies from Edinburgh Castle, and Edinburgh Castle still stands intact, symbol of Scotland’s pride. And the old rock is there, which is the symbol of Scottish character. Once again by reason of your help, ye can face the future with good heart.

Foundation of Prosperity

“Now I want to tell you in a few words what, we are doing,” said the speaker. “As you know, the foundation of all our prosperity is coal. The mines have been nationalised and the miners are making a very gallant effort to out-distance all previous achievements in the production of coal. New machinery is being introduced, and a great effort is afoot to make the life of the Scottish miner as safe, as happy, and as comfortable as possible. They have indeed had a very thin time. You see coal was essential for industry, and in the struggle of the industrial age we were inclined to think only of what we could do .without in order that we might better gain our main purpose. We thought more of getting the coal than the comfort of the miners. It is the same at the beginning of everything. You in this new country have done the same. You have often neglected your personal comfort and well-being in order to succeed in your purpose. In the next stage of civilisation we can all work a little more comfortably. “I wish you could come to see the country for yourselves,” said Sir John. “It would do you good. You will find people will welcome you with warm You will find that only some of our towns have been badly flattened. London, gallant London, is healing from her wounds; and where she has not healed, she is bandaging them up. But you should have a look at her, for to look iat her is to be proud of her and of the country to which you belong.

Agriculture Revived

“Now I must tell you a little about how we stand. We have wholeheartedly gone to work to resume our position. I have said that in coal and steel we are making records. We are exporting coal again, because we need dollars. Cotton and steel production is increasing. Exports of machinery and electric goods are double our wartime volume, and five times the war value. The threats of the U-boats revived our agriculture. Wheat and barley increased their acreage by 100 per cent, during the war years, and potatoes by 75 per cent, and oats by 30 per cent. We also have a Council for Industry for Scotland, whose job it is to make a survey of Scottish industry and collect facts so that every help is given. It is doing increasingly good Avork. We are helping in many other ways. In. Hawick some of the firms have nurseries for children, so that their mothers may he able to work. The carpet industry is working at the 1938 level. The factories are getting going. Transport is difficult as Ave have no petrol, and trains are \ r ery clear.

“Noav one last word,” concluded Sir John. “Scotland still stands Avhere she did. The flag still flies. The courage of her people is strong. We have lost material Avealth, but Ave have learned to appreciate what is of real value. We have gained an increased estimate of the value of our tradition and Avay of life. These are things- Avhieh Ave share in common Avith you. Let us never forget the inestimable A-alue of our common ’ birthright.”