"TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 290, 8 December 1931, Page 12

"TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS."

! PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND. LORD BLEDISI-OE'S APPEAL. NEED TO STOP EXTRAVAGANCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) FEILDIXG, Monday. The need to stop extravagance w-as emphasised by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, in his speech at the civicwelcome tendered to him and Lady Bledisloe on their official visit to Feilding to-day. The Major, Mr. Taylor, in ■welcoming the visitors, said their Excellencies by their sympathy, kindness and desire to help all classes had pndeared themselves to the people of the Dominion. They had been a. tower of strength in these ; times of stress. The Hon. J. G. Cohbe, Minister of Defence, said Lord Bledisloe was one of the foremost farmers in Britain and a leading financier. His help and advice had been exceedingly valuable to the Government. Lord Bledisloe in his speech referred to the economic position of the country. : He said New Zealand needed to stop all extravagance, individual, municipal and •national. The Dominion tea* wonderfully endowed by nature and by Providence, but the people had been too extravagant in good times and must now "'tighten their belts/' He strongly tjrjed the people to buy from their be&t customer, Britain. They could not afford to buy from foreigners as that would upset exchange. He believed Britain ■would adopt a- tariff which would help industries in Britain and also stimulate Imperial trade.

'•'We have just had a general election in this country." &aid hi? Excellency. "I think it has been fairly fought. We have now to bend our minds to the utmost solidarity and harmony in working out the tray for a return of prosperity. We must not have internal dissensions. I appeal to you and through you to all right-minded people, to study point* of contact rather than points of difference, for the purpose of securing internal peace and harmony and economic welfare." Their Excellencies visited the agricultural high school and a number of farms in the district. An official luncheon ■was given by the local bodies. The party later left for Dannevirke.