The Advocate. [Established 1888.] TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1907. A NATIONAL SPIRIT.

Bush Advocate, Volume XIX, Issue 738, 11 June 1907, Page 4

The Advocate. [Established 1888.]

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1907. A NATIONAL SPIRIT.

[PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. CIRCULATES IN Dannevirke Mangatoro PokoUomuku Ngapaeruru Mangahe Weber Ti Tree Point Waione Wimbledon Herbertville Akitio Horoeka Oringi Kiritaki Maharahara Woodville Umutaoroa Matarnau Piripiri Makotuku Ormondville Norsewood Takapau Whetukura Ashley-Clinton Otanga Kumeroa

There can be no doubt that the creation of a truly national spirit in this colony is. an ideal eminently worth cultivating. Everyone has a supreme confidence in the future of New Zealand, but whether everyone is imbued with a thoroughly loyal confidence in the resources and industries of the country is open to doubt. There are some, unfortunately, who arc everlastingly parading the fetish of Free Trade before the eyes of the people, and who never lose the opportunity of advising their hearers to buy in the cheapest markets, utterly oblivious of what this may entail. This is done sometimes from sheer ignorance, and more often from an utter disregard of the consequences. It conies to light again in other instances, as the result of the party struggle. In any case, the mischievous work of these dangerous wouldbe public leaders is a matter for regret, because it is possible that with the unthinking their utterances ma3 r carry some weight. In his recent speech at I) uned in the Hon. J. A. Millar touched upon this subject, and his words are eminently calculated to evoke sympathy and consideration. "I think I can s;iy this, speaking on behalf of my colleagues, I can say that the policy of the Government is one which will settle the people closely on the land. Our policy is to encourage our local industries. We desire to see the whole of the people in the colony doing well. We hope that by our legislation we will better the conditions of the workers, and, at the same time, create *■- sense of security for those investing capital in the country. We hope to create a national spirit and a national feeling, so that instead of buying an imported article, you will he : only too proud to say that you arc wearing a New Zealand-made article. There is a national feeling growing up in Australia that I would like to i see this country Following. There is • :\ strong desire yjowniy: to iz,d the } people of Australia, to only l.'iv tho ! j product of Australia, wherever it can ■ he got. You can go through Mcl- J boui'iie and Sydney and see in the shop windows a notice: 'Every ar- | tide in this window mado in Austraj Ha.' We hope to create a nation I

of our own —one of which w« may be proud to say : 'That is my coun^ try, and the one I intend to live and die in.' " .The opponents of the Government will, of course, endeavor to belittle Mr Millar's address, and to show that, as Minister for Labor, he is simply, endeavoring to bolster up the Labor 'party. This style of criticism is unfair and unjust. The most shallow-pated individual, unless hopelessly steeped in bias, must admit that the idea endeavored to be instilled by Mr Millar is a wise one. Take our magnificent woollen industries as a case in point. Surely a feeling of duty should induce all who possibly can to support the colonial article every time a purchase is necssary, and a little reflection must show that with an aug-' mented output the greater the chances of a reduction in price. There is no doubt as /to the question of quality. In other industries much might be accomplished if Mr Millar's words were to lead to a practical; result. If only the people, from motives of loyalty, and in the exercise of a truly "national spirit' r would support their own industries, many of our present importations might cease, and thousands of pounds ; now sent from our shores might "be re-' tamed in the colony, while, the additional burden, if any, would l^ot be worth consideration. We think that ■ the Minister is. deserving of the thanks of the people of the colony for calling attention to this import-: ant subject, and we trust that the Government will lose no opportunity of developing this "national spirit" by all reasonable means, providing,^ of course, that it can be accomplished without injustices to any particular class of the community. ; :