THE NEW ORDER

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23917, 8 April 1943, Page 4

THE NEW ORDER

MR S. G. HOLLAND ON RECONSTRUCTION HAPPINESS AND SECURITY “I have nothing in common with the man who makes a god of money,” said the Leader of the Opposition* (Mr S. G. Holland, M.P.), when addressing the New Zealand Geographical Society in Christchurch last evening. “The war is being fought in the main by the workers. In my opinion those men will have fought, in vain if they have to come back to another slump.” Such a statement, continued Mr Holland, might sound strange coming from a member of his party. But at the period of the last economic depression, he reminded his listeners (the majority of whom were young people), he was not associated with it, “I have no wish to castigate them," he proceeded. “They did what other governments did in other parts of the world —they cut wages and reduced pensions and caused untold misery. But the world has learned a great deal since then.”

The subject of Mr Holland’s address was reconstruction within New Zealand, and his was one of a series of addresses on this aspect of post-war development. In any new order, as far as New Zealand was concerned, said Mr Holland, the fear of unemployment had to be removed. What had been termed “the giants of sickness, squalor, ignorance, and urtemployment,” had to be destroyed. “There is no reason why men who are willing and able to work,” he added, “should not have employment,” Mr Holland believed that after the war there would be a world-wide clamour for foodstuffs. It was essential, therefore,- that New Zealand should increase production. It was necessary that the Government should apply science in industry as never before. Science, he said, was inseparable from production to-day. However, there would be no prosperity in New Zealand unless there was success in production methods in the country, “Because it is the country that gives us the whole of our overseas purchasing power,” he said. “The workers in my opinion have in this war won the right to work," he continued, “and houses are urgently required for them. I believe that between 50,000 and 70,000 houses are necessary; but we cannot construct them unless we have the skilled labour and trained instructors. “What we get out of this new order —and I believe there will be a new order—is just precisely what we put into it, no more and no less. We can have it if we are prepared to work for it. But we will never get a new order unless we work for it ourselves.”

It was essential in the speaker’s opinion that any new order should be based on Christian principles: it could never be brought into existence unless there was a change of heart on the part of the people. Human happiness and human security had to be placed in the forefront; selfishness had to be eliminated. "Personally, I have no sympathy at all with the money-grabbing capitalist," said Mr Holland.

‘‘But, at the same time, it must be remembered that there is no short cut to a new order, and we must never at any time remove the incentive for production. No government can give to the people by way of gratuities, pensions, or any other benefits, unless it is first taken from the people. It is not so much money that counts today as goods and services." If the incentive to produce were removed, he said, there would necessarily be fewer goods for distribution. There was room for a higher standard of living morally, but that could not be brought about until the people also practised higher morals. "Selfishness must go,” said Mr Holland. “Otherwise, the old order that we have known will remain. Service must be our watchword in the future.”

Mr J. S. Harrison presided over a large attendance.

promoting mm RECONSTRUCTS*' NEW SOCIETY FORMED A society to promote the study ( post-war reconstruction, the, body t be non-political and t ' non-sectaria was formed at, a public, meeting w in the Chamber of Commerce M last evening. A provisional commit® was set up which will call anotna meeting of supporters' when dfficen who will collect and collate materia for distribution to interested associations, will be appointed. , ■ Dr. J. Hight, who presided, said UJ meeting must decide if such a W was necessary and mode s its operation. Most peopfe-interestei would already belong tcrsoid groui studying the particular aspects u which they were concerned. . . Proposing, pro forma, the motion to form the society, Mr H. "Winston Rhodes said he was personally « convinced that such a society «« necessary. The public must leant f think in realities and discard pw paper plans. The United, Nations an alliance which sounded very in'* posing, but when the individual ideot 0 * gies, traditions, and economic struc* tures of the members were considera, it was plain that one of the first proa* lems to be faced was the maintenance of the alliance before any other pW| positions were considered. India, W negroes in America, and the Asiatics were among the most obvious matten which would have to be adjusted, n the proposed society was prepared» take a practical and active approm he was prepared to take an inteK 8 in it. ■ . Miss M. G. Havelaar seconded® motion, also pro forma. She said the home would play the greatest P® in reconstruction after the war. se sides creating a right attitude of W® home life would restore broken.®’ most quickly. Thus she ■ provision of better and/ aW® homes as a prime need. Health w vices to prevent malnutrition and demies immediately after the should be formed, and these cop continue a valuable work on a nation* basis in normal times, she sain. “Youth must prepare itself ih for the great opportunities atieaa Miss Havelaar said reviewing P® sible improvements in the education* system. ~ Human brains were equal to hum problems if they would accept task as a high, solemn, and n « calling, said Mr E. ** mutual attitude of reiypw ben® should be far more intimate and create a more real understanding. “I speak for those who li ve ,°L in( sweat of their brows and by dirty™ their hands, and I Bay frankly * they are fed to the teeth with pi , tudes. I therefore oppose the moil said Mr A. B. Grant, who Mr J. Roberts as a speaker. Mm* said that in his opinion any cnan* would be made through the rjjj, mentary machine and there were ready sufficient political After some discussion. 1 to form a society was cafriedJSH * 20 votes to five, a large dining to vote. There were ao 80 present. Dr. Hight, Mr Hitchcock. Mr . Ewer, and Miss N. Baker secr , were appointed as a provisional miltee.