THE OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 83, 31 December 1924, Page 8

THE OUTLOOK

MR. MASSEY’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE “PROSPECTS NEVER BEEN BETTER” WARNING AGAINST RASH SPECULATION The Prime Minister has issued the following - New Year message to the people of the Dominion: — “On the dawning of the New Year 1 offer to my fellow citizens my’ hearty congratulations upon the general outlook of the Dominion. Ido not think that ever in its history have the prospects for the people as a whole been better than they are to-day. In making that statement I am not thinking only' of the price of wool —admittedly one of the important factors that make for our prosperity—but I am taking in my, view the season for all our principal primary’ products, and the promise it has brought for good crops, n plentiful supply' of fodder for all varieties of stock (the number of which it is satisfactory to note has recently increased), a bountiful harvest and for a record year for our exports.

“I desire especially to emphasise the importance of the considerable increase in this Dominion’s exports, because they denote so plainly the results of the industry of its people and form the basis of our national prosperity. 'There seems to be' no doubt that the values obtaining for wool are assured for some time to come, and, in my judgment, there are no indications of any serious collapse in the priceSj of our other staple products. That position is particularly gratifying, and it is more so when one notices the solid encouragement existing in almost every possible direction toi the producer, and, consequently, lor every other class in the community. When the man on the land is prosperous, all other sections of the community share in that prosperity. Good prices for the country’s products mean not only good wages, but an abundance of employment for those requiring it. “In former years we enjoyed prosperous times, but unfortunately we also experienced, in common with other countries, periods of depression. In New Zealand, as elsewhere, part of the money earned in the bountiful years was not always expended wisely or well. Rash speculation was encouraged and there was extravagance in the purchase of commodities whicn rather increased the producer’s liabilities than added to his prosperity. We all had our lesson a few years ago, and I know we profited by it. My counsel to the people is to see teat any similar happening will not occur again. All can work to prevent it, and I know all will. The time to practice economy is during the season of prosperity, when the old wise saying, ‘Put a little away for the rainy day,’ should oe kept well in mind. “It is a pleasure to look back over the last few years and realise the achievements of the New Zealand Pa»liament. It has done more than any other Legislature to reduce the financial burdens arising from the war. Moreover, it can be said with equal truth that we have not fergotten to help those who in the bad times fell bv the wavside. They sorely needed the assistance which the country was able to provide them. Our social and domestic legislation must be continued on humanitarian principles, but, above all. let us always remember the Empire. which we, in partnership with out kin overseas, hold in, trust, _ to hand on to succeeding generations even greater and brighter than it is to-day. “I am glad that Sir Charles Few gusson. as Governor-General, has come to us during one of the most prosperous periods which Nevr Zealand has ever experienced. Both 'Their Excellencies are assured of the warmest of welcomes from every part of the Dounion. I have no hesitation in saying that Sir Charles Fergusson will worthily follow 'he example of his pre. decessors in giving a strong lead in everything that makes for the loyalty and patriotism of New Zealanders. “New Zeaiand can take pride in the knowledge that it is building up a new nation in the Pacific —a nation made up of the island race, which during the last thousand years has been such an important influence in the happiness and welfare of humanity. M e have scarcely got beyond the stage of laying the foundations for the new nation, but the good work continues. We must see that due and proper encouragement is given to all those factors essential for the spread of that righte ousness which the best authority in the universe tells us ‘exalteth a nation,’ and we have always to bear in mind that if succest is to attend our aims and ambitions, we must do unto others as we would that they should do unto us. If we of the present generation and those that come after us proceed on these lines, the result will be tli«> building up of a great and righteous nation worthy of its environment and of the Anglo-Saxon stock from which it springs. “Finally, if all classes of our people pull together in whole-heartedly^work-ing for the common good, burying, as far as possible petty bickerings and sectional differences, and being ever actuated by that splendid spirit which enabled ns to .face and overcome the grave perils ..-hich confronted the Km pire during the last decade, then 1 can confidently predict for New Zealand a new year, richly endowed with brightness and prosperity, in which all our citizens vdl fully share.’'