NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 84, 8 April 1924, Page 11

NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY

PRIME MINISTER'S ADVICE "WORK HARD"

PROSPERITY REFLECTED IN SAVINGS BANK.

(BI TRUQRAPn—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WINTON, 7th April. To-night ' Mr. Massey addressed a gathering of over 1000 people. He received an ovation- on entering the hall, and again when he rose to speak. He expressed pleasure at his reception in Southland, and said he had had a very busy time since the days xA the tvar. After attending conferences and Parliament he had little time to visit the country, bul, he was glad to be here. ■ Speaking of his various visits to Europe,. Mr. Massey said he was impressed more than ever with the greatuess of the country when compared with overseas'countries. Returning from the 1 !ast Conference, he arrived in New York on Christmas Eve, and next day proceeded into Canada. Altogether he travelled 4000 miles, all of which were under snow. The temperature was 40 degrees below zero, but the peaple .were quite accustomed to it, and' looked'' forward to it. The people o£ New Zealand did not know how well off they were in regard u> climate. Also\he would say no country in_ the Empire was so prosperous is New Zealand, and ho hoped it would continue. While overseas he took every chance of boosting New Zealand, and when he told them New Zealand did not come into existence as s, ■■ British eclony till 1840 they were amazed that in so small a spa.ee of time such great progress had been made. Last year, said the Premier, the country exported £18,000,000' in butter and cheese. Turning to trade figures, he said ho had been advised that roughly the exports last financial year totalled over _ £51,500,000, despite tho adverse conditions. Part of tho increase was made up by the bigger price being received for ; wool, but all the same it was u' great achievement. There was plenty of room, however, for even niore improvement. All over New Zealand there were places; where tlie surface had only been scratched, but in a few years it would be as good as the best land in the Dominion. Eegarding the Public Debt, there was* no need -to worry; when over £50,000,000 in produce -was exported iua year there was no need to worry about New Zealand's credit. IMPERIAL SUBJECTS. ( ' Referring to the Imperial Conference, Mr.. Massey said it had been generally agreed that the leaders of the Dominions and cjlonies should come together to exchange • ideas on Imperial matters about evecy two years. He had seen men^come to the Conference with' utterly divergent views, but after'a few days they were able to go home in complete agreement on Iriiperial matters. The last Conference was not so satisfactory as he expected. The matter of preference was discussed, and all were unanimous on the subject., At th'ei time unemployment was serious, and the Ministry decided it. could not stand up to the problem, and went to tho country. The result of the election was that none of the recommendations of the Conference was carried out. It was suggested th'at for the materials" needed for development the Imperial Government would lend the Dominions money at a low rate of interest when such materials were produced by British workshops. The matter was now/ hanging in" the balance. It • would benefit both the people' of the Dominions and the people a_t Home. He also deplored the delay of action m connection with the Merchandise Marks Bill in England. " Last year the Government paid £12.000. to fruit growers, having guaranteed a penny a pound, as the growers were not making a penny a pound. At. the same time New Zealand apples, on the English market were selling' at 7£d This indicated the need for preference with- >■■ the Empire. The Empire was a wonderful collection of nations, and could supply all its own requirements Instead, people were going outside and buying from .foreign countries, '• while ai Home thousands were hardly able to_keep themselves , decently. - Egypt ludia, and South Africa had recently called tenders, lor millions of pounds' worth of * railway materials, not a penny going to British firms. Under such conditions it was impbssible to carry on He was, sorry- tb'have to say so, but in view of this, it seemed that the British Government was doing its best for everyone except it* own nation. One instance «bb a tender for Army meat, secured by he Argentine. Britain, was -Kw zjr lend s best market, and we ,wnnM .v> very badly off if Britain failed Th^ .wa. gpmg to be very keen conation Ihe Argentine could not compete in lamb mutton, and dairy produce, but if New Zealand wanted to keep her market she must send best quality products. Ihe Premier referred briefly to immigration He said we needed many more settlers in New Zealand, but w would have to be careful that the ri^ht type was selected. . ° Speaking of Empire defence, Mr Massey expressed the opinion that an efficient navy could hold any nation in check till an army was trained. He believed the centre of the danger waß in the South Pacific, though tEere was uo probability of war in-the near fu*nrf" iwr ? any years Jt had been realised that Singapore and Hong Konfc would have to be fortified Thf latter_was forbidden by the Washington Treaty.. America had fortified Pearl Harbour (Honolulu), and experts had told him it was impregnable Britain had not objected, but if jt was necessary for America to have a base there,'then it was necessary : for Bri tain to have Singapore fortified :He was very disappointed, for without a base the biggest shipa would be useless. It would take ten years to complete Singapore, and none might sav what the position-would be by then Other countries , were building many ships of the size allowed f bV tho Treaty, and Singapore was absolutely necessary. If war came, and We hid not a navy sufficient to keep away the enemy, then God help the Empire. THE FINANCIAL BAROMETER Mr. Massey, when dealing with edu . cation, declared that not enough Brit ish history was taught. The rising generation should be taught more of the glorious record in'peace and war'of the British nation. ; ' ■:■.;•■ The Premier next dealt with ■ finan ces. The Post Office Bank was the best .financial .barometer of the couri try, arid he was pleased to see the satisfactory of. that institution. The Sta^e Advances Act was workine very well. He was proud that no country in the world had done so much for its soldiers as New Zealand An officer of the Department told him that of 800 revaluations of .soldiersproperty there had been only four ob jectiohs. During tho financial vmr 06,205,686 ---was lchfc to 7293 ■ .^V

shortage. The mofatorinm had saved many men, but would come to an end at the end of the year. Some -whose security. was insufficient might be in difficulties, but .he might be able to do something for them. He would advise them to make their own arrangements. There was going to be a surplus, bnt he could not say how much, and if he wanted money he could get it at the lowest possible rate. Taxation had been reduced, in accordance with the pledges made to the public. -The total of remissions in taxation, including amusement and postage, was £1,563,000, and he hoped to grant more this session. . Mr. Massey touched on the' State Bank proposal, ■ which he declared useloss, in comparison with v the work of the State Advances Department. Last year the Government paid £1 per share for a new issue of the Bank of New Zealand, which was now quoted at £2 10s, which was surely a good investment.. . A Commission on taxation would be set going, and the whole matter would -be ventilated completely. Mr. Massey defended the appointment of Mr. Justice Sim as president. The Judiciary of New Zealand was quite above any suspicion of.partiality. The Premier dealt briefly with interest-bearing asSelis', hich > he said, in ten years would balance the National Debt There was not tho slightest cause for anxietv. He closed by exhorting the' people of the Dominion to work hard. \ , , ■