BALANCE WANTED

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 97, 26 April 1932, Page 9

BALANCE WANTED

BUDGETARY: SOCIAL

MUTUAL SACRIFICE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, 2oth April. A stirring appeal for national unity and co-operation in service while the economic depression lasts was made by the Governor General, Lord Bledisloe, in his address at the dedication of the roll of honour in -the Auckland WaiMemorial Museum on Sunday. PEACE WITHIN AND WITHOUT. "Kaw Zealand joins with the Mother Country in praying for the success of the Disarmament Conference now assembled at Geneva^ but let us remember that to be effective there must be disarmament not only in the engines of war but also in mutual animosities and suspicions, both national and individual. History has repeatedly shown that there is indeed no'more fruitful incentive to international hostility than civil t strife. By its avoidance and the prudent removal of its causes we shall most surely bequeath blessings of peace to our children and our children's children. . ■ • •■

"A ivorld war is once more raging around us—an economic war of unprecedented gravity, for the conduct of which, unfortunately our .leaders have less past experience to guide them,'and armaments of more doubtful efficacy, than those of naval and military leaders of the Great War," said His Excellency. "But if any advance toward victory is to be made, and if the outposts of.the enemies' position are to be taken, there is one weapon which is indispensable, and it is that to which we bow our heads in reverence to-day—name-ly, that of sacrifice and self-denial— the determination to pnt our country and. its lasting: welfare first and foremost before all selfish considerations whatever^ conscious that unless it lives our own lives are of small account^ not weighing meticulously the effect of sacrifice upon our own lot as compared with that of. others, but resolved at least to do our "bit whatever others may do, and thus contribute our quota of patriotic effort to the rehabilitation of this fair, land of promise and opportunity. • ■ _ , A THORNY PATH. ; "The nations of the world, including New Zealand, are to-day exercised over the problem of balancing their Budgets, and restoring financial equilibrium, recognising that such process is essential to the maintenance of their credit in the world and the avoidance of the flight of capital and the means of employment into a sphere of greater stability and security. The path of return to national prosperity is thorny and difficult, and needs universality of sacrifice and a tightening up of the moral fibre of the nation.. To balance a Budget needs balanced judgment and a full sense of national responsibility. In this respect the Old Land is setting a magnificent example and evoking the respect and admiration of the world. Let us in this highly favoured Dominic^ see to it that in a moral and spiritual sense our assets exceed our liabilities, and it will inevitably follow that in a more material sense the path to prosperity, based on security, will soon be clear. The secret of security is confidence—confidence in God, in our country, and in ourselves. Yes, and not only in ourselves but in each other."

Lord Bledisloe concluded with an appeal, to the people to show brave hearts to pass through the transient clouds of the present depression to the sunshine which lies beyond.