OFFICIAL WELCOME

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 61, 12 March 1936, Page 4

OFFICIAL WELCOME

VISITING FARMERS

"BONDS OF KINSHIP"

EMPIRE'S DESTINY

A warm welcome on behalf of the Government was extended to the visit-, ing Empire primary producers by the: Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) and members of Cabinet at-a reception at Parliament Buildings > yes-' terday afternoon. Members of the party -were introiuced by the leader, Major-General F: I. Duncan. The British National Union, inder whose auspices the party'is'tray-; filing, was represented by Sir Michael Myers, Chief Justice. When afternoon tea had been served :h'e Prime Minister offered to the party ;he friendship and hospitality of. the people of New Zealand in the. work hey were doing to strengthen the Donds of kinship between members of ;he British. Commonwealth. ■ ■ It was lot every-day, - said. Mr... Savage,. that' in opportunity occurred -to welcome ;o New Zealand such a large party of 'riends from overseas. He Had been nspired by-the necessity for more visits if the kind; particularly as they did :uch a lot to make component- parts of he Empire understand their joint probems. ' The : British Commonwealth was lot going to progress far unless there vas a better understanding and more :o-operation. THE PKOPER ROAD. "The world is facing a very big probem at the present time," said Mr. Savage. "The British Commonwealth sat the crossways. We must strive o know and appreciate each other's >oint of view so that together we may ake the proper road." The members >f the British Commonwealth - could lot now take separate courses. ' Mr. Savage said he was reminded >f the words of a famous American: 'The purpose of a nation will decide ts destiny." Britain and the Dominons had a common destiny, but it did lot seem that they had a common pur>ose. New' Zealand was-a long way rbm other parts of the Empire, but he Government wanted to meet kinsnen from the furthest parts to ascerain their point of view and offer warm o-operation. The New Zealand Govirnment felt that" the problem "was one if consumption as much as production, le wanted to see the people of the Sritish Commonwealth turned into buy:rs as well as producers. When the leoples of the world became buyers as veil as producers, the war drums vould cease to beat and nations would ealise they had a common destiny. When citizens of this great Commonvealth decided to mould its destiny rithout treading on the toes of others, he world would be a much better place or all. GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. New Zealand.had its problems, said ilr1,. Savage, and ;they were very-big ines. The Government -was not' afraid o face them. In fact, it rather enoyed the task-of providing a" soluiori. For a, very long time he had istened to a' Prime Minister, saying hat their salvation lay in increasniE, iroduction. ■ Today that solution could lot be .offered to ;'a third standard :hil'd. The Government was npv> lirecting its policy along different lines'.----t was encouraging production, but it vas also trying to make provision so hat the people1- . could buy more, science, invention, and the whole of he advance over the field of producion were not going to benefit the mman race unless the consumption ide were also attended to.and the tandard- of living raised. -.-,, "Sometimes I feel disheartened, ometimes inspired," said -Mr.-Savage. 'Today I feel inspired; heartened by he knowledge that^we. are able to meet rinsmen. from distant parts of the ""ommonwealth, to exchange opinions md ideas without ■ claiming the last vord, and to co-operate in a spirit of ■eal friendship." He'wanted members if the party to feel while in New Zeaand, and when they had to go, that New Zealanders, were their own flesh and blood, and would strive with them in unselfish amity to mould the destiny of their own commonweal. The Hon. W. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture, also extended to the members of the party a very warm welcome. He appreciated their sympathy for the lot of the New Zealand farmer, and hoped that their tour would result in a real understanding * between farmers at Home, in South Africa, and in New Zaeland. • • POPULATION NEEDS. Major-General Duncan, in replying, said that it was an extraordinary happy chance that members of ~ the party had been able to "meet the Government and; discuss their common aims. A matter ever present to-his mind was that this lovely country was practically empty. Population was one of New Zealand's most urgent needs, particularly in view of its present more or less defenceless condition. He was an ardent pacifist—all those who fought in the last war were—but he would not let another nation filch our common heritage. New Zealand had admittedly not always had the best type of immigrant in the past. The primary solution, he thought, was a higher birth-rate, even if a substantial bonus to parents was necessary. The only other alternative was the Flock House, Fairbridge, or other similar scheme. Major-General Duncan commented on the number of unemployed in New Zealand. New Zealand should make an endeavour to get more people back on the land. He was not sure that the wages offered were sufficient, but a big settlement scheme should be adopted. It was no good placing anyone at all on the land. A long course: of instruction was necessary, but. it was. the only way. .The major handicap to settlement was the gross over-valuation of the land, he considered. Until that was remedied no settlement scheme in New Zealand could be effective. On behalf of the party, MajorGeneral Duncan sincerely thanked the Prime Minister and the people of New Zealand for the wonderful welcome they were receiving. ';- y.