PEOPLE AS TRUSTEES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 69, 23 March 1938, Page 13

PEOPLE AS TRUSTEES

COUNTRY'S SOUNDNESS

IS THE PACE TOO FAST?

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

WANGANUI, March 22.

"Today we have a new set of circumstances and some people are afraid that the pace is rather fast," said the Hon. A. Hamilton, Leader of the National Party, addressing a meeting in the Opera House this evening. "We believe in progress. We believe that the country should be built up step by step and on a sound basis. The present Government's policy is fairly advanced, if not revolutionary," Mr. Hamilton added.

The people of today were trustees for generations to come. The people in the past had done their job well and had left a wonderful country and a proud heritage. The trust was such, however, that it carried a responsibility of good government and must be operated efficiently. The people of today, as trustee, must therefore be sure of a sound Government and see that all gained in the past was preserved and further progress made possible.

"Unless we do our duty, not only for the present generation, but also for generations to come, there will be a black mark against us when history is written," Mr. Hamilton asserted. "With all the faults of the past, the country has been reasonably well gov-j erned. Self-government -is a wonderful privilege. Not all countries have it, and we must make absolutely sure it is preserved. New Zealand must make certain that a ©ivine Right of State does not replace democracy. We must defend and improve the heritage we-j enjoy." j i The people of the present generation ! were experiencing the best standard of living ever known in New Zealand, and the Government seemed to be basing the success of its legislation and administration on the prosperity of last year. The previous Government had laid the foundation and had more right to take the credit. If the Government claimed that prosperity was the result of its legislation, it was under-estimating the intelligence of the people of New Zealand. The success and prosperity now being enjoyed by New Zealand had been created by the industry, initiative, and thrift of the people. It had taken many years to builc. up this position, but the whble thing could be, lost in a very short time. Consequently a good political conscience and good political understanding were necessary. "We believe that people have a right to rule, and we want to see them rule. Dictators are not far away. They are in a lot of countries now and we want to watch that they don't get here."