"STICK TO THE CAPTAIN"

Evening Star, Issue 19893, 15 June 1928, Page 7

"STICK TO THE CAPTAIN"

PREMIER RECOURTS REFORM'S ACHIEVEMENTS PERFORMANCE HAS EQUALLED PROMISES Umitbo Fk»m Association.] WELLINGTON. Juno 14. The Prime Minister to-night addressed a crowded ami enthusiastic meeting at the Town Hull in a speech which, he said, was not intended to be a policy speech in the full sense of tho term. , . . Referring to tho 1925 election, he said that the stewardship entrusted to him by the people had not been misplaced. The Government’s policy had been verv largelv translated into actuality, and the ship of State had been brought through troublous seas on an oven keel. , u in mv view,” ho said, ” tuo basic and fundamental principles of good Government (and they are the principles of the present Government) are tho maintenance of Jaw and order, the maintenance of justice and liberty, the preservation of property, and the sanctity of religious beliefs, provision for free education and opportunity for our citizens, and the promotion of the welfare of the whole of tho community and not any particular section of it. Wo claim that these have djrecfcd and guided our' aims and administration.” e enumerated some of the outstanding principles for which the Reform Party stood, such as free secular and compulsory education, free education from the primary schools to the universities, equal opportunity for all, increased provision of assistance to tho nged. The widow and her children have not been overlooked,” ho said. ‘‘ Provision has also been made lor epidemic pensions, pensions lor the blind, miners’ pensions, police pensions foi those permanently disabled in the execution of their duty. The man ot woman injured while carrying out his or her daily duties has received provision by the Government of the day, and increased benefits have been provided under the Workers’ Compensation Act. The soldier has been looked after, and the dependents of those-who suffered phsyically and mentally in the clash of arms have been provided for. South African war pensions and Maori War pensions have also been provided for these veterans. The parents of the large family have been thought of, and the principle of giving equal opportunity to those who are doing their duty has been primarily emphasised by the Government of the day. The Reform Government has also been responsible for the reform of the Civil Service and the establishment of commissioner control, tho right of every man to own his own home and farm—namely, the freehold—the progress and forward development of our country. closer settlement where adaptable. a gradual but definite move to dividing land in order that the rural population shall be increased w-ith the object of bringing into existence a nation of small, prosperous land-hold-ars, always maintaining the policy that every man who wishes shall have the right to own his farm or home, the maintenance of principles and ideals historically associated with the stock from which wo sprang. FINANCE. Dealing with finance, he referred to tho recent period of depression, and said the people were definitely and clearly advised of the position existing and the pitfalls that lay ahead. The people were told that the remedy lay in united effort, determination, hard work, and increased production. .At ; once the Government had recognised that a curtailment in the expenditure of our national finances became imperative, ami had taken slops accordingly, but without cutting tho salaries of public servauts_ or reducing general Government activities Such a course was avoided by intelligent, competent, management. Local government expenditure was checked by the introduction of the. jLocal,,Govcniment Loans Board. GoVeriinient borrowing from overseas was reduced annually from £11,000,000 to £7,000,000; then to £6.000,000, and now to £5.000,000. THE DEADWEIGHT’ DEBT. “ In so far as the war loan debt concerns the country’s liability,” ho went on, “it has been steadily reduced. An earnest dffort has been made to bring about a reduction in the costs of production, while at the same time enab■ling the volume to be increased. This ■has: largely been helped by hard work and the self-reliant spirit of our people. The ratepayers have been helped by further extending the principle of ‘the user paying.’ Notwithstanding all the stress the Finance Minister was able to announce a surplus of £190.000 on last year’s working. ‘‘Taxation per bead in New Zealand for 1926-27 was £l2 5s 6d, compared with £l4 os for Australia, of which £9 13s 2d represented Commonwealth taxation, and the balance from the State. Governments.” The industries of the country had all been under verv close examination, and whore the Government was satisfied, assistance had been rendered. The main principle observed was that tho industries in New Zealand must be asked to compete with the outside article, and that total prohibition of iirqxirts would not bo contemplated. The timber industry and other industries received undoubted benefit by tariffs, and from 70 to 75 per cent, of New Zealand coal was used on tho Now Zealand railways. New Zealand-grown timbep was now almost exclusively used for State requirements. “The policy underlying the Government’s thought.” bo said, “is to employ our own men in rair own industries in order lo absorb ns many men and women as possible, especially during the period of economic depresDue to the Government’s policy, within the next fifteen or twenty years New Zealand’s forests will he one of her great assets.” PRIMARY INDUSTRY. Dealing with primary industry, the industry upon which the country really depends for its prosperity, Mr Coates said emphasised the organisation of scientific research by the cooperation of the scientific institutions existing in tlic country, by the linking up the Agricultural Department, tho meat board, the dairy board, dairy companies, freezing companies, wheat growers, and pastoralists’ organisation, by the co-operation of the Lincoln College and the .Massey College, with the assistance of the Empire Marketing Board and the Science and Research Department, which will provide this year some £19,000 towards engaging specialists, and finally allocating duties to each organisation with a. selected man in charge,” Iho Minister continued, “we .can definitely say that, not only can our exportable products ho brought to the highest standard, but we can claim that not only will two blades of grass be grown where, one. was grown’ before, but that grass 'rill be made to grow where none grew before.” ’• The; Prime Minister dealt with rhe financial schemes inaugurated by the Government to aid the farmers, lie referred fo the wonderful trade for the financial.year ended on March 3] last. Tho ..exports were £51,962,031 or over 9i million pounds more than the previous year,..while the imports were £44,419,357, or a decrease of over 3| million pounds,:.- In other words, our balance •.improved by over thirteen millions. Classifying our export trade, £47,220,000 went to British countries and

£7,7.‘i0,000 to lorcijarn, as against £<lo.-

137,000, and £5,5‘10,000 respectively in the, preceding year, “ 1 .have no hesitation, in saying that the outlook for the country is bright.

The clouds are dispersing and '.here is no room tor pessimism.” UNEMPLOYMENT. Dealing with the question of people leaving the land. Mr Coates said dial production had increased. He stated, also that in the matter of unemployment New Zealand, compared with other countries, bad fewer unemployed proportionate to population. It had been repeatedly stated that the action of the Government in paying 12s a day to married men and 9s to single men employed on relief works was an attack on tho trade union rate of wages and an insidious attempt to reduce wages in the country. “Nothing of Hie kind,” ho averred, “and 1 give tho statement an unqualified denial. It ;n not proposed to remove the present restrictions until tho general position of unemployment has considerably improved. One of the outstanding events of the present year was the bolding «f the National industrial Conference. Tho Government can claim credit tckuonably lor baring, during its term of oflicc, maintained industrial peace in the community. The conference recently concluded will have done much m_ clearing up misunderstandings and bringing about better relationships between Oanltal and Labour. EMPIRE GOODS. “We have arranged a very substantial measure of preference for Empire goods through our Customs tariff, nni in every way arc we out to promote tlio unity of tile, great British family. We subscribe to the ideals of tho League of Nations, anfT will do cur utmost to co-operate with other countries in the cause of peace.” THE CHOICE AT ELECTIONS. “ As you know, a. General Election is approaching. You will be asked to choose as between stable government on the one band and the Socialistic Labour forces in the community, who arc seeking to gain possession of the reins of Government. If I may say so, in no disrespectful mannei, there is no room for third parties. Their only effect, can be to strengthen the Labour forces, and their existence cannot be deemed to be in the best, interests of tho country. 1 submit that our record has been a. good and clean one, and that wo can face the electors with a proud record of policy and performance. I conclude hy quoting the words used by me in 192 o: ‘We stand for the stability and safety of the State and the Empire, for tho security of the individual, for toleration and equal opportunity for all, and for order and peace in the community.’ My exhortation to you and to the country is ‘ stick to the captain, officers, and men who have srved you faithfully and brought the ship into the calmer waters of returning prosperity.’ ”