PREMIER’S STATEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20905, 23 September 1931, Page 2

PREMIER’S STATEMENT

CRISIS REQUIRES TEAM WORK fPtu United Press Association.} WELLINGTON”. September 22. The Prime Minister’s statement was as follows; Xu conformity with the statement I made to the House last sitting day, I desire to take the first opportunity of informing honourable members that a Coalition Government consisting ot ten members representative of the Opposition and Government Parties in Parliament has now been Formed. 'Die recent trend of events lias shown that the surest way to deal cflcctiycly with tlic many grave problems arising today owing to the abnormal position o) economic affairs throughout the world

is by the formation of a strong Government backed up by a majority in the House in order to carry out the necessary remedial measures in the interests of the country. The information given to the Special Economic Committee which has been sitting during the last few weeks has also disclosed the necessity for immediate action being taken in regard to the finances of the dominion. After conferences between the leaders of the two parties it was, 1 am pleased to say, decided to form a Coalition Government containing equal representation of both sides in order that concentrated effort might he put forward to bring about stability in onr public finances. I should like here to pay a tribute to the public-spirited action of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr J. G. Coates) and his party as well as to that of my colleagues and the other members of the Government Party. This is a time when the national emergency calls for sacrifice and self-denial on the part, of our citizens. In this connection 1. desire to express my keen appreciation of the action of those of my colleagues who are rclin-

quishing their Ministerial positions in order to allow the Coalition Government to take office. No man could have wished for more loyal colleagues than I have had in the government of tlio country, and 1 am fully sensible of the sacrifice which their sense of public duty has involved. They have, in a time of peculiar difficulty, discharged the duties of their responsible posts with zeal and ability, and they are entitled to our warm commendation in the patriotic course which they have adopted. 'Their action has been most helpful at this very trying time, and they have set an example, not only to other members of the House, but to the community generally. Speaking on behalf of the new Government which has now assumed office, I should like to bespeak for it patience and forbearance in the performance of its difficult task. It will at all times welcome helpful and constructive criticism, but 1 do assure the House and the country that the Government will set out on its work imbued with the highest sense of the public welfare and with the definite aim of using its utmost endeavours to submit measures which will promote as speedily as possible the return of prosperity to the dominion. The times through which we are passing call strongly lor unity, co-operation, and courage on the part of our citizens and 1 feel confident that the determination characteristic of Now Zealanders will eventually enable ns to overcome successfully the difficulties which at present beset us.