NEW YEAR MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1934, Page 8

NEW YEAR MESSAGES

FROM NEW ZEALAND LEADERS NOTE OF OPTIMISM IFEB FBESS association.] WELLINGTON, December 29. The Prime Minister’? ’New Year message is as follows: — “Once again a new year is upon us, and I am confident that the coming year contains much more of hope and promise than v.e have been able to look for ward to for a very long time. I.ew Zealand, though less effected than most countries, has nevertheless shared to a distressing extent in the economic ills that have affected the whole world for so many years past, and many of our people have suffered severely from the effect of worldwide conditions over which neither they, nor indeed any person in this Dominion, have had any effective control. The country has come through the worst of it in a manner that reflects credit on all, high and low, fortunate and unfortunate. Those many people, and those not the least deserving, whose misfortunes have required public assistance have had their needs met by' their more fortun- 1 ate brethren in the best British spirit of kindness and generosity, and, though hardships have been inevitable. 1 think wg may claim that the measures that have been adopted with the whole-hearted approval of all sections of our community, have sufficed to -nitigato the more serious effect. of unemployment which have been experienced in many other parts of the world.

“It. is not going to be all plain sailing in 1935. 'rhe main problem that we have to face is that of markets. We have recently seen a serious diminution in the value of our wool (though mutton and lamb appear to have satisfactory prospects), while we hope for the best, but we cannot ignore the question as to whether we will be able to continue increasing our production of dairy produce with the confident anticipation as in the past, of being able to sell our whole- output at payable prices. Marketing conditions' in the Old Country are changing radically, .and these changes are bound to be reflected here. We must set our national house in order, and organise our main producing industries with the utmost care. The Agriculture Emergency A*'t, recently passed, by Parliament, is a definite step in that direction. Wc have been engaged in lengthy discussions with the British Government us to the best solution of the present glutted market problem, and we hope that a satisfactoiy arrangement will be come to. Wc have carefully investigated every aspect of the dairy industry by means of a Royal Commission, and with the willing cooperation of the industry itself we feel sure that we will be able to meet the new problems to the best advantage of all. “We have under way measures for the adjustment of rural finance, a means of still further assisting the great primary industries on which the prosperity of the whole Dominion so largely depends. Figures are dull things, but when they tell a cheerful story of progress actually made, and when they point the way to a confident anticipation of the probabilities of the future, they are worth some study. During the eleven months ended 30th. November. 1934, the total value of the exports from New Zealand amounted to £44,750,000 in New Zealand currency, an increase of no less than £7,860,000 over the figures for the corresponding period in 1933. 'Phe total value of the im|;oi ts into New Zealand lias also increased, the figures in New Zealand currency being for the same 11 months’ period £28,490,00000 in 1934 as compared with £23,370,000 in 1932, an increase of £5,120,000. The total number of men wholly or partially a charge on the Unemployment Fund is nearly 16,000 less than it was at this time in 1933‘. and another Jieerful indication is the phenomenal increase in the number of people travelling during this festive season, which clearly points to a return of confidence. Retail sales during this Christmas period are reported to have been the. best for many years past, and, generally, I think it can be taken for granted that business in New Zealand is at last and quite definitely taking an upward trend. Indeed this seems to be true of our Homeland and our main market, the United Kingdom. where there is a marked renewal of confidence and a buoyancy '■hat has been largely absent during the years just gone by. Looking at the position from the point of view of the Dominion's agricultural potentialities, we find the sheep industry, so important, to the welfare of New Zealand, in a sound position. The ewe flock, is being built up, following a drop during the acute stages of depression, and the number is now equal to the. peak year of 1930. In the dairy industry we find that the herd has been increasing by about 100,000 cows per year, and production during the season 1933-34 was a record. For the current season, however, a lower production is to be expected, owing to climatic conditions, and, unfortunately, values are on a much lower scale. The production of the pig industry lias shown great'development, and the fruit industry, also, is maintaining its output. From the production point of view, the position of the Dominion is sound. Markets are the doubtful factor and even in this respect there can be little doubt that markets will continue to improve as world conditions improve. Balancing the good against the bad, and carefully studying the actual trading figures and ether indications of’the moment, and the probabilities of the future, there can be little doubt that conditions are everywhere and definitely improving. This cheerful movement must inevitably be a progressive one, and, with the increasing return of confidence which must follow, xve may definitely expect better times next year. 1 have no doubt at all that we v.ill be able to overcome the difficulties in front of us, and that we can advance into 1935 with a new and heartening confidence that the worst is behind us. I wish all the people of the Dominion a happy New Year and their full share of returning prosperity.”

FINANCE MINISTER. AUCKLAND, December 29. The following New Year message is issued by the Minister of Finance, Mr Coates: — “After three years and more of world-wide depression and anxiety, we have seen during 1924 clear and decisive signs of recovery. The improvement has., not besn so spectacular or so rapid as bje ivifihcd. Problems that remain still to be

solved are such that we cannot yet slacken our efforts, but at the close of one year and the opening of another, we in New Zealand are well entitled to feel gratitude and confi--1 deuce. Nobody can have a part in government nowadays without being impressed by the courage and patience shown by our people .in standing up to their difficulties. Those on whom the burden of depression ha? fallen severely, and whose misfortune it has been the tasj< of the Government, in some measure, to mitigate, have revealed reserves of strength that augur well for the future of our young country. Indications are that practice of economic isolation, which is character • istic of many nations to-day, will have its repercussions in New Zealand. During the past few years, becauseGreat Britain has been our main market, we have been spared rationing schemes and the imposition of embargoes which have been the lot of other ‘countries with a wider spread of markets; but if Germany is to take our wool, or- Belgium our apples, it may be that we shall have to continue reciprocal trade agreements. which will affect adversely our imports from other countries. 1 have touched only the fringe of the problem, but it is one which will have to be resolutely faced in the very near future. While other countries are becoming increasingly active, we cannot afford to sit back and hope that the traditional policy of the past of letting events look after themselves will carry us through. If we have eyes to see, wo can note the inevitable world I rends, and set up machinery which will fit in with our observations. It Is in this way that we can hope for success. The new' year is to be marked by jubilee celebrations of Their Majesties’ reign. We are thus reminded that it was on the occasion of two earlier jubilees, those of 188; and 1897 that the practice of British imperial consultation and co-opeiation was formally established. Two later conferences in 1902 and 1911 wera associated with Coronations. fheie have been many changes in our problems, and in the world outlook since then,’ but these changes have been in the direction of making imperial cooperation even more necessary in the common interests of all parts of the Empire. In our imperial relations, be they economic or otherwise, it is impossible to contemplate failure. At the same time, it is possible, without too great misgivings, to admit that there are immediate and unsolved problems that call for attention, for we are aware however difficult the obstacles may seem, that they can be dealt with in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation. That, 1 think, is the keynote of the attitude which, as a country, we should adopt in entering upon the New Year. To all of our citizens, I extend my best wishes for the New Year.”

OPPOSITION LEADER. AUCKLAND, December 29. In his New Year message, the Leader of the Opposition. Mr M. J. Savage, says: — “With the dawn of a new year there should come an awakened social consciousness which will destroy, for ever, the mistaken idea that the spectre of poverty among plenty is natural and inevitable. There are signs, on every hand that such a consciousness is awakening, and that the changing order is destroying the foundation upon which rests the idea that periods of industrial depression are bound to come in the natural order of things, it is now becoming apparent to all that the modern problem of poverty is created by man, and can be abolished by him, in accordance with his ability to produce and equitably distribute the necessaries of life. 'l’lie problem of production have already been solved. The problem of distribution is the only real problem that remains with us. With almost unlimited possibilities in various spheres of wealth production and distribution, and the right to be masters in our own household, we should enter upon the New Year with stout hearts, and with the determination to mould for ourselves a grander destiny than has been the privilege of any other race. It can be accomplished without doing injustice to anyone. It cannot be neglected without inflicting grievous injury to thousands of our own flesh aud blood. The call of the New Year will be for recruits who are willing to serve their fellows. With season’s greetings."

G O VERNOR-G EN E R A L. AUCKLAND. December 30. The New Year message from the Governor-ffeneral to the people of New Zealand is as follows: — “Lady Bledisloe and I greet you all with sincerity and friendship on the threshold of the new year, and cordially hope and pray that it may bring you health, happiness and prosperity. Economic tribulation has darkened the horizon during the last three years, and brought into many a home—as wo are sadly conscious—impoverishment and waning hope tor the future. But the outlook is definitely brighter, and there is good reason for believing that this new year will open up new vistas of prosperity, improved employment and industrial revival.

“Our message, therefore, to you. Pakeha. and Maori alike, of all classes and occupations, is one of gladness and of hope, conscious of your own rich heritage in this land of sunshine, abundant future opportunity and great natural resources, and confident of the capacity of your virile and resourceful manhood and womanhood to utilise and develop them for the lasting welfare of your nation and yourselves. It is with this personal hope and conviction that ye wish you all from our hearts a happy and prosperous New Year.”

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER. THE CHATEAU, December 30. A message of New Year greeting to the boys and girls of New Zealand, especially those whom'he has not met, was written by th© Duke of Gloucester at National Park to-day, as follows: — “I have already seen a good deal of New Zealand. I assure you that you are very fortunate to live in this beautiful fertile country. How are you* to prove yourselves worthy of your good fortune? The one sure way is to work and play, not only hard, but unselfishly. You will find that you will enjoy your holidays all the more if you find ways of helping others to enjoy their’s. So. also, later in life, when working hard. You will get additional pleasure and at the same time, earn the respect of your companions, if you are always ready to lend a hand to those less fortuantely placed than yourselves. This is one of the truest forms of loyalty and comradeship. Summed up, the motto “Service before Self” is as important in its ways as loyally to the King and Empire. Although you live a long way from Eng-

laud, don’t forget that you are just as much members of the British Empire as those of your own age in the Old Country. We should all, like the members of a family or a team, -work together unselfishly if we would serve our Empire to the best of curability. The King, my father, ended his broadcast message to his people on Christinas Day with tho words, "God Bless You All!” He sent me here to bring England a little nearer to you. As his messenger, aud also your affectionate friend, I wish you a happy New Year and good fortune throughout your lives.”