NEW YEAR MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1937, Page 5

NEW YEAR MESSAGES

MR. SAVAGE’S REVIEW

GOOD TIMES PREDICTED

[per press ASSOCIATION.']

AUCKLAND, December 30. The Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in a New Year’s message states: — Again, I have the privilege as Prime Minister, of giving a New Year message to the people and' once more it is a pleasure to say that all is well with New Zealand. The real test for each year is the same for nations as it is for individuals. It is the sum of happiness that counts. On that basis of value I think we can say without any qualification that 1937 must take rank with the best years in New Zealand’s history. Prosperity hag been constant, and everyone has shared in it. Even those who through different handicaps and disabilities have not had sb great a share as others more fortunate have at least been kept free of poverty. Private income has increased in the last two financial years by £37,000,000, and wage earners have had their share increased by £22,000,000. Those figures are not estimates. They are the returns supplied by all the recipients themselves for employment tax purposes, and that is only half of the full story, of community prosperity. I

am not going to claim that the better times have been due entirely to the legislative achievements of the Government. It is undeniable, however, that the Government’s policy has contributed very largely to the wider distribution of national wealth; but this is not the time for a political or an economic review.

We are all in the mood to enjoy a happy New; Year. Is national happiness justified? I know of no valid reason for gloom, or for restraint in being wisely happy. Economic and industrial conditions are good. The country i.si as sound as the proverbial bell. The immediate prospects are reassuring. There is no cause for pessimism. I am confident that 1938 will be. another year of prosperity for the whole community. There are gloomy prophets in this country who fear a slump, and predict disaster. I advise them to heed the assurance of the Conservative Prime Minister of England, Mr Neville Chamberlain, that there is absolutely no justification for predicting slump conditions. Is it necessary to add that the United Kingdom is New Zealand’s principal market?

The historyt of depression and recovery has taught this lesson all over the world—that no government can afford not to take responsibility for deciding the direction of national economy and progress. In a more or less degree, every government in every country is doing .so. This is one of the marked chances in a changing world. In New Zealand we claim to be achieving a measure of economic reconstruction which is resulting in higher standard's of. well-being for the people as a whole. If common sense is to have any place in life at all, sure it must be agreed that in a world of plenty, with goods of infinite variety being produced as never before, it would be intolerable if every, citizen could not have a fair opportunity of Sharing in the bounteous measure of material things.

PROGRESS AND PROFIT. Progress and profit cannot be restricted to any? one section of humankind. There is no reason why. standards of living should- not be increased ,to levels hitherto undreamed, of by intelligent people. Of course, there' may be fluctuations, but there certainly is no cause for a, return to the poverty and distress of recent years. There must be no return to those grievous conditions. That is the Government’s ideal. It is' the ideal which, should be shared by all, and' believed in by all. Surely it is an object worth striving for all the time. I know of one enemy only, those who say it can’t lie done, and they, are the people who don’t want it to be done. All the available evidence in New Zealand points to continued and increasing prosperity. Record levels' have been reached. A review of file last two years over many fields of activity indicates a/ remarkable state of recovery. I need only mention such facts as a 50 per cent increase in exports, and a similar rise in imports over the last two years. Banking figures demonstrate the structure of prosperity. Cheque transactions' and note circulation have gained record levels during the last year. Business shows an increase of 45 -per cent. The special vigour of trade and business is a reflection of the increased purchasing power of the people. Production continues to expand. Factory production has broken all previous records. In the light of these and many other facts, it is obvious: that the State is capable of offering an adequate wage to all its members, and surely it is the barest justice that the worker, the invalid and the aged should share in the profits of prosperity.

One outstanding condition isi a reason for national gratitude. This is the fact that New Zealand in its re-, mote position has enjoyed a splendid tranquility as far as world l affairs are concerned. This boon, perhaps, can be most clearly realised by those who have had the privilege of travelling overseas. I. remember my own impressions in London earlier in the year. Everybody there realised' the significance of international difficulties, and the nearness of the possibility of strife. One could almost feel the heat of the old world cauldron, Here in New Zealand peace has been a reality, and a wonderful advantage. This fact does not mean that we as a. small favoured nation, should remain indifferent. As a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, New Zealand must take a vital interest in world affairs. This need is recognised by the Government, and our responsibilities have not been neglected. International conditions during the last year have confirmed our belief that the Covenant of -the League of Nations, and the principles of collective security, provide the best hope for stable international relationships, but our beliefs are not merely academic. The Government had provided the machinery for maintaining national security. We believe in freedom for all the people. Freedom to choose their own leaders and ad'ministrators to make, their own laws, and freedom to secure th© material and spiritual things that are worth while in the life of a nation. A year of prosperity and the prospect of still better things, is ahead. The Government will do its utmost to make life happier and more purposeful for all

sections of the community. I sincerely wish a great measure of prosperity for the people in the New year.

OPPOSITION LEADER.

INVERCARGILL, December 30. The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Adam Hamilton, says: — As leader of the party which represents a large body of political opinion in New Zealand, it is my privilege to extend New Year greetings to the people of the Domiinon. The period immediately ahead of us is likelj’’ to prove one of the most momentous; in the history of New Zealand, and it is our duty to face the future, with determination and vigour. The year 1937 has been one of great development, and great change "throughout the world. Forms of government have been altered, and new political philosophies have changed the living conditions of peoples in several countries. In looking forward to the year that is just beginning, I feel that the people of New Zealand will be. ready to meet and adjust themselves to new forces which are making themselves felt all over the world, but I feel that our facility to do this will depend upon the measure of interest which the people as a whole display in the affairs of the Dominion, and the .part they take in public life. We are emmarking upon what may prove to be a momentous year for New Zealand, a year when a new government must be chosen at a general election. It is probable that at no time in the history of the Dominion have the people been so politically minded, or so keenly alive to their public responsibilities as they are to-day. Men and women in every section of the community are taking an active part in public affairs and I look forward to 1938, hopefully and confidently believing that this interest will find 1 intelligent expression in the choice of wise counsels to govern the Dominion when the correct time comes.

I do not think it is necessary to apologise for sounding a political note in a New. Year message. Politics today touch the lives and interests of every individual, and of every section of the community. The business of law-making has greater and more serious repercussions than ever before, and the position is such that the development of a keen political sense throughout the Dominion is a matter of urgent importance. This New Year, message is issued in no narrow spirit of partisanship. I have no hesitation in 'extending the good wishes of my colleagues and myself to the Prime Minister and members of his Government. We are opponents politically, but neither at New Year nor at any ether time is it necessary to fight, a political battle with personalities.

PRINCIPLES AT STAKE. As I see the political situation today, supremely important principles are at stake, and 1 should 1 like to make an appeal to all people to base their political opinions on these matters of principle, ignoring reckless and frenzied propaganda which has been coming from certain sources of late, and which represents nothing but the outpouring of fixed ideas. We- admit that the Labour Party; has its’ principles. ’lt believes —sincerely I think —in a collectivist order of society, with the individual subjugated to the State. Against this, we believe in individual freedom, with the State serving the people, not the people .serving the State. No political party in this country has a , monopoly of humanitarian ideals. The National Party believes that the state of society is that in which the individual has freedom, and encouragement to raise community standards’ by his own efforts. In this respect it is necessary that the people, in looking to the future, should also have an eye to the past. It is impossible to over-estimate the value of an historical sense.

Society must progress, and any poli-' tical party that stands in the way of progress is doomed. We should'- see to it that we cari’y with us those ideals and institutions which have stood the tesit of time, which have become inherent in our British character, and which are well worth preserving for the. future. To-day some of those ideals and institutions are being jettisoned, because?, of the mistaken belief that they stand in the way of progress. This tendency must be checked, and for our own national well-being, the virtues of initiative, endeavour, thrift, and prudence must be guarded at all cost's. As Leader of His Majesty’s Opposition in Parliament, I can say that we view -the future with -eveiy confidence. Some of our political opponents are endeavouring to create the impression that, we are working against the liberty of the people. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have pledged ourselves to guard individual liberties —the liberties of the workers just as much as those of any other section of the society-—and at the dawn of the New Year we renew that pledge. To members and supporters of the National Party throughout New Zealand, I wk-h to express my deep gratitude for their loyalty and assistance during the last 22 months, and to wish them all prosperity and happiness during the coming year, with the ultimate triumph of the principles- in which we believe.”