GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 July 1925, Page 9

GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.

UNITED- EFFORT REQUIRED

PRIME; MINISTER,’S APPEAL

Ail appeal for united effort for the good or New Zealand, regardless of p-arfcy, wan made- by th.e Prune- J\linis_tion. J. d. Cb-u-tes, in a. .sipeeoli at a New: Zealand Club luncheon at Wellington. In has- homely fashion Mr. Coates' called on all patriotic people to “rally round and give- a hand” (says the Auckland Herald). While expressing hi-s admiration for the great work that -had been done by bis predecessors, Mr. Coates said lie would suggest that this should be- carried a great -deal, further; “1 hold with you -that private- enterprise, closely co-operating with the interests- of the State, can best accomplish and give sendee to the community as a whole,” he said. “We have heard and listened to- remarks that would lead one to -suppose that the primary producers’ interests conflict with those of the business community. Each is essential -to- the other and it is necessary, if we are to get the- best results, / that, there shall be co-operation between the primary producers- and the business- interests- and also- -the community as a whole. Whatever we undertake it can only be embarked upon with -a- possible chance of success by having a proper regard to finance and for everything, else on which that is built. We have had a buoyant year and it is desired to make- the best use o.f the surplus. 1. think that if money is to flow in its proper channels- wherever possible taxation should be reduced' to reasonable levels.” Mr. Coates said the- Government must have buoyant finance, and it eoulcl only hia.ve this if it managed properly and gave regard to all the details which were incidental to a private concern. He stressed the danger of having excessive imports over exports, commenting o-n the fact that for the year 1925 exports only exceeded imports by £4,500,000. That was not enough and did not pay New Zealand’s interest hill on the other side of the world. They must -apply sound business principles to State eriter-pri-se.s, but that did not mean that they must not give -service. A good deal of reorganisation ha’d -been going on, the whole objective of which was to give -service, good service, -and nothing but the best service to the community. . “We are -asking you with your organisations outside this club to give

usl the -benefit o-f your advice and cooperation,” continued Mr., Coates. “True we may he a Government service, but at the same time we -ask you to consider that service as- though it were a private enterprise. ,It does nob matter much how you sum it up. Whether von pay for the service by using it for y Our selves or whether you pay for it out of your taxation, you pay for it, just ili-e same,” With regard to the railway service, the Prime Minister .said the department was trying to make it a good service -and- make it pay for itself, enabling it to stand on its own feet, -so that the general taxpayer should not be asked to pay for an unknown quantity. “I look forward for support from those people who place their country ’ahead o-f party,” remarked Mr. 'Cbates, in conclusion, “and I ask them to rally round land give a hand td see that the heritage of our great country is placed first.”