Shun Hysterics and Recriminations

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 December 1932, Page 8

Shun Hysterics and Recriminations

CALL TO NATIONAL UNITY. HON. DO WNIB STEWART’S STRIKING APPEAL DUNEDIN, Last Night. The Minister of Finance, Hon: Downie Stewart, was entertained tonight by the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association.

In the course of his address he said he did not share the extravagant views of some that a miracle was going to happen at Ottawa, nor the extravagant fears of others that al) the bargaining and haggling meant the break-up of the Empire. The real value of Ottawa was the recognition by each part of the Empire of the aims and ideals of the other parts. It was clearly recognised that agricultural and pastoral countries have a right to develop industrially as part of their national life and that Great Britain was entitled to protect her farmers to the extent she thought fit. Dealing with the position in New Zealand, Mr. Stewart said everyone knew the distressing plight of the farmers and the difficult problem l of how to save them while world prices remained at their present disastrous level or if they continued to fall.

“The changes taking place are so profound that we do not yet know whether it is possible to reestablish the way of life we have for so long been accustomed to, or whether a new order of society will have to be painfully evolved out of the present chaos. But what is important is that we should try to keep a steady view and not indulge in recrimination and mutual bickering. “No thrift and no economy could have provided an adequate safeguard against the present onslaught. In any case it segms to me to savour of hypocrisy to single out the farmer for criticism when we all more or less followed the same line of conduct in thinking the long summer days would never cease.”

The Minister said he wanted to issue a serious warning against the hysterical rumours and wild reports that were so apt to meet with credence while , the public was highly strung and nervy. It was difficult to know how to prevent them. If one spoke he "was accused ‘Of undue optimism or undue pessimism, varying, iwith the point of view of the critics, If one said nothing he was supposed to be hiding something. The plain fact was that Parliament adjourned for the reason stated by the Prime r Ministerthat the; proposal to help the‘fanners hy the exchange had not materialised}'! and other . methods would have to be considered which could not he properly examinedor dealt with in the short time he-' fore Christmas/

Whether aii.y SaiigfaStOiV illga§Urc of assistance' f'di 1 fafnidfs be evolved 'fcgiSißtt'Cfa ’or political action lb be seen, but there was one good thing emerging that filled the speaker with admiration, arid that was that all around him he saw and heard every day of splendid examples of mutual help and neighbourly assistance by individual citizens—the poor helping the poor, the rich helping the poor—in short, the re-, emergence of all those virtues which seemed to be dormant in prosperous times. Some people out of the merest pittance were sparing a few pence a week to help families that were still more hard pressed. National unity was vital and urgent. We could only hope to overcome oui unprecedented difficulties if all classes and all interests, whether rural or urban, rich or poor, realised that trio crisis threatened our whole social or ganisation. The times called for national unity in the same degree as did the Groat War. The Minister concluded: “I have an abiding faith that our people will xisu to the occasion and by their patience, courage and endurance enable us to Win in this tusk. I appeal to the manufacturers with confidence to bear their share.”