Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1920. THE WATCHWORDS FOR 1920.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1713, 2 January 1920, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1920. THE WATCHWORDS FOR 1920.

Tiin Prime' Minister struck the right note in his New Year's message to the people of New" Zealand, when ho urged upon the country the necessity of taking as its guiding principles, Loyalty, Industry and Progress. The recent elections havo sufficiently attested the loyalty of our*peqple, and it may be said that, for the most part also, New Zealanders are facing the future courageously. In this respect tho primary producers are setting their fellow workers a line example, in tho further development and extension of the industries m which they are engaged, despite Labour and other difficulties. There is, we believe, a general recognition, on the part of the agriculturists and pastoralists oi New Zealand, of the necessity for increasing production—of (using tho wellworn but timely phrase) "making two blades of grass grow where one grew before"—and, could tho same thing be said of tho men who have, by their "gosluw" tactics during the past year, held up to such an appreciable extent, the coal supplies of the country, thus restricting transport and the manufacturing industries of the country, we might rest assured that 1920 would be a year of progressive advance and prosperity. If tho high cost of living is to be reduced at all, tho reduction can only be brought about by increased supplies, and they can only bo obtained by increased production. Tho five years' hold up oi industry which tho war entailed is happily over, but it has produced an appalling scarcity of everything that is essentia! to the comfort and happiness of mankind. An ill-fed and an ill-clothed pt-ople cannot bo cither happy or contented. The stern fact facing us to-day is that nearly half of the peoples of Europe are suffering from varying degrees of starvation, and, in addition, are so poorly clad that, coupled with tho other privations they havo had to faco, life must be, for them, one long drawn out agony. It is this sort ot thing that breeds Bolshevism, and sends men lusting after the things of others. Men who are rendered desperate by hunger, and the sight of their loved ones perishing for want of food and clothing, do not stand upon tho order of their coming and going. They wili take any course, adopt- any method, that seems to promise, however remotely or desperately, the relief they cannot obtain by other action. Hence, if New Zealand is to play her part worthily and well in the world to-day, it must be her business to produce all she requires for tho maintenance and comfort of her owr people, and to have an exportable surplus that will reduflo the wide gap between tho actual supplies and requirements of the peoples who are as yet unable to provide for themselves. There should be no necessity to import foodstuffs of any kind into Now Zealand. Our coal measures, again, are sufficiently varied and oxtensivo to provide for all requirements in the way of heat, light and power. Before there can be an / appreciable advance in the manufacturing industries, all handicaps upon the primary producers, and the miners, must be removed. Progress and prosperity can only bo attained by increased production. If it bo true-that Labour creates.wealth, it should be obvious to the meanest understanding that Labour must play its part fairly and squarely in the world of production. Mr Massey's message comes as a clarion call to all classes of the community, to greater effort a lons every lino of industrial activity, by wbich'alono we can hope to remain a progressive and prosperous people.