GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19032, 1 June 1925, Page 10

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.

STATEMENT BY MB. COATES. BUSINpSS-LIKE METHODS. NEED FOR SOUND FINANCE. FUSION PROPOSALS WELCOMED. [BX TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. J WELLINGTON. Saturday. Tim following statement was issued by the new Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Coates, to-day :~~ ".In assuming the. position of 1 rime Minister I. am deeply sensible of lll ° honour conferred on me, and at the same time I recognise fully the great responsibilities which that high office carries. In this brief message I want to express very warmly at the outset my admiration of the wonderful service rendered to Now Zealand and to tho Empire by my late illustrious leader, the Eight Hon. Mr. Massey, during many years, _ more particularly during-the Great \\ ar and along those very difficult periods of its aftermath. Tempered always by mature judgment, Mr. Massey s work in those very trying times was sound, and its soundness was fittingly recognised by the (statesmen of tho Empire. Anyone in Now Zealand with at: intimato knowledge of tho difficulties, financial, social ami governmental, during that test of world (supremacy cannot but realise how fortunate was tho Dominion to have had the benefit of Mr. Massoy's guidance and wise leadership. "And now the post-war period has boset Now Zealand. In that position this country is not alone; all other countries with us find the same social and industrial difficulties, which Were previously unknown. The task is how best to weigh out, to their true value tho problems which those difficulties create and to achieve a solution of them under present conditions. In that colossal work wo are all concerned. "Although privileged to hold Ministerial office since 1919, I do not, profess to have taken any very active part in the political arena. I have felt that tho paramount need of this country, under existing conditions, is less political activity and greater ■ concentration ,on businesslike management and organisation of the various State departments. They, after all, reflect in such largo measure the Government's administration arid the wise expenditure of public money. No Political Influence. "Those threo portfolios, Public Works, [Railways and Post and Telegraphs, which I have hekj, mnst be catalogued as very important factors of Dominion development I havo -by every means in my power kept the administration of those departments clear of anything in the way of political influence. I have sought to see every' question that arose dealt with on a purely business basis; to give the general public the best and most immediate return for tho expenditure incurred on their behalf. Expenditure, whether for Government or local bodies' services, determines the demand for revenue to maintain those services. The difference between tho expenditure on and tho corresponding return from tlioso services represents the taxation it is necessary to demand, and so, in terms of plain bus : - ness, it is a first essential of tho administration of our State departments and local governing bodies. The best economic result is what should bo aimed at. The public may acclaim a Government for rendering a public service gratuitously, bat it must be borne in mind that nothing in this world is had for nothing. _ If a particular service does not pay directly , the people must pay indirectly, but more expensively, in tho long run, Opportunity For All Classes. "It may seem that I havo unduly (stressed tho financial and administrative aspect of Government. My six years of Ministerial Service, however, have convinced mo that intensive application of tho principles of sound finance to every function of the Government is ever essential in the public interest. It is from that solid foundation created that we can build the structure of our public services and enablo the development of our country to proceed. Otherwise our efforts arid success from them must inevitably bo jeopardised. On this sound basis: wo can reasonably hope for a progressive reduction of taxation, and with it better public services and . greater opportunity for tho amelioration of social conditions. Only by judicious caro and foresight in sotting our financial foundations is it possible to devoto tho necessary attention to all our citizens. It is tho Government's aim to give all classes of the people an equal opportunity in life by assisting tho effort of each citizen in his or her natural vocation, and, with a will on the part of all, tho results we desire caji bo obtained. "New Zealand occupies no isolated position. Wc aro part of a great Empire in which tho life and conditions oi all are very closely linked. Only by united work can our objective to iaiprovo those conditions bo achieved, and I have no fear that tho aid I seek to obtain from the peoplo as a wholo will be lacking. "I hold very strongly the convictions I have briefly touched on and I shall earnestly endeavour to give practical effect to them in my administration. I shall at all times ■" welcome healthy constructive criticism. I feel that I can, from the warm expressions of goodwill extended to me fromjrjl spheres of public life, confidently look forward to a sympathetic consideration toward tho efforts of the Govemrpenfc-, in promoting the prosperity of ..flew Amalgamation, Question, "Thero has'recbfitly been a considerable amount of public references to the pohtical positaon. ! ' th{i'question of an amalgamation of thiTjtwS' main parties in the House has been*'suggested as a means of presenting more united front against that soction ; "WhiHli, '"holds to extreme socialistic idCals." ! ' ! lt is urged that, as thero 'are in fact, no important matters of policy at is que .between tho members of tho Covertfih6nt ! . Party and tlioso who £yt,on the Opposition benches, the political hatchet should be buried and thus make the path clear for a friendly merger, Speaking for tho Government, let mo say that wo shall welcome in this connection any proposals that may bo submitted. Whether tho proposals for a practicable modus operandi as between tho two parties come as a result of pour purlers or in any, other way, they will assuredly receive most earnest consideration at our hands. '.""P 10 Policy which my late distinguished predecessor laid down in general, and which a large number of members were elected to support, is to bo maintained. Proposals in fuller detail will bo embodied in, tho Financial Statement to ho submitted to Parliament early in the session. It is not the intention of tho. Government to propose any radical deviation from that policy. Our platform will bo submitted to the electors of the Dominion later in tho year. I ' havo thought it fitting, however, at this juncturo to ■ indicate some of the principles • that will guide tho present Administiraticm m its conduct of the public affairs of tho Dominion.''