BRIGHT NEW YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 10

BRIGHT NEW YEAR.

t . • [PROSPECTS FOR DOMINION. (TRADING POSITION IMPROVES STRONGER TIES OF EMPIRE. I PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE* {BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. |) DARGAVILLE, Friday. The Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, has issued the following New Year message to the people of the Dominion:— "Another year is closing, and I take the privilege of addressing a short message to ihy fellow-citizens in tin Dominion. Following upon thu general election two years ago, when the people expressed their confidence in myself as Prime Minister, I stated that the guiding principles of my administration would be the safety and stability of the State and the Empire, the security of the individual, „ toleration with equal opportunity for all, and peace and order in the community. These principles since that time I have endeavoured to the best of my ability to ' promote, "During this period the has passed through a time of diffi ...iliy which baa proved embarrassing to many of our people. The reasons were mainly economic in their character, and were not confined to our own Dominion, but were world-wido in their cause and effect. New Zealand i.3 dependent vpry largely for her prosperity ypon external markets for the satisfactory disposal of her primary products. "Most important among these markets is, of course, Great Britain, and any depression in.Great Britain, combined with a decreased purchasing power on the part of our kinsfolk in the Homeland, is immediately reflected in this country by diminished returns to our producers. These factorn unfortunately existed, with the inevitable result that ' the Dominion suffered the experience of an adverse trade balance. Bountiful Season Promised. "The Dominion has undergone similar times of depression in the past, and the virility and industry of her people have enabled her to surmount these obstacles. But there is a lesson to be learned from these happenings. Greater attention must * be paid to economic tendencies in relation to our oversea trading, and our imports should be regulated by the value of our exports. Xam glad to say that the trading position of the coui;tiy has greatly improved as compared with last year. Our imports have decreased, while firmer and more stable prices are being obtained for our exports, bringing muchneeded relief to the primary producer, upon whom the country- is so largely dependent for its prosperity. . "With the prospects of a bountiful seaboo, the outlook for the New Year is bright, but we musii not, for this reason, be !.ed into a false feeling of . security. Prudence in administration, thrift and industry on the part of the individual, and greater production are still essential, if we are to reap the full benefit of returning prosperity. It is pleasing to note that trade conditions in thei United Kingdom have shown an improvement, and there are signs that many of the economic disturbances of the Old Land are being, more or less settled. Visit of British Minister. "When 1927 dawned I was absent from the Dominion on account of my attendance at the Imperial Conference, which marked an important epoch in the history of the Empire. Already good results hava arisen from it, in the strengthening of the ties of unity and the fostering of inter-Empire trade. I say again that it is our duty to do all we can to strengthen this unity and to destroy those influences which are likely to promote class conflict, disturb tho. social order, and hinder good gover.aHient. "One of the most outstanding events during the year was the visit to M "jW Zealand of Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York. Their stay among us has endeared them to all our citizens, and will be long remembered. "I mnst also make mention of another notable event, namely, the visit to the Dominion of the Bight Hon. L. S. Amery, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, and Mrs. Amery, who have so recently taken their departure from our shore. This has marked the first occasion when a British Cabinet Minister in office has visited this far-off land, and Mr. Amery's tour of the overseas Dominions must give a great impetus to the cause of Empire co operation, which is so essential to our national unity. "It has been truly written, 'What do they know of England who only England know?' The more frequently responsible statesmen of the Mother Country can leave the Homeland and acquire first-hand knowledge' of the Empire's territories, the greater will be the opportunity of bringing about better understanding of its peoples and its problems, and of .more firmly consolidating those links which bind us all together under one Crown. Work for Common Good. "It is a source of satisfaction to see the efforts which are being made by those in authority at Home tc get into close and sympathetic touch with the outlook of ths various Dominions of the Empire. It i;i therefore incumbent upon us to do our part in promoting mutual counsel and Common understanding. By so doing we will help to maintain the spirit of idealism which we hava inherited. "Not least in this spirit of idealism is the effort to promote peace among the nations with a view to bringing prosperity to all mankind. It thus behoves > all classes of our people to work together, to bury as far as possible petty and party differences, and to strive earnestly for the common good. "I congratulate my fellow, citizens again npon the better outlook with which we face the New Year, and in its prosperity I sincerely hope that all may share."