THE PRIME MINISTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18750, 2 January 1923, Page 8

THE PRIME MINISTER

A NEW YEAR MESSAGE. A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. A NOTE OF WARNING. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 1. The Prime Minister sends the following New Year message to the people of Now Zealand : At the beginning of the New Year, upon which the dominion is now entering, I think, as citizens of New Zealand, we have good reason to congratulate ourselves upon the improved outlook, financially and commercially, as compared with the beginning of 1922. We were then passing through the worst of die world-wide depression consequent upon, the Great War. in which we had taken no unimnoi tar t part. The war left ns with a greatly increased annual expenditure, and wl'“if the prices of our more important staple products fell very seriously, in sympathy with the prices of similar commodities in the great, markets of the world, the result was such as to make the most careless among us wonder lor a time what was to be tHe outcome, and whether as a nation we were going to be able to pay our way and meet our obligations. During 1922 the whole position has changed for the better, and it now' rests with ourselves to take advantage of the opportunities that have come to us. and so restore prosperity, which for what seemed a very long period, was conspicuous by its absence. I have sufficient confidence in my ■ fellow citizens to believe this will.be done. New Zealanders as a whole are possessed of their full share of energy, industry, and enterprise, and I am satisfied they will rise to the occasion. They never hesitated either at homo or abroad during the strenuous years of the- war, from which very serious responsibilities and duties have come to them, and these latter, if they are to be dealt with satisfactorily, have to be tackled earnestly and courageously by the community as a whole. There is still much work to bo done, and sacrifices to be made by every class, and every individual success depends cm united effort. Without, unity, without what has been called loam work, and without enthusiasm, there can bo no success. The clouds are. lifting. The opportunity is here. The conditions are already easier. Let us, so far os practicable, drop sectional differences, and for the good of the country, of which we are citizens, let us each take up our share of the national burden, which, if everyone does his part, can be carried easily, and without hardship or inconvenience. If the country was worth fighting for, it is worth working for, and if we work for it whole-heartedly, ns it behoves us to do, giving it of our best, whether of brain or hand, we can make it what the Creator intended one of the best and brightest countries on this planet. It is well to remember that, as citizens of an important dominion we have responsibilities to the Empire, as well ns to our own country, and it. is very interesting to notice from the speeches of British Ministers and leading articles in the principal British newspapers and magazines that the possibility ci greatly increasing commercial and financial relations as between the British countries overseas and the United Kingdom is now being recognised, and encouraged. New Zealand has, in proportion to its population, already done a groat deal in this direction, and wo should lose no opportunity of doing more in the way of strengthening the Empire, and assisting to make it self-contained and self-supporting. We can give practical proof of our patriotism by commercial preference within the Empire, just as well as by any other method, and it is well to remember that anything which tends to prosperity in Great Britain must indirectly benefit New Zealand, because Great Britain is the principal market for our products. So far as the defence of the Empire is concerned, I hope that returning prosperity will enable us to take tip a more satisfactory and a more dignified position than we have yet occupied, especially in the matter of naval defence. In this reaped the Imperial Government has been both generous and long-suffering, but we cannot possibly expect the British taxpayers to go on providing naval defence for the dominions without a proportionate contribution on their part. The authorities of the Admiralty have already indicated that any contribution from New Zealand should he expended in what are generally referred to ns New Zealand waters. 'Within tlie last feu months New Zealanders have given another unmistakaUe proof of their loyalty to King and Country and Empire, and I trust that whatever may happen in the future the Imperial principles to which New Zealanders have adhered during the last ten years will never be departed from, and that no encouragement will ever be given, so far os this country is concerned, to those who would disintegrate, or even weaken the freest and most liberty-loving and peace-promot-ing Empire this world has ever knc'oas and of which we arc proud to be citizens. May, 1923, therefore, be a year fraught with peace, prosperity, and happiness for each and every one of my fellow citizens. W. F. MASSEY. Prime Minister.