STATE INTERFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19748, 26 March 1926, Page 6

STATE INTERFERENCE.

SOMETIMES JUSTIFIABLE. EMPIRE SOLIDARITY. MINISTERIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS. (Pbb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 25. Speaking at a farmers’ function, the Hon. O. J. Hawken (Minister of Agriculture) said there had been a good deal of controversy about Government interference in business, but if that interference enabled those engaged to carry on their business more successfully the Government was quite entitled to interfere. He said he was afraid that those who talked about interference did not quite understand the position. He hardly knew a solitary business in which the Government did not try to help. As Minister of Agriculture he considered that the Government could help the farmers still more than it had done in the past. He deplored the fact that people were drifting back from the land to the towns, and expressed the belief that life in the country must be made more attractive for women. If the rush to the towns were persisted in, the country woffld become depopulated. The Prime Minister, who was also present for a few minutes, said the Dominion could help the Mother Country in no better way than by helping to bring out the right class of man, woman, and child to this country. While the Empire was finding a difficulty in the reconstruction that was so essential after the severe war problems the dominions must assist the Mother Country in her hour of need, and not be disturbed by the distractions in other countries. In this way they would be true Imperialists. They must also keep in touch with other parts of the Empire in order to bring about that close co-operation which was necessary to make the Empire what it should be. Mr Coates said he believed there was to be another visit of members of Parliaments of the dominions to Australia at no distant date, and it was only by such visits that they could realise first hand all their aspirations, the atmosphere, and the political outlook of the widespread population of the Empire. The Prime Minister said he did not know if they would come to New Zealand. All that was required was solidarity and combination among their own people. No country would treat them so well as did their own. There were family squabbles, but it was the big idea they wanted, and the time was coming when that comprehension would be given to the responsible for the government of the Empire.