FUTURE OF NEW ZEALAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20389, 21 April 1928, Page 6

FUTURE OF NEW ZEALAND

EXAMPLE OF EARLY PIONEERS,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S OPTIMISM,

(Special to Pailt Times.)

AUCKLAND, April 19. Privided the present generation of young Now Zealanders are trained in the same way as their fathers and grandfathers were there need be no fear for the future of the Dominion. That was a point made by the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) in addressing the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at its monthly luncheon to-day. “It is three years since I last had the pleasure of addressing you,” said Sir Charles. “In that time I have wandered round a groat deal of the country trying to learn what I can. I have visited factories as well as farm lands in an endeavour to learn about your secondary as well as your primary industries, and the three years have been very interesting ones to me.” One significant comment was made by Sir Charles in telling of his visit to New Zealand’s dependencies. “ Wo visited the islands in the South Seas where New Zealand is administering the native races in the way they should be administered,” he said. ’ “ One feels proud of a race which can produce such administrators.” “ What have we learned from our travels throughout New Zealand ? ’’ asked his Excellency. The first point, he added, was that those touring the country should ever hear in mind that New Zealand had been built up in 80 years by a small population. Accordingly, tourists should marvel at what they- got and not grumble at what they did not get. To travel the country filled one with intense admiration for the work of the early pioneers. One learned that the old spirit of pioneering was not dead. It could be seen in the backblock districts to-day where people were miles from roads and were for many months of the year completely cut off from communication from the outside world. Provided the voung people of New Zealand were brought up in the same way as theis fathers and grandfathers were tnere need be no fear as to the Dominion’s future, “ Above all other countries I know,” declared his Excellency, " New Zealand may show its institutions before the world and be proud rf them. That does not mean, of course that no further improvement is possible. Ninety-eight per cent, of the people are British in character as well as in race, and that fact is most encouraging for the future. There arc admittedly a few cranks, but loyalty to King and country is the mainspring of all.”

“ Concluding with the offering of what he termed a ‘ few platitudes,’ Sir Charles emphasised that the prosperity of the country depended on the development and the expansion of its export industry, and •'n the development of the Home markets. There should be no interference however well meant, and however fruitful of Immediate benefits, with the normal workings of the' ordinary economic laws. “ Ton cannot have any great increase in tl Home markets and industry unless you have a sufficiently large population, and that leads one to the thorny subject of immigration,” added Sir Charles. “ You must remember that immigrants are not people who take bread out of the mouths of other people if they are the right sort of immigrants, and dan be employed in production. They havo / purchasing power which assists industry.”