THE PRIME MINISTER’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23393, 7 January 1938, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—To judge by the Prime Minister’s New Year message published m your columns, one would conclude that the present Government’s administration had reached the acme of perfection. On his colleagues’ behalf, he takes all credit for the prosperous period we have enjoyed, leaving out of consideration that the paramount factor in that prosperity is the excellent return from the sale of our exported produce, over which New Zealand can exercise little, if any. control. Your correspondent, Mr C. E. Knight, has rightly made some trenchant criticism of Mr Savage’s remarks on the subject of freedom, and has given an indication of curtailments of privileges of radio listeners, the limitations imposed on private enterprise, the restrictions on the carrying on of road transport, and the reiterated threats to muzzle the press. Freedom, indeed! I agree that it should be impressed on everyone just how far New Zealand is on the way to becoming a Socialist State. There is the socialisation of credit brought' about by a measure concerning the Reserve Bank; there is the departure from accepted British custom in giving final authority to Ministers concerned in such legislation as the Reserve Bank, industry efficiency, transport, and broadcasting Acts, involving in some cases the abolition of the right of appeal to the courts; there is the rushing through of enactments without reasonable time for examination, or consideration of effect*; and the careful attempts to allay suspicion in the minds of the public, There is the fact that legislative machinery exists to-day allowing the State to take over control and ownership of all produce, and to control imports and exports, industries and prices, even to the extent of prohibiting a new industry from starting without permission. And to certain sections of the Labour Party the progress has been too slow! Verily, the foundation of Socialism has been laid, and, if we are so apathetic as to allow it, the whole Socialist policy will be put into effect, and we shall awaken to find our freedom filched from us and ourselves State serfs.—l am, etc., Freedom. Dunedin. January 6.