UNITY OF PURPOSE

Otago Witness, Issue 4057, 15 December 1931, Page 8

UNITY OF PURPOSE

OVERCOMING THE DEPRESSION GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S ADVICE. FEILDING, December 7. The Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe), accompanied by’ Lady’ Bledisloe, paid an official visit to Feilding to-day. The Mayor (Mr Taylor), in extending a welcome, said that their Excellencies, by their sympathy, kindliness, and desire to help all classes, had endeared themselves to the people of the Dominion and had been a tower of strength in these times of distress. Lord Bledisloe, after referring to the value of a religious foundation in connection with the education system, touched on questions of defence. He was glad, he said, that this country was maintaining a navy. Regarding the army nothing pleased him better than the way in which the employers of young men were supporting the volunteer system in this country. Touching on the economic position, he said that New’ Zealand needed to stop all extravagance, individually, municipally, and nationally. This Dominion was wonderfully endowed by Nature and by’ Providence, but the people had been too extravagant in good times and must now tighten their belts. He strongly urged people to buy from their best customers, the Old Land. They could not afford to buy from foreigners as that upset the exchange. He believed that Britain would adopt a tariff which would help industries in Britain and would also stimulate Imperial trade. “ We have just had a general election in this country,” said his Excellency. “ I think it has been fairly fought. We have now’ to bend our minds to achieve the utmost solidarity and harmony in paving the way for a return to prosperity. We must not have internal dissensions. I appeal to you, and through, you to all right-minded people, to study the points of contact rather than the points of difference for the purpose of securing internal peace and harmony and. economic welfare.