OUR FIRST DUTY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17154, 2 October 1926, Page 18

OUR FIRST DUTY

.SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER. “IF Y r OU CAN GET NEW ZEALAND GOODS. GET THEM.” OUR NEXT CONCERN BRITAIN. ■ While travelling through the backblock districts of the North Island of New Zealand recently, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Prime Minister, made a rather important speech, which up to the present has not been published. The speech was delivered at the small settlement known as Dio Rio, an out-of-the-way (Jot un the map of the interior. and perhaps that is why it has escaped publicity. Mr, Contes had been inspecting some big works in the heart of the island, and the question whence came the machinery for these great undertakings led iiim to discuss the subject, of how New Zealand could best help Great Britain. “When one goes about the country,” he said, “ it 'becomes very clear that opportunities exist of helping Great' Britain. We in New Zealand have our own problems, but at the same time we must consider how best we can assist our people in Britain, who, apparently, are in a very difficult position quite apart from the strike. There seem to be avenues open, and it appears to me that New Zealanders should be prepared to make use of them for the purpose of rendering assistance, and practical assistance at that. , “After all there is something to be very proud of in being a Britisher. One has only to think of wliat- Britain has done respecting her war debt. She has fulfilled all her responsibilities, without compromising and without endeavoring to evade any of them. The drain on her resources, though, has been terrific, and if we value the ties which bind us to her we should show out love in more than words. It is up to Now Zealand and its people to rise to the occasion and show its regard for Britain in some practical form. “While we have our own temporary difficulties, and are kept busy grappling with them, wo will not forget Great Britain. One way in which wo can help is by assisting in bringing out here citizens' of the right type, and l say now that, this wo will continue to do. “Our first duty is to our own country. and that duty, let us hope, will never be neglected. If you can get New Zealand goods that suit you, get them. Next’to our duty to Now Zealand is our duty to the Empire, and it is our concern to look to the part of the Empire which is suffering most. Britain has great problems. , She will solYe them, we know, but while we can help let, us do so. “Even the children can help. It might be only a pocketknife they buy, but in the aggregate the assistance is considerable.” ~

It happened that there was a fairly large gathering of children at the function, and the Prime Minister afterwards expressed his delight at the reception his appeal for help for Great Britain was given by them. ‘ ‘ They took to it as keen as mustard, ’ ’ he said. “Everyone of them will be a, helper. ’ ’