THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1922. OUR NEED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10281, 7 January 1922, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1922. OUR NEED.

In his New Year's message- to 11 lie people of New Zealand the [Prime Minister once again takes ; the opportunity of preaching the old, but sound, gospel of hard work. He and other leading men have frequently preached this gospel before. It may not be a popular doctrine —with many it is undoubtedly not so —but it is undoubtedly sound, and if our country is to surmount the numerous difficulties with which it is beset her people must produce more than ever and to do this they must> work harder and use the best means that science places at their disposal. The increased charges following- on the war, and the fall in the price of our staple products —first in wool, then in meat, and now in butter —makes, this imperative. It is perhaps a national characteristic that' the individual responsibility for increasing the ■public resources should be but slowly recognised. The employer's idea is that the employee should speed up and endeavour to do more work, the employee holds that there should be greater overhead efficiency: the resident in town expects the farmer to produce the exports which will bringmore money.into the country and pay the interest on our debts, and the farmer thinks the residents in towns are expecting him to do more than his share. Thus every class of the community is expecting another to shoulder the burden, that should in fairness be borne by all. The depression is only to be overcome by all doing their best in the sphere in which they are working. As Mr Massey said in his message—- " There is no royal road to prosperity or happiness, and whether as a nation or as individuals, whether we live in country or town, we must apply ourselves with energy and industry and take advantage of the opportunities that in this glorious youngcountry are ready to our hand."