WHAT LABOUR’S LEADER THINKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 234, 2 October 1929, Page 3

WHAT LABOUR’S LEADER THINKS

|T is a far cry from the days when that intrepid navigator Kupe, ere yet the Norman conqueror had come to tread with iron heel on British soil, voyaged from far Hawaiki and discovered Wanganui. It is likewise a far cry from the days of nearly three hundred years ago when Abel Tasman, sailing the hitherto uncharted seas that lave the beaches and buffet the headlands of the West Coast of the North Island, found a haven at Wanganui. Since Tasman first placed New Zealand on the map of the world disastrous,wars have been fought and lasting peace has been made between the Maori and the Pakeha; and now on the hill slopes and in the valleys there are homesteads and a wealth of rural industry where once the warriors roamed and the primeval forest prevailed. On the banks of one of the world’s most wonderfully beautiful rivers a great city has arisen, and secondary industries have come to buttress and fortify the primaries. The indomitable courage and the spirit of determination thal crowned with success the grea adventurings of Kupe and Tas man are to-day reflected in tin life and work of the people whe on fields of production and ir circles of social endeavour strive to make achievements undreamed of by the discoverers whose work was done in bygone centuries. In the fields of production, politics, science, and sport Wanganui has not failed to hold its own; often it has excelled. It gave to New Zealand the greatest of all our Prime Ministers and through him it aided in leading the world in the matter of social legislation; it has contributed substantially to the achievements of astronomical science through the work of its Observatory; it gave to aquatic sport a world champion; and in numerous other directions it has established records of which it may well be proud. In its Empire Trade Week movement the City of Wanganui is rendering a most important service. The relationships of the countries which constitute the British Commonwealth of Nations should be of intense concern to every citizen of the Dominion, and especially to communities engaged in the production of exportable commodities. It is emphatically to our interest that we make our purchases Ji-om the countries that purchase from us; and Great Britain is overwhelmingly New Zealand’s best customer. We place extensive orders with certain other countries for goods which can be produced in Britain, and those countries take little or none of our products, with the result that in our dealings with them the balance of trade is heavily and detrimentally against us, and we suffer for our folly. The more British-made goods we purchase the better position will the British people be in to take and pay for our primary products. Because of this incontrovertible fact, Wanganui’s Empire Trade Week deserves every encouragement; and I hasten to congratulate the City on the move which has been made, and to offer my sincere good wishes that the fullest pleasure of success will be achieved. * (Signed) H. E. HOLLAND, Leader of the Labour Party.