PREMIER'S MESSAGE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9319, 31 December 1938, Page 3

PREMIER'S MESSAGE

PROSPERITY WORTH DEFENDING LOOKING AHEAD RECOVERY FROM SLUMP By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, tills day. ' The following New Year statement has boon issued by the Prime --Minister, Mr M. J. Savage:— "The beginning of a new year affords a suitable opportunity for all of us to pause for a while to tak* stock of our year's achievements and to give some thought to the future. It is the practice I know for the Prime Minister's message to set out the sum of achievement of the year and from the sources of information at his disposal to give some indication of what he believes to be the prospects of the year ahead, but since the events of the past year are still very clearly in people's minds I should like to confine myself to the present and the future. Those who serve the public have a great responsibility in constantly looking ahead in order to form opinions about the future before deciding what courses to follow.

"Overseas there have been few years in living memory of greater anxiety and sorrow. During 193 S there have been, and indeed there are still, wars in progress and threats of war in the economic sphere. The great world centres have experienced a serious trade recession which fortunately now shows an upward trend. OUR FAVOURED LAND "From this far-off and well-fav-< oured land, we can remark the contrast of our own peaceful prosperity with the uncertainty abroad with feelings of the deepest thankfulness. ' As a result of three years of a Labour Government we have made a notable recovery from the nation-wide distress of the slump period. To-day-living standards are high and we have embarked on a programme of expanding social services which must

raise those standards still higher. "The Government is determined to encourage further industrialisation

and to secure a more rapid increase in production. Above all, it is necessary to bring into existence industries, which serve a sound economic purpose if slumps are felt abroad. We would be worse than foolish in this country if we did not apply the experience we have gained in their treatment in the recent past. To the extent that we have acted in accordance with those teachings we have succeeded in keeping prosperity here and we mean to keep it here. I would like to repeat now what I have stated many times: we will fight slumps and not go with them; we will fight them with a policy of expansion and not of retrenchment. .Slumps are not inevitable; they can be overcome by vigorous and intelligent measures and, above all, by a spirit of confidence and optimism. Those who attempt to undermiae confidence in the Government or who resort to the unpatriotic practice of financial sabotage, are doing a graze disservice to their country. SPIRIT OF GOODWILL "Neither financial desertion nor industrial strife can be permitted to endanger our economy. Our present prosperity and rising standard of living are worth defending, and I would like to take this opportunity to call on everyone to co-operate with the Government to that end. Cooperation can take many forms. First of ali. there is the spirit of goodwill and optimism, and more than thac there is the willingness to help. The Gr.vtrnment has not hesitated to act in accordance with its plans, but success must always be with the people themselves. "The message I would give for 1939 is this: Let us keep what we have gained and let us all work with a will to build a still richer and happier New Zealand. Above all, let. us Bhow the world that we still have faith in our democratic institutions by making them function efficiently and well. If our heritage of the democratic way of life is worth enjoying it is worth defending with all the spirit we possess, and I think we in New Zealand have that spirit and that faith. I trust that 1939 will see us a step nearer to our goal of a sound and contented country. A happy and prosperous New Year to you all."