“ALL IS WELL”

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20388, 31 December 1937, Page 6

“ALL IS WELL”

PREMIER’S MESSAGE THE YEAR IN REVIEW NO CAUSE FOR PESSIMISM (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Friday The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, has issued the following New Year message to the people of the Dominion:— “ Again I have the privilege as Prime Minister of giving a New Year message to the people, and once more it is a pleasure to say that all is well with New Zealand. The real test for each year is the same for nations as it is for individuals; it is the sum of happiness that counts. Ranks With The Best “ On that basis of value, I think we can say without any qualification that 1937 must take rank with the best years in New Zealand's history. Prosperity has been constant, and everyone has shared in it. Even those who, through different handicaps and disabilities, have not had so great a share as others more fortunate, have at least been kept free of poverty. “Private income has increased in the past two financial years by £37,000,000, and wage-earners have had their sihare increased by £22,000,000. Those figures are not estimates; they are the returns supplied by all the recipients themselves for employment tax purposes. And that is only half of the full story of community prosperity. “ I am not going to claim that the better times have been due entirely to the legislative achievements of the Government, it is undeniable, however, that the Government’s policy has contributed very largely to the wider distribution of nationa’. wealth.

“ This is not the time for a political or an economic review. We are all in the mood to enjoy a happy New Year. Is national happiness justified? I know of no valid reason for gloom or for restraint in being wisely happy.

“ Economic and Industrial conditions are good. The oountry Is as sound as the proverbial ball. The Immediate prospects are reassuring and there Is no oause for pessimism.

“I am confident that 1938 will be another year of prosperity for the whole community,” Mr Savage continued. " There are gloomy prophets in this country who fear a slump and predict disaster. I advise them to heed the assurance of the Conservative Prime Minister of England, Mr Neville Chamberlain, that there is absolutely no justification for predicting slump conditions. Is it necessary to add that the United Kingdom is New Zealand's principal market? Lessons of the Depression

“ The history of depression and recovery has taught this lesson all over the world, that no Government can afford not to take responsibility for deciding the direction of national economy and progress. In a more or less degree every Government in every country is doing so. This is one of the marked changes in a changing world. In Neiv Zealand we claim to be achieving a measure of economic reconstruction which is resulting in higher standards of well-being for the people as a whole.

“ If common sense is to have any place in life at all, surely it must be agreed that in a world of plenty, with goods of infinite variety being produced as never before, it would be intolerable If every citizen could not have a fair opportunity of sharing in the bounteous measure of material things. Progress and profit cannot be restricted to any one section of humankind. Standards of Living “There is no reason why standards of living should not be Increased to levels hitherto undreamed of by Intelligent people. “Of course, there may be fluctuations, but there certainly is no cause for a return to the poverty and distress ol’ recent years. There must be no return to those grievous conditions. That is the Government’s ideal. It is tlie Ideal which should be shared by all and believed in by all. Surely it is an obpective worth striving for all the time. I know of one enemy only —those who say It cannot he done—and they are the people who do not want it to be done.

“ All the available evidence in New Zealand points to continued and increasing prosperity. Record levels have been reached. A review of the past two years over many fields of activity indicates a remarkable state of recovery. 1 need only mention such facts as a 50 per cent, increase in exports and a similar rise in imports over the past two years. Banking figures demonstrate the structure of prosperity. Cheque transactions and note circulation have gained record levels during tlie past year.

“Business shows an increase of 45 per cent. The special vigour of trade and business is a reflection of the increased purchasing power of the people. Production continues to expand. Factory production has broken all previous records.

“ In the light of these and many other facts, it is obvious that the State is capable of offering an adequate wage to all its members, and surely it is the barest justice that the worker, tlie invalid and the aged should share in the profits of prosperity. An Outstanding Condition “ One outstanding condition is a reason for national gratitude. This is the fact that New Zealand, in its remote position, has enjoyed a splendid tranquility as far as world affairs are concerned. This boon perhaps can be most clearly realised by those who j have had the privilege of travelling, overseas. I remember my own impres-j sions in London earlier in the year. I Everybody there realised the signifl-l cance of " international difficulties and the nearness ol‘ the possibility of strife. “ International conditions during the past year have confirmed our belief that the Covenant of the League of; Nations and the. principles of collective security provide the best hope for, stable international relationships. | “But our beliefs are not merely aca-' demic. The Government has provided the machinery l'or maintaining national security. We believe in freedom for, all I lie people —freedom to choose their own leaders and administrators, to make their own laws, and to secure the material and spiritual things that are worth while in llie life of a nation. “ A year of prosperity and the prospect of still better things Is ahead. The Government will do Its utmost to make life happier and more purposeful for all sections of the community. I sin- , cerely wish a great measure of prosperity for the people In the