"DEEDS, SOT WORDS."

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16727, 9 January 1920, Page 6

"DEEDS, SOT WORDS."

THE NATION'S WATCHWORD. SPEECH BY THE GOVERNORQENEKAL. At the official opening of tho new wing at tho Nirth Canto r bnry Farmers' Co-operative Freezing Works yesterday, at whi?h there was a very large pi the rlng. his Excellency tho Governor-Gen-eral (the Earl of spoke at sumo length on the necessity ot all clashes in the Empire buckling to anil increasing production in every possible

After stating how glad lie was to have th;? opportunity «>f opening the addition to the works. Ins Excellency said that to mnke good tiip ravages of war and the debt which had been accumulated, they wore faced with the cry for increased production, as the "illy solution by which these difficulties could he overcome. '"Hut while talking and writing in this strain may act .is a stimulus." continued his Excellency, "it is futile if words do not become deeds. The burden of increased taxation rests on the shoulders of all tho nations throughout the world, and if a country is to remain solvent, it must take stops to moot its obligations, otherwise it may find that disaster will overtake it. You cannot l>e surprised that after a war of such magnitude unrest is everywhere apparent, nor can you expect, to return to normal conditions by finding fault. Everything which pvs to constitute the simplest necessities of life hnvo risen in prico, and it will bo a eon. siderablo time before we can expect an ahatoment in such a state of affairs.

'In tlie meantime every endeavour must be mado to meet the requirements for foodstuffs, the stocks of which ;ire at a low ebb, both in Great Britain and tho Old 'World, and New Zealand has the opportunity of materially assisting in helping to rectify this situation. The ono thing, wliieh is hampering every industry is tie shortage of carrying power, and gradually as new vessels are constructed, this position will bo improved. Prices are regulated entirely by the question of supply and demand, and if they nffe:-t the tood supply, or the staple, wants of the community, they do not contribute to the general welfare of a country. Tf they are high, they invariably bring discontent in their train, and this is one of the most difficult problems to handle. There nro certain things to which every individual considers he is entitled, namely, thoso which comprise the gereral amenities which surround the homo life of the Once the people find that their pressing wants are curtailed, owing to lack of purchasing power, you aro faced with an outcry for means to mako good the deficiency. As you aro aware, the only way, therefore* to reorganise such a situation is to endeavour to meet it by increased output, and this can only bo accomplished by every individual concerned doing his or her best to assist in taking a share in the undertaking.

"I have said all tliis, fully realising that it has been said many times before, and knowing as I -havo stated tlint tho time has come to put our hopes into deeds, and on this occasion I trust that this new addition for the advancement of tho freezing industry will bo a means of increased production to that trade. New Zer.lnnd, in comparison, has, during tho last fivo years, suffered far less than any other part of the world, and its prosperity nas not been diminished. It lies in tho hands of its population, whether or not that prosperity shall continue. Thero is a lareo debt to meet, it cannot be l ; quidatod by a process of borrowing—it c.-ln only to met by tho individual industry of each member of tho community endeavouring to raiso tho output of trado and commerce, and so increasing tho total revenue of the Dominion. Further, so far ns onr domestic affairs are concerned, wo must be prepared to hr.ve to fnco for somo considerable tinv a period of intense competition with other countries, and it depends entirely on ourselves how tto shall emerge from tho ordenl. Thero is no glamour in reconstruction, hut tho nation is even more in tho limelight than during the years of war. Personally, I have no fear that flic real and energy of the penplo will not meet tho demand which is now being made on their physical powers. They assisted to carry through tho war to n. successful ' conclusion, and I fnnnot doubt that the nresent difficulties will bo surmounted by a like spirit of determination." (Applause.)