Mr. Fraser's Appeal To Dominion

Chronicle (Levin), 31 December 1947, Page 7

Mr. Fraser's Appeal To Dominion

WELLINGTON, Dec. 30. 1 The New Year meSsage of the Prime Miniater, Mr. Fraser, states: "The past year has been oue of disappointment in world aff'airs. The hopes tha'. buoyed np th'e spirits of free peoples through the long year of struggle, are still largely nnreaiised after years of unstinted war effort.^ It was reasonable to hope that goodwill arnong the Allies would have been quickly exyressed in a complete and firm structure of peace and that the road to world prosperity would have been reopened. Lt is now very .clear that. these are not the inevitable fruits of victory. lt takes longer than 21 years to creatb prder out of pplitieal and economic confuglou brought about by the six years of World War II, but although easy optimism brings disillusionment, easy pessimism would be fatal. We niust continue to hope and work for international understanding and. for prOgress in human vvelfare if 1948 is to have any chance of bettering 1947. "Here in New Zealand, however, the past year has given us a great deaf for which to be thankful. Compareci with the poverty, hunger and deprivation in the countries of Euorpe and Asia, our difficulties and problems seem small. This is the time to recognise how fortunate we are in this land' oi freedom and plenty and to acknowledge that we • owe a lasting debt to Britain wliich sacrihced so rnuch and risked hex all to save our freedom. "This opportunity arose during the year for us to do something tangible tc iielp the people of Britain through tlieii present difficulties occasioned by theii defence of human freedom. The unitei response of our people in the Aid fo. Britain campaign has been a source oi inspiration. I am confident the produc tive eifort in all avenues necessary ta our economy, the blessing of one of the most bounteous of seasons, and ou: chcerful sharing in some small measun. of lier austeritv, will result in our mak ing a uiost helpful • contribution t Britain 's economic reeovery. "Not only must we increase produe tion to help Britain but we have respon sibility to oufselves as well. To our selves because high productivity wib safeguard the structure of economic securif.y for everyone, which has been built by the Government. over the pasl 12 years. The abolilion of poverty ancl unemplovment ever present in New Zealand in the past, has been proved tc l)e possible. These great benellts and the maintenance of a high standard oi Jiving for everyone, can only depend on the wealth of goods and services produeod by the people and shared equitably. " Htabilisation also "is vital to oui continued economic welfare. Because' oi the measures taken and of the co-oper-ation of various sections of the communitv, New Zealand has had the good. t'ortune throughout the war ancl up to the present, to aehieve great er success than most if not all other nations in holdiug the cust of living and othei prices iii clieck. Pressures on our price structure. arising outside New Zealand are today 1 increasing and ereating diffi culties in e-verv ph'ase of the admiuistration of stabilisation.- > Thorough going measures •'will be iiec essai'yj to protect purchasing . poAy.er • and 'the saviags of the people aitd d'esfMte the difficulties ancl complie/itions r .which this may involve,-. the stabilisation Hue will be maintainecL "The structure of social yjustice which has been buili in - New Zealand is a precious possession which must be defended by all responsible citizens. It is based on democratic principles and depends for its continuance on Democracy — an essential condition oi our New Zealand way of life. Uni'ortunately forces are at work throughout tut world to destroy Democracy and tc recreate totalitarianism under various names. Dictatorship, whether oi individuals, groups or sections, cannot be countenanced and must be opposed. In New Zealand we have had indications, of individuals and small groups, vociierous out of all proportion to their im portance, who have threatened the continuity and welfare of the economic and social life of our country. This rnenace, if it continues, must be faced conclusively in the coming year and the Government may be compelled to ask

for the full support of the people to enforce the observatioa of the principles of Democracy in our industria: and economic life. I feel certain the" people of New Zealand will, respond to any request to combat any suoversiv'e and destructive iniiuences inside oui country, as wholeheartedly as they helped to fight the menace of Nazisit and Fascism frorii Germany and Italy. "In spite of all the difficulties which 1948 may contain, it is a year oi promise and I welcome it for the oppor tunities it will bring for the increasing progress and prosperity of New Zea land. The future is assured if we adhere to the principles* of democratic free dom and if ■ we each accept our indi vidual responsibility to defend them and to contribute by our eft'orts to the wealth and welfare of the community ' ' To everyone I cxtend ' my best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year."