DEMOCRACY MUST SURVIVE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 59, 25 March 1937, Page 7

DEMOCRACY MUST SURVIVE

World in a Period of Change (Bv ' . ? WELLINGTON, Last Night. **If democracy ia to live in New Zealand we want the assistance of all engaged in industiy, wage-earners and employers alike, to see things are kept running," said the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), speaking at. his pivic farewell to-night. "We are »Qt going tp aplve anything by stapping the machinery of production exeept perhaps to kill democracy in our own hompstead, There is pnly one thi.ng fhat can stop us and that is to be crucified in the house of our friends. I hope that is not going to happen. I don't think it will." Mr Savage said the foundation of democracy was in industry aud he hpped all engaged .in iildustry would de their part. while he was away. " We j will do the job all right," he added, "but. if we start out like a team of jibbing horses, one pulling and another Bitting back in the briehin as it were, we are not going to get very far. The machinery has to be kept going all the time." Mr Savage said the, people had elpcted thp Government to. represent them and it was not too mueh to ask them to be loyal to those whom they had placed ih office. He repeated that if democracy jvere to. live ifa foUndatipn must rest in industry. It could not be laid anywhore elge. Continuing, Mr Savage said:— "Those responsible for the machinpr^ of production have a. responsibility no lesa than the responsibility oi Ministers of the Qrown. Ministers pf the Urown at thp present time number 13. Now then, that is not a very large number. W» are not going to sidestpp nor minimise our responsibiiities but, you have a responsibility as well as I. Unlesa you do your job what can I do alone?" Replyiug to an mterjpetion Mr Savage said: "Dont start to tell me what the average wage-earner has to put up with. I have been an average wageearner. I have spent a lifetime at it and where men work hardest — in ihe bowels of the earth, ' (Applause). 1 say to the average wageearuer tflat if democracy is to live in New Zealand ho has a responsibility just as much as 1 have.

"Dou't make uuy mmtakc about rt. We are living in a changiug age when democracies are falliug anh inuividuais are becoming the victixus oi tho. rifle. j We don't want anything of that sort m j New Zealand or in the British Oom- i inonwealth oi nations. The British .Commonwealth is oue of the bnglit speeks on the earth to-day. We can im»rov« ob it «U ri^ht* but bj. tho Lord

Harry if I have to be found aiive oi dead let it be in the British Commonwealth where there is some eemblance of freedom Jeft\ (Loud applause). "And, ladies and gentlemep, the British Cummonwoalth is not thp quiy placo cithcr. There are other places, but we have a responsibility in Now Zeaiand and the poqpies right throughout the Oominonwealth'have a responsibility too to share m the shaping of human destiny. Don't start to blame someone somewhero else. Lpt us put. our own house in order. I am sure we can do it. "