Hopes For 1938

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 83, 31 December 1937, Page 3

Hopes For 1938

-Press AssociatioiiJ

PREMIER CONFIDENT "All is Well with New Zealand" CONTINUED PROSPERITY

(By Telegraph-

j AUCKLAND, Last Night. "Again I have the privilege as Prime iMinister of giving a New Year message to the people, and once more it is ra pleasure to say that all is well witb (New Zealand, " said the Prime Minis'ter in his New Year message. "The jreal test for eaeh year is the same for nhtions as it is for individuals. It is the sum of happiness that counts. On that basis of value I think we can say without any qualification th'at 1937 must take rank with the best years in New Zealand 's history. "Prosperity has been constant, and everyone has,shared in it," continued Mr. Savage. "Even those who through d&fferent handicaps and disabilities have not had so great a share as others more fortunate have at least been kept free of poverty. The private income has increased in the past two financial years by £37,000,000, and wage-earners have had their share increased by £22,000,000. Those figures are not estimates. They are the returns §upplied by all the recipients themseives for employment-tax purposes,and that is only half of the full story of com- • munity 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 , distrjbution of national wealth, but 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 country is as sound as the proverbial bell. The immediate prospects are reassuring and there is no cause for pessimism. I am confident that 1938 will be another year of prosperity for the whole eommunity. "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 slnmp ccnditions. Is it necessary to add that

the United Kingdom is New Zealand 's principal market?' The history of the depression and recovery has taught the lesson all over the world that no Government can alford not to take responsibility for deciding the directioD of national economy and progress. In a more or less degree every government in every country is doing so, and this is one of the marked changes in a changing world. "In New Zealand we claim to be achieving a measure of economic reconstruction which is resulting in higher standards of wellbeing for the people as a whole. If commonsense is to have any plaee in life at all, surely J? must be agreed that in a world of plenty, with goods of inlinite variety being produeed as never before, it would be intolerable if every citizen could not have a fair opportunity of sharing in the bounteous measure of materiai things. Progress and profit cannot be restricted to any one section of humanlcind. "There is no reason why standards of living should not be iucreased to levels hitherto undreamed of by intelligent people," auded the Prime Minister. ' ' Of course, there may be tluetuations, but there certainly is no cause for a return to the poverty and distress of recent years. There must be no return to those grievous conditions. That is the Government 's idbal. It is the iueal which should be sliared by all and believed in by all. Surely it is an objeetive worth striving for all the time. "I know of o.ily oue enerny, those who say it can't be done, and they are the i>eople who don't A/ant it to be done. Ail the availablo evidenee iji New Zealand points to continued and • increasing prosperity. Ilecord levels have been reached. A review of the past two years over many iields of activity indicates a reniarkable state of recovery. I need only mention such tacts as a 50 per cent. increase in exports and a similar rise in xmports. "Over the past two years banking _ hgurei ib& uUmitus mL

prosperity. Cheque transactions and no.te circulation haye gained record levels during the 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 con.tinues to expand. Eactory production has broken all previous xecords. 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, the iuvalid and the'aged should share in the profits of prosperity. "One outstanding condition is a reason for national gratitude. This is the fact that New Zealand in its remo.te position has enjoyed a splendid ,tranquility as far as world affairs are eoncerned. This boon, perhaps, can be i uiost clearly realised by those who have t had lh6 privilege of travelling over- , seas. I remember my own impressions 1 in London earlier in the year. Everyi body there realised the significance of , iuternational difficulties, ahd the noarness of the possibility of strrfe. One could almost feel the heat of the pia world cauldron. "Here in New Zealand peace has been a reality and a wonderul advantage. This fact does not mean that vy^e I as a sniall, favoured nation should roj tuain indifferent^as a member of .the j British Commonwealth of Natious. ! . New Zealand must take a vital interest in world affairs. This need is recognised by the Government, and our responsibilities have not been neglected. "International conditions during the past year have confirmed our belief that the Covenant of the League of Nations UIill 1/ILU bx j provide .the best hope for stablo international relationships. But our beliel's are not mprely academic. The Government has pr'ovided the machinery for maintaining national security. We l)olieve in freedom for all the people, freedom to choose their own leaders and administrators, to make their own laws and freedom to secure the materiai and spiritual things that are worth whilo in the life of a nation. "A year of prosperity and tke prospect of still better things is ahead, '' continued Mr. Savage. "The Government will do its utmost to make life happier and more purposeful for all sections of the eommunity. I sincereiy wish a great measure oi prosperity for the people in the New Year."