PRIME MINISTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1923, Page 4

PRIME MINISTER.

NF.W VFAR MESSAGE TO THE ‘ people. I AUCKLAND. January 1. The Prime Minister sends the following New Year message to the people <>f New Zealand: At the beginning ol the New Vein upon which the Dominion is now enI tering. 1 think, as citizens of New ! /.calami, we have good reason to eonjVratulate ourselves on the improved outlook, financially and commercially j as compared with the beginning of 1922. We wore then passing through the worst of a world wide depression. I consequent, upon the Great A\ at in witjeh we had taken no unimportant part. The war left, ns with a greatly increased annual expenditure.. and j when tin* prices of our more import- j ant staple products fell very seriously j in sympathy with the prices of similar commodities in the great markets of the world, the result was such as to make the most careless among us wonder for a time what was to he the outcome, and whether as a nation we wore going In he able to pay our wav i and meet our obligations. I During 1923 the whole position has changed for the better, and it now . rests with ourselves to lake advantage ; of iho opportunities that have come to ns. and so restore the prosperity which, for what seemed a very long period, was conspicuous by its absence. 1 have sufficient confidence in mv fellow-: iti/.eus to believe that this will I e done. .New Zealanders as a whole arc passes' d of their full shale of energy, industry and enterprise, and I am satisfied that they will rise to the occasion. They never hesitated cither at home or abroad during the strenuous years ef the war from which very serious responsibilities and duties have come to them, and these hitler, if they are to be dealt with satisfactorilv. have to he tackled earnestly and courageously by the community :*s a whole. Then* is 'till much work to he done and sacrifices to he made by every class and every individual. Success depends on united effort. Without unity, without what has been called “team work,*’ and without enthusiasm. there can be no success. The clouds are lifting, and the opportunity is here. Conditions are .".!- reudv easier. Lot us. so far as practicable. drop sc'lional differences, and for (ho good of the country of which we nr** citizens, let us each take up .ini* slnie of the mrioii'd burden, which, ‘f everyone does his part, can In* carried easily and without hardship or inconvenience. II the country was worth lighting twr. it is worth working for. and if wo work for it wholeheartedly. as it behoves us to do. giving it oor l*ost‘. whether of brain or hand, wo can make it wteii tin* Creator intended ,me of the best and brightest countries on this planet. Ii is well to remember that. aeiiizeiis of an important Domini* ii, wo have r*. spoiisihilities to C o F.mpiie sv. ell as to our own count, y, and it is ven interesting to iiotne, Ironi Hu* speeches of British .Ministers and leading ai l irb.'- in th * prim ipnl Brit -ii 11*."•'• spapers and magazines, tat the nos -i::iI. l v , f greatly increasing coiiinic;** i d and (inani i d relations rm Pe(\veen British countries oversea and the United Kingdom is no*. long rccugni.-od and encouraged. New Zealand lie-, in proporimn to it' populat i’ n . already done a great deal in ibis dire, lion, and we shoul 1 I* si* no opportunity of doing more in the way ol .strengthening the Umpire and tiss.sling to make it silf-conlaim'd and seh-.uj- ;,;.)•> i*ig. \\'e can give commercial prefeieiiee within tin* Uni; in', iust as well as by any other method, and ir is w**!l to remember that anything which tends lo prosperity in Britain must indirectly benefit New Zealand, because Bntfiin is the principal market tor our products. So far as tin* defence of the Umpire is concerned. T hope Hud letnrning prosperity will enable Us to lake up .., m nr.* satisfaelory and more dignified position than we have yet occupied, especially in the matter of naval defence. To this rc.-pooi the Imperial Government lias been both generous and long-suffering, hut we cannot possibly expect tin* British taxpayers to go on providing naval defence for the Dominions without a proportionate Dominions without a. proportionate contribution on their part. The authorities of the Admiralty have already indicated that any contribution from Now Zealand should he expended in what are generally referred to ns New Zealand waters. Within the last few* months. New Zealanders have given another unmistakable proof of their loyalty to King and country and Umpire, and T trust that whatever may happen in the future, the Imperial principles* to which New Zealanders Fare adhered during the last ten years will never ho departed from, and that no encouragement will ever he given s () fm* as this country is concerned to thnse who would disintegrate or even weaken. the freest and most liberty-loving and peace-promoting Empire this world * has ever known and of which we are * proud to he citizens. ! Af.-iy 1923 therefore he a year fraught i with peace, prosperity, and hnpeiness ' for each and everyone of niv follow - * itizons. : W. F. MASSEY. i Prime Minister. '