THE NEW PREMIER.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1925, Page 1

THE NEW PREMIER.

ISSUES INTERESTING SUMMARY

OF NEW OOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE. [BY TELV.GII A I'll —I'ER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELUXOTOX, May 30. In assuming the position of Prime Minister, 1 am deeply .sensible ot the honour conferred on me, and at the same time 1 recognise fully the great responsibilities which that office carries. In this brief message, I want to express very warmly, at the outset, my admiration of the wonderful service rendered to New Zealand and to the Empire l>.v my late illustrious leader, the Rt. Hon A\ . E. Massey, during many years, more particularly in the great war and along those very difficult periods of us ultermaih. Tempered always by mature judgment. Mr Massey’s work in those very trying times was sound and its soundiims was fittingly recognised by the statesmen of tile Empire. Anyone in New Zealand with an intimate knowledge of Ihe difficulties—financial, social, and governmental, during that test of world supremacy, cannot hut realise how fortunate was the Dominion to have had the benefit <>l .Air .Massey's guidance and wise leadership. (Since the Armistice and now. the post was period has beset New Zealand. In that position this coun*i v is not alone. All other couutiics with us find the same social and industrial difficulties which were previously unknown. The task is how best to weigh out to their true value the problems which those difficulties create, and to achieve a solution of l hem under present conditions. In that colossal work, we arc all eoncern-

Although privileged to hold ministerial office since 1919, I do not profess to have taken any very active |virt in the political arena. 1 have fell, ihat the paramount need ot this country under existing conditions is less poliiicall activity and greater concentration on business, like management and organisation of the unions State departments. They, alter all. reflect in such a large measure the government's administration and the wise expenditure of public money. Those three portfolios. Public Works. Railways and Post and Telegraphs , which I have held must he catalogued as very important iactors ol the- Dominion development. I have, by eiotx means in my power, kept the administration of these Departments clear of nnvthing m the way of political influence. I sought to see every question arose dealt with on a business basis, to give the general public the best and most immediate return lor the expenditure incurred on their liehalf.

Expenditure, whether lor government or local bodies services detciinincd the demand for revenue to maintain those services. Ihe ditleieiice between the expenditure and (1,,, ,-in-responding return from those services, represent> the taxation it is iieeessarv to demand, and so ill terms of plain business it is a first essential of ilie adiuinistrai ion of our State Departments and local governing bodies. The best economic, result is what should he aimed at. The public may acclaim a- Government for rendering a public service gratuitously Iml it must he borne in miun that nothing in this world is had tor nothin,.. If ;i particular service does not pay directly, then ihe people most pay indirectly, hut more expensively in the long run. ft may seem that. | have unduly stressed the financial and administrative aspect »t the government. My six years of ministerial services, however, have convinced me i hat intensive application of the principles of sound finance to every limrtthe government, is very essential in the public interest. It is Rout that solid louinl;iI ion 1 elected that we can build Hie structure, of our public services, and enable the development. of our country. To proceed otherwise, olir ell'cels and success from them must inevitably be jeopardised. On ibis sound basis we can reasonithiv hope for progressive reduction ol taxation and withal better public, service and greater opportunity loi the amelioration ol social conditions. Oulv by judicious care and foresight in the setting of our liuaiieial loiltulationis. is it possible to devote the necessary attention In till our citizens. It is the (loverninent’s aim to

give all classes of the people an equal opportunity in life. My assisting the ~|fort of each citizen in his or her natural vocation, and with a will on the part of all, the results we desire can he obtained. New Zealand occupies no isolated position. We are part of the great Empire in which the life and conditions of all are very closely linked. Only by united work can our objective to improve those conditions he achieved ami I have no fear that the aid 1 seek to obtain from the people as a whole, will not he lacking.

r lii.ld very strongly tho convictions 1 have hero hrieilly touched upon mill T shall earnest Iv endeavour to give practiriil ,'U'.i i-t lo thorn in my administration. I at all uni*-'* welcome healthy construct ive criticism. I it'd that 1 ran. from the wrm expressions of ooo.hvill extended to mo from al' spheres of public lilV. winiidciitly look forward to a sympathetic cons idem timi towards the oll'orts of the Covominont in promoting I lie prosperity of Xow Zealand. There lias recently been a considerable amount of public references to the political position. The buestion of nu amalgamation of the two main parties in the Mouse lias been snggestod as a means of presenting a more united front against that section which bolds to extreme socialistic ideas. Tt is urged that as there are. in fact, no important mailers of policy at issue between the members of the government party and those who >it in the opposition, the political hatchet should he buried, and thus make the patli clear for a friendly

merger. Speaking for tho Government let mo say that we shall welcome in this connection any proposals that may l>e submitted. Whether the proposals fur a practicable modus operandi as between the two parties comes as a result of pourparlers or in any other way. they will assuredly receive most rarest consideration at onr hands.

The policy which my late distinguished predecessor laid down in geneial and on which a large number ot members were elected to support is to be maintained. Proposals in fuller details will be embodied in the TTuancial Statement to be- submitted to Parliament early in the session. It is not the intention of the Government to propose any radical deviat-

ion from that policy. Our platform will bo submitted to the electors ot the Dominion later in the year. I have thought if fitting, however, at this juncture, to indicate some of the principles that will guhlc the present Administration in its conduct of the public affairs of the Dominion.