A New Year is Dawning

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 308, 30 December 1939, Page 8

A New Year is Dawning

Messages of Goodwill to Palmerstonians MR. J. HODGENS SEES CONTINUED PROSPERITY Mr. J. Hodgcns, M.P., forwards the following New Year message for the people of Palmerston North:— “ The year 1940 is dawning. It i 3 not only a new year, but it is also a new century. Our littfo country dons long pants so to speak, and very soon we will be able to speak of those incidents in our history that happened in the first century of our recorded doings. “We enter the coming year with our chins up in spite of the European war. Of course there are tho faultfinders, tho fellows who are always grizzling, who forget that though they find happiness that way, it would be a sorry day for New Zealand and the rest of the British Commonwealth of Nations if all the people suddenly became croakers and calamity howlers. I said we will keep our chins up. Can we not get an inspiration from the Achilles personel, from the young chap who did more than was expected of him from miles up in the air, and last but not least, from those freemen of the merchant service who lift our produce from this island sanctuary and convey it through all those menacing seas to its destination where it can be used to feed and clothe our relatives. There are no calamity howlers in that gallant service. Is there anyone game to say that tho service they render is not equal in to the Dominion and the rest of the Commonwealth in ensuring a happy and prosperous New Year? I would suggest to the grouchers engaged in production to offer to exchange places with those crews for the period of the war—or forever hold their peace. “Then there is the chappie who says ‘New Zealand is on the road to ruin.' He has been saying that since 1935. He cannot —I should say will not —attempt to explain the constant ringing of the till in every place of business. Nor the fact that post office deposit accounts have risen from £49,423,714 in 1935 to £60,710,087 in 1939. He also conveniently closes his eyes to the further fact that the number of depositors has increased over tho same years from 817,617 to 946,822. My wish for all the people is that they continue having this experience in the coming year and tho Jeremiahs may call it what they like. “In addition to this tho prosperity of 1940 seems to be a foregone conclusion to a great big section of the community. Take wages and salaries paid, for instance. In .1935 they totalled £65,000,000 whereas in 1939 the total was £109,500,000. The factories of the Dominion increased in the same years from 15,900 to 17,342 and the number employed in those factories rose from 93,592 to 123,723. I referred earlier to the constant ringing of the till. Now we can appreciate, I am sure, how it is that that constancy is maintained. May it continue its tingling music right through the coming year. “There are many other instances that could be quoted, all telling the same story of a wider distribution of the annual production of the Dominion. So one is perfectly justified in assuming that our experiences will bo the same right through the coming year. There is no logical argument for any other conclusion, unless, of course, the enemies of our British Commonwealth of Nations were to be victors in this war. Then truly we would be serfs and slaves of a dictatorship, but that is unthinkable.

“This brings me to the men of New Zealand who, in response to tho clarion call of the Prime Minister, have offered to do their best to uphold the traditions of democracy. They are about to leave the shores of this their homeland in thousands and during the year there will be more to follow. The prosperous and happy new year that one can wish them is that they do their duty and, please God, return safe and sound at the finish. I trust that their parents and relatives will, as far as this district is concerned, permit me to assist in any problem that is a source of worry to them. “Now, on behalf of my mother, my wife and myself, I wish all who read this message a most happy and prosperous New Year for 1940, Centennial year.” J. HODGENS, M.P. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MESSAGE Mr. K. A. Henderson, president of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, writes:— “I welcome tho opportunity given through your valuable paper of conveying to the public of Palmerston North, on behalf of tho Chamber of Commerce, hearty good wishes for the new year. As the old year closes and leaves behind unpleasant memories of international strife, and the new year approaches, we realiso that wo have passed through one of the most difficult years for some considerable time and that the future requires to be faced with resolution and determination. , “Trading conditions for the last few years have been very buoyant and our city has prospered during these years, but with the war and its inherent difficulties the future cannot hold out a continuance of this prosperity. I feel certain, however, that if our citizens will continue loyally to support our local traders the prosperity of our city will continue, even in tho difficult times ahead. Let us one and all during the new year keep in front of us the continued prosperity of cur city, and if this resolution is adopted the future can be faced with optimism. “To our local traders and the public generally I would like to take this opportunity of wishing them continued success during the coming year, and may the new year bring a speedy and successful conclusion to the war.” • K. A. HENDERSON,