THE PUTARURU PRESS. ’Phone 28 – – – P.O. Box 44 Office – – – – Oxford Place THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1930. PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 322, 16 January 1930, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS. ’Phone 28 - - - P.O. Box 44 Office - - - - Oxford Place THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1930. PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE.

THE New Year message of the Prime Minister is, if not exactly inspiring, certainly a wary production worthy of notice owing to its source. It contains a prediction that the coming year will be better from an economic standpoint than that of 1929. Though the general public has been told annually for the past four or five years that the “ comer was being turned,” doubtless on this occasion more weight will be attached by many people to the prediction owing to Sir Joseph Ward’s reputation in regard to financial matters. Referring in detail to the work for the coming year the Prime Minister divides his policy into three main heacife: (1) Land settlement; (2) assistance to manufacturers; (3) development of the tourist traffic. Rightly Sir Joseph puts land settlement first, stating it “is a real way to look after our people.” So long as this is recognised there is great hope for our economic future, for it must never be forgotten that the land is our greatest asset. The brief reference to the promotion of secondary industries seems to make it clear that the hopes of manufacturers of securing a tariff revision board on which they would hold a majority of seats are to be dashed to the ground. The message refers to the amalgamation •of the Departments of Industries and Commerce and Tourist and Publicity, and the appointment abroad of officers representing the combined departments. It is only by such efficient organisation, due publicity, and more intense and continuous use of our Research Board, that the secondary industries can be best helped. In encouraging' tourist traffic opposition will be met with from those who think as Sir Francis Bell does, that there is a danger of New Zealanders becoming a race of lackeys. One would not. anticipate such a danger, judging by present experiences in the hotbls of our tourist resorts, and we have sufficient faith in the sturdiness of : our native' independence to suggert that the risk is negligible. We ’ should gladly welcome the foreign capital which will shortly pour into this country from this source. No one would suggest that Rotorua, Waitomo, or other tourist resorts should be abandoned, so \jsiy should we not make the most of our natural wonders. From a nationalstandpoint this traffic is all profit, for each tourist brings a thousand or so into the country, and takes nothing out which he does not also pay for. As the United Party leader says: “In years to come the tourist traffic will be one of our greatest assets ” —and we would add that we do not need to become servile to develop it. In urging pluck and determination during the year the message concludes with the slogan “ Buy New Zealand Made Goods.” New Zealand produces many things which are equal to the world’s best, but it is only recently that manufacturers have thought fit to tell the public so. Having been given the slogan the public may now do its part by making a few enquiries and thus assist the manufacturers.