A NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1920, Page 4

A NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE.

J TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND | FROt THE PRIME MINISTER. / j

By Telegraph,—Press Association, ; B tpj „ . Auckland, Dec. /M- ---• It , mo Minister sends the lu Som£n r : - MBag6 t0 th 6 PBOP rfP The old year, with all its trials'andlP\ 8 f ne - The New Year is*ithf , us. What it will bring to New ZetlJpj no man can accurately predict, it bp." quite certain, however, that we ahUff still have difficulties &a pi# yt!£ s years, and they have been .umdintSL' So it will he again. Determination ■ ' tenacity, which sawthe . right through the long yc&rs (if see us through any trouble whiol W. may be called upon to face dorini the next twelve months. ■.. T Recent election* have cleared th* poll, tical atmosphere, and giVan the Jo P l # of New Zealand renewed ConflfoiceJn ■ themselves and in each. Other-' Aoart''' altogether from party politic!, tie majority have declared loyally Z, thusiastically for King and Empjre KH 0. for a policy of progress and ifen]# ment within the Dominion. Suth jfcthe case, our duty is clear. Wither as fit' men entrusted with the management of if", public affairs or as private dozens, all JfK classes must work whale-heatedly t*'»| gather for the common good, rjmemher- *• ing that as a house divided agajhst itself k'\ cannot stand, bo a country divided 4 -» against itself cannot prosper. I know perfectly well that it it W V. * possible to avoid difference! of opinion - in minor matters; but there should be - only one opinion with regard to estsa- . 1 tials. There should bo 110 iwo opinlofli about the necessity for lifting and keeping the country prosperous, so that we may be able to meet oui very heavy ' financial obligations without hardship pr inconvenience, or about the principles of doing our duty to the Entire in peace as well as we did in war. If we ai» successful in these respect* there should be little difficulty 'in . regard to other matters, however important and however necessary some of thtfn may be. In one of his poems Kipling has very concisely summarised what should be , the policy of a young country such as flours in progress of development, where he says,

"Keep ye the peace; Be swift in all obedience; Clear the land of e^il; Drive the road andljridge the forii Make ye sure to etch his own 1 That ie reap whei» he has sown. By the peace among your people* Let men know ye lov« the Lord." On this occasion tie people of New Zealand are enjoying the festive season with greater zest than for several vein past. And with good realm. The black clouds of war, whicji for » long 'tint hung over the British have disappeared and the' sun of peace and prosperity is again /shining upon the world, which has coi&monoeu to recover from (though not toj be forgotten) sacrifices and sorrows of* the last five yegrs. In this country pafticul&Hy we have i much to bo thankful' for, tod the bles- vJ sings of peace are pfobably Appreciated 1 more than ever before, but there is still J much work to be jjone in the war of 3 meeting our responsibilities arising from ( the war which to be successful riecesßl* . tates the exercise/ of enerjfy ana co- ' operation by the Whole of the people of I New Zealand. A 9ountry worth fight- i ing for is worth working for, and Its interests must c-nme .before personal in* i torest or anything (else. The country should be first every time. Let us avoid quibbling and bickering over comparative trifles, and make the best possible use ojf our opportunities and talents with which Nature has endowed us. My message, therefore, to mv fellow citizens olf the TVifrininn 0 n this first day of what I liOpe Nvill be a bright New Year for all itf to forget minor differences, mak% good use of the many advantages we possess, and take as guiding principles loyalty, industry and progress, principles Vhioh, if properly acted up to, will, witl« n a comparatively short period, place this country la a sounder and more satisfactory position than it has ever yet occupied. W. f. MASSEY.