POLICY OBJECTIVES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1938, Page 5

POLICY OBJECTIVES

STATED BY MR SAVAGE THINGS AS THEY OUGHT TO BE ROOM FOR AN EXPANSION OF PRODUCTION. BETTER BALANCE NEEDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The advisability of New Zealand having a more balanced production was referred to by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, on Saturday. He said that production must be carried on in this country on the most advanced lines. There had to be security for those engaged in industry and that meant owners as well as workers. The problems of all classes must be listened to with a view to assistance being given.

Mr Savage said there was room for expansion in production in New Zealand everywhere. The position was not satisfactory. They had to produce more, and the people had to be given that opportunity, both in primary and secondary industries. The country had to have a better balance in production. Up to the present they had not made the progress necessary to keep themselves properly balanced, financially and economically.' SECURITY ON THE LAND.

It was necessary to make the man on the land feel secure and to remove the disabilities under which he had worked in the past. The manufacturer also had to feel that there was room for expansion. The importers had to be considered also. New Zealand had to make the manufacturers in Britain feel that it was ready to deal with them, goods for goods. Otherwise they were bound to have dissatisfaction, and the balance in the wrong direction. They had to have something approaching a balance in trade; that was the objective of any intelligent Government. The Government wanted the co-operation of the manufacturers in building New Zeaand’s secondary industries. Then there were the wage-earners. They represented the majority of the people. “We cannot build up industries and we cannot give a fair run to investors unless the wage-earner also gets a fair run at the same time, said Mr Savage. It is a question of organisation. “Excuses will not remove the responsibility from the shoulders of the Government. I will not sidestep any of it, and will take my fair share of responsibility. We must help the people to help themselves and the great bulk of humanity in this country. Whatever differences of opinion we may have from time to time on matters of details, that is the objective of the party. It cannot be any other. » THE STATE & BUSINESS.

"I say definitely that no Government has any right to interfere with business when things are running smoothly and economically in industry. It is only when they are not running smoothly that the Government should be asked to step in and give assistance. It. must be remembered that every time the Government steps in it increases its liability, and no one would do that in a sane moment, whether a Government or an individual.” He added that the Government would face up to any legislation required without fear, -and the ground would be properly surveyed before any legislation was attempted. “I hope I will never run up against the man who thinks that prosperity can come by the worker working long hours at low wages,” added Mr Savage. He thought there should be a greater percentage of people engaged directly in industry. The manufacturer as well as the farmer had to be considered. If the Government was at fault in any circumstance, it would have to make a readjustment. The Government’s task was to have industry expanded as well as to expand the standard of living.