SPIRIT OF PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1938, Page 5

SPIRIT OF PEACE

MR HAMILTON’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE NEW ZEALAND’S REASONS FOR GRATITUDE. NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES. (By Telegraph—Prese Association.) INVERCARGILL, December 30. “At the close of the world’s most turbulent year since the Great War we should reflect again on our good fortune in living in New Zealand. We have cause to remember with gratitude the wonderful progress made during the last half-century and the many comforts that life in our country has provided,” says the Loader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, in a New Year .message. . /

“We enter 1939 full of hope that peace and goodwill may prevail and that Providence will continue to grant us both the material and spiritual blessings that are so essential for our highest welfare. We trust also that we shall be able to manage our own affairs so as to encourage our citizens to do and give of their best. For. in that way alone can they have and enjoy the best the country can provide. “Opinions may differ about the wisest policy to follow, but in all our public life our guiding principles should always be the good government of our country and the welfare of our people.

“While the value of our export trade remains in the neighbourhood of £60,000,000 annually as at ■ present, New Zealand should experience no difficulty in maintaining its good name and its traditional high standard of living. A somewhat disturbing financial and economic situation has been revealed since the election and it remains to be seen what will be the outcome of the stringent measures that the Government has taken to deal with this serious’situation of its own creation. Everyone, irrespective of his political belief, will hope that the country will come through these troubles safely and with its credit unimpaired, for on the country’s' prosperity the standard of living of every one of us depends.

“As I have said, we may not all believe that the Government has been pursuing the right policy, but while it is the Government with a majority of the electors behind it, its decisions must be respected. lam confident that the members of the National Party have no hesitation in adopting this attitude and that they will continue as in the past to direct their actions in the light of what will best serve the highest welfare of the country and its people. This attitude toward the Government will in no way prevent members of the National Party from presenting to the people of New Zealand what they believe to be the wisest course to follow. “Along with Great Britain and the other Dominions, we in New Zealand have a responsibility to prove to the outside world, as well as for our own satisfaction and happiness, that democracy is still the best and most serviceable form of government. “Let me conclude by again expressing the hope that the spirit of peace and goodwill which is so strongly in evidence at thjs season will prevail and increase through the new year.”