FACING REALITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1939, Page 5

FACING REALITIES

ENDURING COURAGE NEEDED DIFFICULTIES WILL BE OVERCOME. MR HAMILTON REVIEWS POSITION. (By Telegraph. Special to the ‘’Times-Age:”) WELLINGTON, This Day, “The year 1939 was a ‘red letter’ year in New Zealand’s history, both nationally and internationally. The year 1940 promises to present us with equally difficult, if not even more testing. problems. ■ Therefore, as we pause on the threshold of the New Year, it is well to take stock of our position and prepare with great resolution, high purpose, undimmed hope and enduring courage to face realities,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, in a New Year message issued last night. Mr Hamilton continued: — The facing of those realities cannot be shirked no matter how much we all agree—and agree we must—that hope for the future of this country, and faith in it, are the only lines along which our people can approach them effectively. Here I would emphasise my Christmas message—this is a day which challenges both the inborn op--1 timism and the courage of our people. I believe that our people are made of the stuff that will confront and overcome our difficulties, national and international. First our war effort in support of Great Britain—our Homeland —must be complete and unhesitating. The first task of the New Year must be directed to securing 100 per cent unity and efficiency in New Zealand for that effort. TIME FOR PLAIN SPEAKING. This is a moment for clear thinking and straight and plain speaking. I want it made clear at the beginning of the year that not only has the Government completely to revise both its approach and its policy in . securing anything like general confidence in its ability to run the country at war, but it has also to undertake never again to transgress by endeavouring to implement a policy of State Socialism in New Zealand under the cloak of war emergency. As was made clear by, the statement by the last caucus of the Opposition before Christmas, the strong, and clear lead necessarily expected from the Government has not been forthcoming and instead there has existed and grown up under official connivance, stimulation and provocation feelings of petty dissension and disharmony. This must cease. But it cannot cease unless there is a complete revision of policy at present being followed. It reveals a pettiness and an inability to realise the gravity of the situation by which the Empire is faced. GOVERNMENT’S APPROACH. To my mind it is an unfortunate comment on our position that the Government of the day, loud in its abuse of the Opposition, and even of individual sections uf the community, with leaders and spokesmen talking wildly of disloyalty, sedition and sabotage among purely political opponents, produces the only hot-beds of dissension in war effort from within its own ranks. Recent developments have not been of a type to encourage public confidence and it is not surprising that people all over New Zealand have become impatient at the Government’s peculiar approach to the whole situation. I have asked for an urgent session of Parliament, since I think this is clearly demanded by all recent events and the problems ahead if Parliament truly plays its democratic part as the so-called workshop of the people. INTERNAL DIFFICULTIES. Apart from the war itself our internal difficulties deserve extremely urgent consideration. It would take a volume to enumerate them all, but here are a few: — The crying need for some organisation of universal military service and the placing of a recruiting scheme on a proper basis. Import restrictions leading to shortages of essential goods and raw materials, and to unemployment. Commandeer of the radio for party ends in a manner unexcelled by any dictator country in the world and a public scandal and abuse of trust and privilege unknown in a British country. Public and relief works of unproductive character still going full blast and actually being extended to further luxury items in the first few months of war. Falling primary production, followed by a farm labour crisis and farmers unable to offer wages competitive with those being offered by the State for unproductive work. A cost of living which outstrips alarmingly all fixed incomes and salaries to the point of oppressive reduction of the standard of living of average men and women and their families. A financial crisis bringing disrepute to our good name and further threatened by experiments by the State which must further undermine our ability to stand a severe test. And those are but a few that are concerned vitally with the happiness and well-being of the everyday lives of our people at this time. The year 1940 cannot be worthy of our centenary unless those problems are con fronted by men who do not trade in platitude or hide behind smoke screens of abuse of opponents. NATIONAL PARTY'S SPIRIT. I can add this most earnestly: The National Party has those men and the inspiration of a great body of New Zealanders, from every walk of life and section of the community, behind them. I would suggest that in the underlying spirit for the National Party —unity, harmony, tolerance and solidity—backed up by the hearts, minds and wills of courageous New Zealanders lies the hope for the reconstruction of the Dominion. At the moment it remains an overvigilant and ever-prepared Opposition. Propaganda may say it represents the exploiters, vested interests, profiteers, usurers. misers, traitors and others equally vilified. It would be a warped mind indeed that was deceived by that. The National Party is a living and I growing organism in our midst repre-1 senting average New Zealanders. Detractors are realising today the I strength and determination of the I re.nllv wonderful New Zealand people

I am proud to lead, and it is a host to the colours of which I am thrilled to say many are flocking. For this New Year I would say—take politics more serious than ever before. It is the most important business in the community. It affects your business. be yours the humblest or the greatest position in the land. It deserves earnest study and attention and requires courage and high purpose. Nail your colours to the mast and fight to the end against any odds. New Zealand needs men and women today prepared to put a great effort into laying the foundation for really united war effort, and for internal reconstruction.