PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 9, 8 December 1926, Page 9

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.

TO UNITED STATES CONGRESS. COUNTRY PROSPEROUS. BUT ECONOMY NECESSARY. WASHINGTON, Dec. 6. The President’s annual message to Congress counselled tho Legislature not to grant any farm relief that would put the Government into the business of production, marketing, or price-fixing of farm products. Ho also opposed any permanent (tax 'reduction, but favoured a refund next year. President Coolidge again stressed the need for economy, and warned the country against extravagant new ventures. He unrolled a panorama of the Government’s vast business, and emphasised the general peace and prosperity of the country, the absence of major diplomatic troubleSj and J,he desire of America to continue the policy of non-aggressive armament. The recommendations for the coming year included the limitation of expenditure to those most urgent, and the necessity for discussion on agriculture, for evolving a plan to meet farmers’ needs. The President also recommended tho placing of the merchant marine under a single responsible head, and endeavouring to induce Americans to ship in United States bottoms; the creation of a board to deal with radio problems; the development of the Philippines economically fitted to assume control; the continuation of the policy of having the army and navy on a peace force footing, paying special attention to cruisers, submarines, and aviation. President Coolidge also urged the rapid discharge of war debt obligations and the avoidance of competitive armament. He advocated the careful and speedy enactment of supplementary legislation for enforcing prohibition, declaring that “persons who dissent from prohibition have access to orderly methods of seeking change in the constitution, but all should obey the law.” The President urged the promotion of “understanding and goocl-will between ourselves and all other peoples.” Regarding the general condition . of the country, he said it was impossible to characterise it as other than one of general peace and prosperity. . He added : “In some quarters our diplomacy is vexed with difficult and as yet unsolved problems, but nowhere are we met with armed conflict. If some occupations and areas are not flourishing, in none does there remain any acute chronic depression. What the country requires is not so much new policies, as the steady continuation of those which already are being crowned with abundant success.”—A. and N.Z. cable.