NEED FOR UNITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 20, 20 December 1932, Page 6

NEED FOR UNITY

APPEAL BY MINISTER. FAITH IN THE PEOPLE. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Dec. 19. The Minister of Finance, Hon. W Downie Stewart, who was entertained to-night by the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, in the course of an address said that he did not share the extravagant views of some that a miracle was going to happen at Ottawa nor the extravagant fears of others that all the bargaining and haggling meant the break-up of the Empire. The real value of Ottawa was the recognition by each part of the Empire of the aims and ideals of other parts. It was clearly recognised that agricultural and pastoral countries had the right to develop industrially ns part of their national life, and that Great Britain was entitled to protect her farmers to the extont sho thought

fit. . . . v Dealing with the position in New Zealand, Mr Stewart said that everyone knew of the distressing plight of the farmers, and the difficult problem of how to save them while world prices remained at their present disastrous level, or continued to fall. Changes were taking place so profound that we did not yet know- whether it w'as possible to re-establish the way of life that we had for so long been accustomed to, or whether a new order of society would have to be evolved painfully out of the present chaos. But what was important was that we should try to keep a steady view, and not indulge in recrimination and mutual bickering. No thrift and no economy could have provided an adequate safeguard against the present onslaught. In any case it seemed, to him to savour of hypocrisy to single out the farmer for criticism when we all more or less followed the same lines of conduct. The Minister said he wanted to issue a serious warning against hysterical rumours and wild reports that v ero so a.pt to meet with credence while the public were highly strung and nervy. It- was difficult to know now to prevent them. If one spoke, lie was accused later of undue optimism, or undue pessimism, varying with the point of view' of the critic. If one said nothing at all, lie was supposed to be hiding something. The plain fact was that Parliament adjourned for the reason stated by the Prime Minister : - That the proposal to help the farmers by the exchange had not materialised, and other methods would have to be considered, which could not be properly examined or dealt with in the short time before Christmas. Whether any satisfactory measure of assistance for farmers could be evolved by legislative or political action remained to be seen, but there was one good thing emerging that filled the speaker with admiration, and that was that a.ll around him he saw and heard every dav the splendid examples of mutual help and neighbourly assistance by individual citizens, poor helping poor, rich helping poor, and, in short, re-emergence of all those virtues whicn seemed to be dormant in prosperous times. Some people out of the merest pittance were sparing a few pence a week to help the families that were still more hard pressed than themTlie need for nntional unity was vital and urgent. We could onlv hope to overcome our unprecedented difficulties if all classes and all interests, whether rural or urban, rich - or poor, realised that the crisis threatened our whole rocial organisation. The times called, for national unity in the same degree as did the Great War. The Minister concluded: “I have an abiding faith that our people will rise to the occasion, and by their patience, courage and endurance enable us to win through. In this task I appeal to the manufacturers with ' confidence to bear their share.”