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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 8 (November 1, 1938)

National Development

National Development

It is no small part of the work of those who wish well for New Zealand to encourage appreciation of New Zealanders by New Zealanders.

This applies to every field of endeavour upon which our people are engaged.

Just as in the individual, self-trust is the basis of personal development, so, in the nation, mutual trust and confidence amongst those composing it is the true foundation of greatness.

New Zealanders have every reason for mutual trust in each other to a degree not excelled by any other country. Their records of achievement in the widest range of human activities are more notable than most of us are wont to realise. They live longer than the people of any other country, and it is not improbable that they die happier.

Entrancing volumes could be written on New Zealand inventions; on the per capita production of the country; on the genius that New Zealand's sons and daughters have displayed in the most fertile fields of art and literature; on scientific discoveries of world import made by our own countrymen; on the valuable results of original research by New Zealanders in industrial and production methods on the land and in the factory; and on the exceptionally high quality of the goods produced for sale in competitive markets overseas.

A friendly climate, a favourable soil, a sound educational system available to all through a long period of years, a democratic habit which leaves open the gates of opportunity to those qualified for advancement along the many avenues of human endeavour, these have made of New Zealanders a race of self-reliant people whose habit it is to bring intelligence and enterprise to aid experience in any work they undertake.

Their greatest drawback is a tendency to national self-depreciation when comparisons with the work and achievements of other countries are made.

When New Zealanders reach the point of mutual appreciation denoted by the pride of country that marked the Greek and the Roman of the great days of those empires and that still distinguishes the Englishman's outlook as it did in the days of Drakes—then “Buy New Zealand First” will be the natural impulse of our people, as “See New Zealand First” is the natural advice of travel promoters.

For this reason the decision to run a campaign through the Bureau of the Department of Industries and Commerce to promote still further the spirit of mutual confidence amongst New Zealanders in the products of their own hands and brains is of first importance. The effect will be to encourage the use of New Zealand products of all kinds, and to impress the advantages of the country from the climatic, scenic, and health aspects as well as in regard to living conditions generally, including civic amenities and state services. It is another step in the national development of the “Brighter Britain of the South.”