DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 86, 5 January 1935, Page 16

DOMINION TOPICS

Unemployment Figures Dropping. Another favourable indication of progress is the fact that the number of unemployed has dwindled to the extent of 16,000. The total on the registers is still formidable, and there is little hope that the country will be able to look forward to the entire elimination of unemployment. On the other hand, the conditions for those who are without work have been considerably improved, largely owing to the slackening of the drain on public funds. It is probable that the coming year will witness a further alleviation of the position, enabling the demands upon taxpayers to be progressively lightened.—“Waikato Times.”

The Domestic Market. There is an inclination to under-esti-mate the value of the local market for foodstuffs and local prosperity is of vital importance. We are convinced that with the level of unemployment reduced to that of normal times —4000 to 5000—this country would not suffer materially from uneconomic prices for dairy produce, but there would be just that increase in consumption within the Dominion which would solve the quota question and lead to a healthier tone on the London market. When we discover the influences that are “bearing” the market it may transpire that prices for butter and cheese are not based on the laws of supply and demand, but are arbitrarily fixed and subject to material change as a result of our efforts to become less dependent on Great Britain for our trade.— “Southland Daily News.” Imperial Airways and Us.

New Zealand cannot fail to be deeply interested in the project that has been outlined for Empire air service development. Thus far this country’s experience of air mails has been limited and not altogether satisfactory, but the prospect which has been held out in the present proposals is sufficiently alluring to justify their warm support from this Dominion. An uncertain factor may be the cost of participation, but whatever this may be it is not likely to be so considerable as to raise any obstacle which would prevent this Dominion from sharing in the advantages of the scheme. If the problem of the establishment of a regular air service across the Atlantic can be successfully solved, and such is the anticipation that, involved in the trans-Tasman crossing will scarcely be regarded as definitely baffling.—“Otago Daily Times.” Looking Forward.

Yet at its worst 1934 has been better than 1933. For New Zealand, and for other parts of the British Empire, it has been a twelve-month of gradu-ally-brightening gleams through the murk of the Great Depression. People who expect great signs of guidance for the future from the year that is passing may not find them with ease, but signs are there for the hopeful of spirit. The world cannot expect to pass from suffering to happiness in a bound. In any case, there is no unalloyed happiness in material things alone'; man must bo content with slow but steady progress toward the measure of peace in all things that may be permitted to him. There has, without doubt, been some progress in 1934 toward the longdesired return of material prosperity to the Dominion, and with careful guidance of all the factors that progress should be accelerated in 1935.—Christchurch “Sun.”

The Return of Confidence. For many years it has been said that once confidence was regained prosperity would return. While faith in the future was lacking there could be no great progress towards recovery: it does indeed seem that throughout the world faith in the future has at last been re-established. So tar ns New Zealand is concerned this change in the mental outlook of the people became noticeable when Mr. Coates presented his last Budget and when a partial restoration of the salary reductions of public servants was announced. Greater confidence and greater spending power meant a big increase in the volume of business, with the result that shopkeepers reported tbe best Christmas for many years, as did the railways and tourist agencies. Confidence begets confidence; and for the first time since the depression set in there appears to be throughout the country a heartening assurance that brighter days are at hand.—“ Southland Times.” Lotteries.

With a totalisator turnover of £140,000 for two days’ racing and one day’s trotting this week Auckland makes a respectable showing for a province vitally interested in butter production, which is said to be going on at a loss. It appears to be a fact that the more restricted the opportunity to earn money by work the greater the tendency to devote what money can be scraped together to the Goddess Chance. Remittances to various lotteries in Australia flow regularly in great volume across the Tasman Sea from all parts of New Zealand, and there appears to be little difficulty in filling the constant succession of socalled “art unions” organised locally. The organisation and running of these great gambles must provide a living for quite a number of people, and indirectly the advertising, etc., incidental to the concerns must provide extra employment in some trades. Possibly that aspect reconciles the authorities here to the growing indulgence of a passion which has repeatedly been challenged as a symptom of national indisposition. Dunedin “Star.”

A Dead Weight. It appears that the revenue shortage is £4,635,000 for 1931-32, £2,490,000 for 1932-33, £3,209,000 for 1933-34. and £922.000 for 1934-35. The assumption must be, therefore, that for the first time in about six years New Zealand is within sight of budgetary equilibrium. The fly in the ointment is the unsatisfactory position of tbe three State superannuation funds. The Government has now abandoned Die attempt to make the funds actuarially sound and proposes that the funds should be maintained at the present amount, liabilities being met from revenue as they fall due. According to the Public Service Commissioner, the immediate charge on the budget, if this proposal is adopted, will be £627,000 a year, rising ultimately to abofit £1,500,000 a year. It is a disturbing prospect; and the more the Government’s scheme is examined the more difficult it becomes to justify it, whether by standards of justice or by standards of sound finance. —"The Press,” Christchurch.

A Landmark in our History. The opening of the Reserve Bank was a landmark in the financial history of New Zealand. Preceding this event there came a declaration of first importance, that the bank would maintain the existing rate of exchange on London for a long time to come. This statement substituted certainty for uncertainty in. overseas trading, and shares with the tariff revision credit for the upturn in import business which marked the later months of the year. The decision, the concentration of note issuing power with the Reserve Bank, and the taking over of accumulated sterling balances in London, ielieved the Government of an awkward, problem and considerable expense in interest on Treasury bills. That it amounted, in effect, to a permanent devaluation of the currency is also a practical certainty. The long-range consequences of setting up a central bank have not yet appeared. It is too early for them. —“N.Z. Herald.” ,

Fish for Australia. Mr. Masters makes some interesting comments on prospects of our trade in fish with Australia. His figures for our fish exports show that something beneficial has come out of the trade agreement of a year ago. Mr. Masters points out that in a nine-monthly i period this year the value of our export of fish to Australia rose from £51,000 to £91,000. He says that the Australian markets are still only partially catered for, and thinks it is a reflection on our initiative that Australian ships should come so far to fish our waters. This may be so, but the fact that our exports have almost doubled suggests that some enterprise has been shown on this side. However, the main point is that we have the Minister’s assurance that the demand is far from satisfied, and in these days of restricted markets this.is quite a cheering piece of news.—Auckland “Star.” New Year Honours.

A close examination of the New Year honours —and this applies with greater force to the British and New Zealand list than to the Australian—shows that the King’s favour has been bestowed for the greater part on men who have done some service to the State and are not merely naval, military or political figureheads or masters of foxhounds. In philanthropy and public services in other fields; in medicine and surgery in the promotion of human happiness and the mitigation of suffering; in music and the fine arts; in the study of animal nutrition; in the care of the blind, and in the many other vocations that call for a lifetime of effort and self-denial, men do not seek honours. But when honours are awarded for such services there is a general feeling that they are all the greater in value because they have been unsought, and that in the dignity and respect that attaches to titles among men who have led useful lives there is much inspiration for others. The honours list this year is very rich in rewards for merit—“ Christchurch Star.” A Market for Cream.

If cream were reasonably cheap and well advertised it could be sold much more freely than at present. The cream used in butter factories for making butter contains from 35 to 38 per cent, of butterfat. For simplicity we may put the figure at 40 per cent.; then a gallon of cream, weighing about 101 b., would contain 41b. of butterfat, and no factory at present would object to selling a gallon of such cream for 4/-, which would give a return of 1/- per lb. of butterfat. This would be equal to a wholesale price of 6d. per pint. It should be possible to sell this in shops at 9d., with bottles returnable, or perhaps lOd. in cartons, and the consumption could be vastly increased. We believe that equally good service could be accomplished by pushing the sale ,of cheese locally. Every farmer should ask for cheese in hotels and restaurants. If he does not eat his own product how can he expect other people to do so. The new Dairy Board will have to take up these matters, and we hope that it will be a live body.—“Taranaki Herald.” New Zealand Shipping.

Reports from Wellington suggest that shipping companies have been reaping a long-withheld harvest in recent months in conveying passengers both to and from the Dominion, and so well has a revival in travel traffic been maintained that figures for 1934 show that more passengers have been brought to Wellington from Australia and taken across the Tasman to the Commonwealth during the past twelve months than for any of the previous three years. No fewer than 17,643 people have journeyed across the Tasman Sea this year, either to Wellington from Sydney br outward bound from Wellington to Australia. That total is far greater than the number carried in 1933, and represents a shll greater improvement on 1932 andl93l. Since January 6, 1931, nearly 62,000 travellers have journeyed between Sydney and Wellington, and to carry them the services of 346 ships have been required. From the official figures it is apparent that 1934 has shown a vast improvement over the previous three years, not only In inward-bound passengers, but in outward-bound, also. —“Timaru Herald.” Taranaki for Tourists.

An officer of the Tourist Department was in Taranaki arranging accommodation for an estimated party of 50 tourists from the Strathnaver, which it was the intention of the department to send to this province. These arrangemens were made and they included a visit to one of the Mount Egmont hostels. The Strathnaver berthed at Auckland on Friday last, and on Friday afternoon the Taranaki tour was cancelled. The unofficial reason given was that the tour “would not sell.” Whv does the Taranaki tour “not sell”? Is it because the goods are not here to sell; is it because they are not attractively window-dressed; is it because thev are not properly advertised, or is there something wrong with tbe salesmanship? The first question may be dismissed because the answer is obvious. The citizens of Taranaki would do well to examine carefully the other three questions, and do something. And in so doing they are entitled to ask themselves a further question, which has a bearing on all the other questions: What difference would it make if the Government were itself financially interested in, say, a hostel on Mount Egmont, or any other of the tourist attractions of the district?—“Taranaki Daily News.”