The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1924. RESTORING HEALTH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 June 1924, Page 6

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1924. RESTORING HEALTH.

Delivered every evening t>y 0 o’clock in Hawera, Mantua, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraaer Koad, and Ararata.

We suppose that there would he few, if any, people who would not say that the world is in a very sic-k .state at the present time, and that as the years pass there seems to be little improvement, Turn to the cable messages day by day, and one finds that they are mainly a record of national trouble, disturbance and disaster. Turn to the telegraphic news sent throughout the Dominion each day, and one reads, with depressing frequency, of crimes and disputes. The historical records of the last five years make very sad reading, for though,, through the dark clouds of doubt and despair, there have been occasional gleams of hope, we do not think that one can point to any great progress in the tremendous task of restoring the world to health and happiness. The sickness from which the world is suffering did not come suddenly, and we believe that to find the cauffe it is necessary to go deeply into history through generations past and try to find the causes of the troubles which seem as if they will defy all efforts ia.t overcoming them. If a sick person goes to a doctor, the first and most important thing which the doctor desires to know is what we may term the history of the sufferer—what food has been taken, what are the symptoms, and so on. The doctor tries to find the cause of the trouble, and having ascertained that the most iscientifio methods are adopted to effect a cure. If the case be complicated and present extraordinary difficulties, the doctor will seek the opinions of a specialist or specialists, and thus the sufferer receives the most careful expert treatment. Unfortunately, in dealing with the great complicated ills affecting the world to-day, it cannot be said that specialists are employed nearly enough, and when they are consulted their advice is not heeded as it should be. In economic matters the dear statements of the ■greatest thinkers are not accepted, and patchwork methods are too often applied when? the case calls for very definite and perhaps drastic treatment. We find that Governments the world over have a tendency in these times to spoon-feed large sections of the people, and there is a total disregard for the realities of the situation. The problems are very great and difficult, but we think that they can be traced to their cause in most cases. A worldwide problem is the high cost of living. Every country is trying to solve it, but progress is slow and -uncertain. In so far as the high cost of living really means—and it often does mean—the cost of high living, the solution is obvious. Let people live less elaborately. But the cost of high living is not the only factor. As science has developed, so many of the world’s cities have grown to huge dimensions, and the percentage of people engaged in primary production has become less and less. Within a few' decades Britain has changed from being an agricultural country to -a great manufacturing country, and, owing to the bankrupt condition of several of the Continental countries, there, is. serious unemployment. The huge cities cannot find employment for all their inhabitants, and statesmen are at their wits end to know what to do to improve matters. A redistribution of population throughout the Empire has been advocated strongly, but .again difficulties are experienced, for the Dominions require, mainly as immigrants people who are prepared to go. on the land. It seems that the first cause of Britain’s great social problems is the heavy preponderance, of population in the cities over the rural areas. In Australia a similar problem will have to be faced if rural settlement does not proceed at a faster rate than in the past. New' Zealand is not so badly situated, .and population is better distributed between town and country. Probably that is the reason for the Dominion being in a more prosperous condition than any other part of the Flmpire. There is, however, a drift to the towns which causes some anxiety and fear that, unless every encouragement is given to people to settle in the rural areas .and take part in primary production, this country may, within a few' decades, be facing problems with which the Old World nations are at present struggling. Movements, which have for their objective the settling of more people on the land and of carrying into onr rural areas as many of the city benefits as possible, therefore deserve every support. Farming is becoming more and more an exact science and less of a drudgery. Let us hope that with the continued application of science, to the primary industries, they will become more attractive, and that people will go on the land in increasing numbers and help in the great work of increasing primary production, for we believe that largely through the development of its primary industries must be sought the dire of the Empire’s problem of unemployment and a return to healthier conditions.