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Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1922, Page 2

Tub burden of the hospital and cliaiitable aid levy is being generally felt all over the Dominion. At Christchurch last week a public speaker said that one third of the local rates went to pay the levy. The question has been raised over and over again in Westland, where it is a distinct burden and at present payment consumes a very substantial.* portion of t!-e local revenuo raised from the ratepayers through the rutees. The matter is m-t a now one here. It has been recurring over a long period. In former times when tho expenditure was not as generally hjgn as it has grown through tlie war years, it would have been much simpler then than now to secure legislative action to relieve localities of the burden, and transfer the responsibility to tuo consolidated revenue. But in those, days the burden was not unduly oppressive and it is only in recent times that the requests for a change has become at all unanimous. At this period however, the Government is'unable to act as desired, for finances are too tight. Turn where they will. Government seeks to raise all the revenue it. can. and ciirta l rather titan .increase expenditure. There seems little hope of early relief. When the Minister of Hospitals was here a few weeks ago, lie p'lt the matter very bluntly befo'e the local deputation. He expressed his willingness to do what was required, but tho shortage of money prevented the Minister of Finance providing the money to meet tho wishes. Economical administration ns far as it can bo carried out is tho only practical relief in sight lor tho ratepayers. Public opinion should assert itself along those lines on every occasion, so that the representatives of the people on the administering Boards will always have in mind the need for economy, and where possible, retrenchment.

Tttf.he is the general expectation prevalent that from this month onward there will he a general improvement In trading and business conditions with, in tho Dominion, and that by tho end the year stringencies creating the slump period will have passed away. This note whs struck in Christchurch at a late public meeting, '‘When we en, term* t*n t-1* Oh amber’s yen? fltnf PPW

has closed, we were faced with grave j problems coincident with the slump of ij the previous year, and wo faced the j future with great trepidation,”. Mr S. j A. Orchard, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commcice, said last week. “Business of all descriptions was in a chaotic state; financing was a grave problem, and a night-mare to many. A more optimistic spirit is now prevailing. I think that the worst of the depreccion is over end that economic life is changing for the better, not only in New Zealand, hut also in Great Britain and other countries. In New Zealand, a great producing country, we should have no fear of the future. Although we have periodical depressions, tVe 'emerge from them triumphant, and I am optimistic enough to imagine that if we as busines men, pa v due regard to the importance cf this Dominion, the precincts of which are essential for export, and which 'can lie considerably increased, whose soeic beauty is unparalleled, and whose climate is unsurpassed, we will rapidly convince the world at large that New Zealand, although small, is substantially important. We are very apt’ to belittle c*<rselves, and I am afraid we do not recognise bow important wo are and can he.” Mr Orchard’s optimism is of tho courageous and self-reliant order. It is the best, brand obtainable, and t' e more that spirit enters into the peop’e as a whole the quicker will the Dominion overcome her immediate difficulties;