AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1923, Page 1

AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK

; MINISTER SOUNDS NOTE OF WARNIN'!:. WELLINGTON. April IS. | \ note of optimism was struck by I Mr W. F. Cuthbertxoii, president of Die Wellington Chamber ol Commerce, in his presidential address at the annual meeting and liinehcon held today. While, admitting that during the past two years a most trying period of Undo had been passed through, lie rejoiced to feel that the lowest point in market conditions, had been readied. We had yet to rise to heights of prosperity. hut it was very phrasing to note that an optimistic leeling prevailed- I ratling i nuditions had improved, and lie believed that at a very early date N u Zealand eoiiitl look forward to sati> factory ami more stable trading conditions. He stressed the need foi a reduction in the onerous burden of taxation, -pceially in the company tax. He expiv—ed the hope the TnXlltion ( ;niint ■situi s ret oiiiinemla 1 ion el ■’> as ’ me inn rate would at hast he adopled. Trade could net -1 aml llm burden much longer. The eommereial community, he added, viewed with mis giving. Die growth of the lax-free Slate and numb ipal cnl -.Tpives. and contended that the'.' should Dune equally v.ipi i .mmeii ial ciilerpri-cs in the obligations oi the Dominion. lie also spoke of the ue. d for increasing interImpet ial ilade. The .Minister of Customs (the Hon \Y. Downie Stewart') stated that the Prime Minister had already announced that income-tax was to Ice reduced. Inn tin speak, r could not ay by hew milch ic, would la- p ■ - -idle to reduce it. While wh fining the note of optimism in the president's addle-s. lie must say that the economic experts advise that the pre-elll prices were lint likely to last more than a couple o! sea- 1 tils. Whether the experts were right or wrong, that indicated I hat ii would he wl-e lor the (ocVernmeiit, buxine-- men. and private individuals, to take advantage ol the pfesf.it improvement in tra.de to inase every thing ship-shape to I'me lhe storm, if it should i nine. The I loveriiment desired to eneouruge inter-imperial trade as much as possible, as the siib-tantial jh'ilish preference given lev ibe laiilf should do. i!e c ongr.i i nla led tin- t'hamher on its -lives- fu l year.