The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1926.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1926.

THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK. One of our Wellington correspondents from time to time supplies informative articles as to the financial outlook for the country. At the moment it is a very engrossing subject for the reason that there is the fear of falling exports this season, and the upshot is expected to he a debit balance to the country when imports are tak- | en into account. The fear of this contingency is being regarded with much concern, and Ministers have been emphasising the situation in no uncertain way. The plea is for more production, as it was that of the late Mr. Massey, hut the Ministers in Australia, where the outlook is no less promising, are making a wider appeal. Tn several speeches latev, the heads of the Fedora Government, the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, and the Treasurer., Dr. Earl Page, have emphasised the greatest need of Australia as efficiency in production, transport, and marketing. In his latest important speech, that before the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Australia in Sydney this week, Mr. Bruce laid it down that ‘‘the gospel of efficiency should he preached by every Australian who loves his country and desires to see it great in the future, and the people happy and prosperous.” Tn this speech, Mr. Bruce dealt with the question of efficiency from three different standpoints, efficiency in production, in transport and in marketing. He indicated that the first named was necessary if full advantage was to he taken of the artificial aids to industry, such as tariffs, bounties and subsidies. In regard to the second, he emphasised how his Govenment was endeavouring to laid transport by its national road policy, and by solving the break of gauge railway problem, and hinted that further efforts to simplify transport, would he made by asking the State Governments’ Cooperation in alleviating the charges on shipping by harbour and port dues. He particularly attacked the system by [ which '.all the commerce flowed through the capital cities. In regard to marketing. Mr. Bruce said that producers and distributors were valuable national assets, hut added that the presentmethod of distribution was based on ta wrong principle, .as it was more designed to serve the interests of the speculator than to conserve the rights of the producer and the consumer, and to ensure a fair return to the legitimate distributor. ‘‘l ask for your co-operation and the 'assistance of your great organisation.” concluded Mr Bruce. ‘I ask you to give a lead to the nation I ask you to give that lead down lines that will ensure the lienefit of the whole of the people, and in doing so be forgetful of your own individual .and personal interests’ ’