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Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1926, Page 2

K i-'fouth have been made in recent

years in many countries to determine what factors may he regarded as fundamental in the business outlook. The idea is to trace the movements of the determining factors so as to arrive, at something whereby business prospects might be gauged. It has boon pointed out that this can never become an exact science, because in business there is so much that is unforscen. Chance influences arise unexpectedly at times, and then well laid plans go by the hoard. The price of staple products from New Zealand plays the principal part in natural prosperity accounting for the volume or business, hut the experience of late with the staple products has boon to discount former factors in gauging price levels. The wool market has shown a sharp decline, and is likely to affect the inflow of wealth to New Zealand this year by over seven millions sterling. Buttei and dairy produce generally has dropped. too, and the fall in wealth pioilnotion is expected to approximate three millions sterling. The decline in the value of the butter, particularly at this period of the year is one of those unforscen events which it is difficult to anticipate in advance. The industrial disturbances at Home have caused less consumption of the commodity, and the position has been so marked that a sul>stantial loss of income compared with the experience of former seasons at ibis period, is inevitable. Yet. we know full well that the prices for staple products govern the material prosperity of the country, and the fall above indicated accounts in the main for that degree of flatness in business so general all over New Zealand. There is also some seasonal effect to fie taken into account, and on that account there, is hope for some early improvement in trade, seeing, that the days are lengthening and the earning capacity of the people increasing. There" has been a good deal of unemployment this winter, and it is still manifest in the chief centres. This is more or less recurl ing of late years, and calls for some remedial measures to meet the difficulties rather than to await their arrival when the temporising seems to 1-c the sole treatment. The future of a country such as New Zealand may he moulded a good deal by those responsible for its Government. It is a young country of great promise and possibilities. A duty is laid on those in authority to see that the opportunity for work and employment is provided as far as reasonably possible so as to assure steady internal progress.