IN AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1930, Page 5

IN AUSTRALIA

FINANCIAL STRINGENCY

WELLINGTON, July 14

“One thing that strikes you more than anything else in .Australia is the way in which the severe financial depression is affecting practically the whole community,” said Mr D. A. Solomon of the well-known Dunedin legal firm, who returned by the Makura from a three weeks’ holiday in the Commonwealth.

People in their offices, people whom he had seen many times before ana who had always been bright and untroubled, were no longer the same, said Mr Solomon. They turned the subject to existing Australian conditions in the first few minutes of conversation and their outlook was a worried one. Australian business men were all quite aware of the condition of their country, and many now thought twice before using their ears, and then took a tram instead. Private expenditure 1 was being cut dwn by most people, too. Xfyh

“Take, for instance, the trip across here from Sydney,” he added. '“The Makura . left on Thursday with/, only a handful of passengers. On the following day the Marama and the Maunganui left with even less. . People can't afford to travel and that is the key to the position. There was just a scattering of people on board.” Every new piece of legislation, Mr. Solomon continued, was like a sharp knock at the business men. They felt it more anti more and were getting more, and more worried.

Asked for an opinion on how long it would be before the outlook brightened, Mr. Solomon said he could only quote the views of experienceed business men. They had told him that they had not got right into it even yet. The only bright, spot, in fact the only thing that was keeping the community going, he said, was the sensational batting of Bradman and Australia’s victory at Lords. Cricket at present was the only cheerful thing in the, country.