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Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1930, Page 4

Tpte Possible effect of the present economic pressure on the Dominion, is being generally canvassed, and in some eases doleful prognostications ai e to be heard. The case lor Yew Zealand, it has been declared over and over again, is infinitely better than that of Australia, and for that eeason we can well afford in this country to take heart of grace, and face the future with less forebodings of possible evil. Australia is rising triumphant to a desperate situation. It is extremely pleasing to find that the gffeat loan of twenty-might, millions has been more than subscribed locally. That is not a sign of any down and out feeling pervading the people. It means there has been a stern realisation of the situation, and the community has not waited for something to happen, it has gone forward boldly and met the -approaching condition of ,affairs. Those who patronise the radio will have heard night after night how the people young arl old rallied to the call of the country. Many money-boxes were emptied to make good the twenty-eight millions. The youths’ contribution trifling though it was, betokened the right spirit, and the sum of these small amounts helped to swell the aggregate total till the required total was realised. It was good for the people to paii through the experience. It brought home to them their personal liability and they had to live up to the true duties of citizenship. An experience of a like nature would not. be harmful to New Zealand, the people of which would in turn learn intimately of their material obligations as citizens. New Zealand, it is true, has to face a lean year. There has been a very large fall in the value of wool exported. The loss on butter fortu nately has not been so marked, because the percentage decline in value has been made good in the main ly the percentage increase in the r.uantitv. But all the same, there will he i. drop for the year of about ten ii.il--1 Sorts in the exportable values af the country’s staple lines of produce, and that means so much less money oi credit being available within the Dominion. The drop will have its effect, and it- is well to realise it betimes, and prepare for possib'lities. There will he financial pressure, not to say stringency, hut, it does not mean that there phould he an round check on enterprise or industry, It is a case of cutting the cloth

to the size of the garment possible, and looking ahead with a foreknowledge of general conditions, Ibe future can be approached with confidence rather than fear, and with the Know : ledge and will to meet the situation with the determination to o "crcoi.u the obstacles possible to encounter.