AUSTRALIAN’S ADVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1932, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN’S ADVICE

NEW ZEALANDERS “TOO CASUAL.”

LOCAL INDUSTRY’S OPPORTUNITY

AUCKLAND, January 22

“My observations of New Zealand people and my attempt to assimilate their ideas and viewpoint, during my business visit to Auckland of 10 weeks, enables me to make a comparison bttween Australian and New Zealand sentiment and ideals,’’ said Mr 15.I 5 . Ring, director of an Australian company, in ’ an interview to-day. “At the outset oile must compliment Aucklanders on their courtesy and kindness, also then' hospitality to visitors, but it apparently ends there, for when it comes down to hard and last business, it appears to me the slogan is ; 'lt is good enough’ or 'Let the other fellow do ■it.’ With the greatest respect to New Zealanders, I say that they are too casual about everything. They appear to lack faith in their own country, and keep 'knocking’ it, instead of boosting it all they can. Invariably ill answer to m.y question, ‘Why’don't you do and make more for yourselves, instead of irrlportiilg everything?’ they feply, ‘Oh, we curindt niake afiything herd; and if we did it is ncJ good, arid too dear anyway. -Such is the attitude fight throughout, arid ft is ritOst discouraging, to. say the ldart of it. “I have had the pleasure during the past few weeks of associating with quite a lot of New Zealand workmen, and I say without hesitation they are equal to any, but Ithey have to be instructed and organised for every joo, or in other words, they arc just casual, and lack faith in their own ability. “Leading business men and executives •are the same. They believe in importing everything. It is so easy, and much cheaper. Yet there are many industries that could be fostered in New Zealand successfully that ‘it appears criminal not to make New .Zealand a little more selfsupporting, and therefore a little more independent and more respected. Leadership and broad, outlook are needed by business men and "workmen both, and less dependence on the outside world for everything. It is all very well to .be'so intensely British, and equally so conservative, but shift some of Britain to New Zealand if .necessary, and develop more virility, and a desire to do and make things yourselves in your own country, providing employment for your own people first, and not others all .over the world. This is the essence of pure patriotism, and not disloyalty. Help yourselves, and others will soon come to help you. EXCESSIVE TARIFFS .UNWISE.

“I do not advocate ail excessive and prohibitive tariff, like Australia has. It provides monopolies, ivhich ,do hot reduce prices at ail, but make demands on industry for higher wages and less hours of work. This i« undesirable, and is the main reason for Australian troubles to-day. Rationalisation of industries i,s very .desirable, in my opinion, and any industry that cannot compete on a 45 per cent, ad valorem duty should not commence at all. Too many of the one type of industry can cause dire trouble to all, hence rationalisation is necessary.

“In my 'humble opinion the world's salvation of to-day is work with a capital ‘W.’ Production costs must come down, and standard of living and wages, need not be. interfered with at ad, i just a few hours extra of work weekly, | till costs of goods meet the purchasing power of the public. Instead of 44 hours, let us all work 54 hours per week. Work never killed anyone s o long as it was conducted in a proper and efficient manner. UNDER-CONSUMPTION. “Reducing wages at the same time as increasing hours does not solve the problem. The world is not suffering from over-production, but under-consumption. We all live on economic waste. If we carry our thrift economy too far, we are all out of work. Make things and use them up as quickly ,as possible. That is not wilful waste, but economic waste. “Produce cheaply and efficier. ,Jy yourself, and use New Zealand-made goods, and carry on the economic waste UnU the world exists on. Manufacture more yourselves, bring artisans here, work longer hours for a decent wage, and consume, consume, consume. Thus you will provide employment and develop your I own wonderful resources, and create enthusiasm and faith in yourselves, which in time means happiness and good citizenship. Thus you will pave the way to nationhood, and the solution of a lot of our existing troubles by trading within the Empire.”