AN OPTIMIST

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1932, Page 6

AN OPTIMIST

DOMINION’S FUTURE. THE GOVERNOR GENERAL. LEVIN, November 16. The Governor-General and Lady Bledi-sloe paid an official visit to Levin to-day and were welcomed by the Mayor, Mr Goldsmith, the county chairman, Mr Monk, and the member lor the district, Mr Linklater,, at a large public gathering in the gardens.

Their Excellencies alsd visited the school and made a motor tour of the district.

In tile course of a reference to the position of the primary industries Lord Bledislce said there was no reason why tfi,e good dairy farmer should look depressed to-day. It was quite true that the level of prices of butter and cheese in the Old Country had fallen, but tiie good farmer by the application of scientific and more intensive methods was enabled to hold his own. He could obtain, not a paltry SO,lb of but-ter-fat to the acre, which was the Dominion average, but 2001 b, or even 3001 b per acre.

His Excellency said he was well aware that those engaged in producing • meat and wool were having a very difficult time. “But these times will surely pass .away and will do so / more ; quickly if w e have courage and hope and ape prepared to face realities,” he said. NO FEARS TO-DAY. He confessed that: during the first six months of his sojourn in New Zealand lie was gravely concerned with regard to the future of the Dominion and it 4 solvency. He had no fears to-day, though the position was far worse than it was then, because’ the people now fealisel the position both here and in the Old Country. Prosperity induced , a certain measure of extravagance, and people did not realise l the dangerous trend on which they were embarked. To-day the position was infinitely better, and largely because the Government had taken its courage in both hands, and, however distasteful it might, he, had made it clear that to avoid national insolvency and to ensure the early return of pros, perity nations, like business men, must do business on business lines .and be careful not to live • beyond their meags. The whole country to-day had to concentrate on that and stabilise the position without depending on borrowed money till better times came. He was a confirmed optimist so far as the future of this country was concerned.