NEED FOR LEADER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 20, 16 September 1931, Page 4

NEED FOR LEADER

aostralia's hour "BOOMED" TALK DOING COUNTRY GRAVE INJUSTICE. VIEWS OF SOUTH AFRICAN. "Those who thiiik tkat AdStralia as a country is doomed or who have ldst confidence iit its people or its resoiirces are doing the country a grave injustice." ' Tliis is the opinioh bf a prominent South African, Mr. J. A. Duminy, who has j'ust returned from a vis.it tp Austraiia. Mr. Dumiiiy thinks that sound leadership is reqdired id put .Austraiia on to the road to pi'ospei'ity. "Austraiia is undouhtedly Uttder a cloud at the moriient," said Mr. Duinihy. "That sh'e is unpdpuiar abroad huist uiifortunately be adrtiitted. Her. unpopularity is due to the fact that she is not uiiderstbod. "The country enjoyed reniarkable prosperity duriiig th'e tvar, ahd th'e immediate post-wdr pbriod, and her . people seeihed t'o e^cpect that the prosperity would be. pbkmanent. "Australih has hbw been. caught in the world depres§ion, and the sudden drop iri the price bf her chief eXpdrtable pfoducts has lbd to a serious diminutiori in ihe national iricom'e. The people have beeh sl'ow to adjust themselves to the altered 'cbnditions. When the ex-I'rinle Minister indicated to the people that a readjusttnent had to be inade they, having lived in conditions of abounding prosperity, rio't to say af fluerice ahd luxury, were very sceptical. They preferred the promises of contiriued prosperity and the maintenance of the old conditions. These, however, \Vere economic'ally impossible and the public now r'ealise the truth. Bad Leadership. "Austkalia is Suffering to-day by reason of bad leadership in public affairS. If the advice of experts, for example, Sir Otto Niemeyer, had been listetted to, and all AUstralian Govbfhments had endeavoured to live up to the spirit of the Milbourne Agreement for the readjustment of financd and the maintenance of budgetary equilibrium, the country would now be on thd highroad to recovery. Instead of that, the Government of New South Wales has openly disaVowed the Melbourne Agreement, while the Commonwealth Government, though professing allegiance to it, has lacked the courage to operate the agreement in substantial measure. It has allowed the countty's finance to drift and has suggested unwise expedients as a means of recovery. This has had its effect oh public 'confidence and has prejudicially affected world opinions of this country. "Austraiia has had set-backs before. There have been periods bf dr'ought. There have been occasions of financial depression, but Austraiia has emerged triumphant from all these ills and has continued steadily on a career of progress, development and prosperity. There is no reason tb fear for this country. Its people have demonstfated beyond doubt their capacity and quality. The people are strong and virile, they have proved themselves equal to any emergency. That the people will triumph in their pr&sent trouble I have no doubt. I am sure they will be willing to face the saerifices necessary to restore stdbility. Ail that they want is sound and capable leadership. Scuhd at Heart. "Cables have been sent to various parts of the world giving a totally wrong impression of Australian conditions. The story of this country's growth and development is romantic. The progress made is phenomonal. The resources of the country are almost inexhaustible ; no one can visit this country, inspect its fertile lands -and observe its development without being convinced that the country is sound at heart and must win through any transient depression. */ Recuperative Capacity. "The recuperative capacity of the country is undoubted. With good government, the country is abundantly safe. * . "In the littie island State of Tasmania an appeal was recently made by a Government which had been pi-actising the principles of the Niemeyer policy. This Government was returned with a triumphant majority. This is sigttificant. It can be accepted as prbof of the real sentiment bf the people. In my opinion it fully jUstifies the confidence Of those who believe that the present depression, serious tho'ugh it is, will pass, and althdugh the road to recovery may be difficult, Austraiia is prepared to walk that road is given the opportunity and sound leadership. Those who think that Austraiia as a country is doomed, or who have lost confidence in its pbople of its resources, are doing this country a grave injustice. "Austraiia will rehabilitate itself in the confidence of its citizens and ih the eyes of the world."