GRANDFATHER'S DAY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 523, 5 May 1933, Page 4

GRANDFATHER'S DAY

During the present depression, there have been frequent comparison with earlier world crises and earlier financial crises in our own country. The saying that history repeats itpelf h^s become commonplace, though it is by no means true. There may be parallels, but not repetitions in history. Situations -may recub but not the detail of background. From the parallels drawn, repeated attempts have been made to deduce what course the existing crisis may take, or how it : may be remedied. But no matter I how close the parallel may be, this method of elucidation of the world's problems has not proved successful. Perhaps the most striking parallel is that of England today with that of 100 years ago. The following extracts read like

a diagnosis of England's condition to-day: — "The condition of England is justly regarded as one of the most ominous and withal one of the strangest ever seen in this world. England is full of wealth, of multifarious produce, supply for human want in every kind; yet, England is. dying of inahition. . . . With unabated bounty, the land of England blooms and grows . . . thick studded with workshops, industrial implements, with 15 millions of workers, understood to be the strongest, the cunningest and the willingest our Earth has ever had; these men are here; the work they have done, the fruit they have realised is here, abundant, exuberant on every hand; and behold some baleful fiat has gone forth, saying "Touch it not, ye workers . . ." Of these successful skilful workers, some two millions, it is now counted, sit in work houses, poor law prisons, or have 'outdoor relief' flung over the wall to them."