ROOSEVELT'S PROGRAMME

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 595, 28 July 1933, Page 4

ROOSEVELT'S PROGRAMME

Events of the last few weeks have shown clearly that President Roosevelt is one of the national leaders who is not prepared to stand by with folded hands while the depression takes toll of the prosperity and happiness of his people. As a result of his attitude toward the stabilisation of world currency, he has earned a great deal of unpopularity among the nations associated with the World Economic Conference, but he is at least showing preparedness to make good his determination to place the internal reconstruction of America in the front rank of his programme. The steps he is taking to lift his country out of the slough of depression are sufficient guarantee of his sincerity and we can only hope that any | success which he achieves will inspire other leaders to get busy with comprehensive plans for the restoration of confidence in their countries. It seems plain from the tragic failure of the Conference that it is impossible for the world to talk its way out of present-day financial and in- j dustrial problems. The futility of the Conference has tanght us that much, even if we have learned no other useful lesson. Therefore we should watch the work of reconstruction which Mr. Roosevelt was started in America and earnestly consider the opportunities for similar action in our own communities. Judging from brief cabled information it would appear that already many unemployed men have been re-absorbed into industry, and that workers generally have received increased wages. The response to the president's appeal to employers to creat new work and increase pay has been remarkable. The spontaneous outburst of desire to help in the good cause augurs well for success and if this can be achieved the reaction should conf er worldwide benefit. President Roosevelt's vision has reached beyond a stagnating policy of increased taxation and sustenance employment. He can see the necessity for getting back to normal times

and it is a pity his example cannot b'e followed in this country. We have, without doubt, reached the turning point in the depression period, and a bold, capable leader in New Zealand could do much to restore our confidence and normal prosperity. But we lack the lifting force. Did we but need a leader a man might be found to fit the hour, but our position is much worse. We are saddled with an unholy alliance which masquerades as leadership — a leadership with a mental outlook bounded by the possibilities of levying unpnofitable taxes to keep men in unprofitable employment — and we continue to pursue the dangerous policy of drift. It seems plain enough now, after years of hope and expectation, that if the people of New Zealand are to recover they will not be enabled to do so by the aid and guidance of the Government, but rather in spite of its lethargy and ineptitude.