The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1929 GOOD TIMES FOR EVERYBODY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 580, 5 February 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1929 GOOD TIMES FOR EVERYBODY

D Y far the best because it is the most cheerful news of the day is the jovial assertion by the Prime Minister that this year is •'oing to be one of very remarkable prosperity for every section of the community. There is no reason a£ all for any fear about the future of New Zealand. The blackest clouds are blowing by and are hastened in flight by gusts of political hope. Good times are assured for us all.

Whatever else in the future of politics may be shrouded, it is clear that Sir Joseph Ward has lost nothing of his former brightness of vision. Neither age nor custom has withered u made stale his infinite optimism. Though some discount must be allowed for the Prime Minister’s exuberance, there are many solid reasons for his optimistic outlook. Actual conditions support his view and make things brighter than economic circumstances have been for a long time. The Dominion’s trade is buoyant and flowing steadily in the right direction. The relative positions of exports, imports, and banking show healthy signs. It is true that many merchants and retailers still complain that business is not quite as good as it should he at this time of the year and in view of improved conditions, hut that slackness too ought soon to pass by. The country’s new purchasing power in recent times has helped largely to reduce the load of overexpanded credit, and has done something toward clearing the way to a brisker and more confident revival of enterprise. Of course, after a fairly long period of depression, the general mood in trade and business must be cautious until habitual timidity gives way to optimistic courage.

Though there will be some response to the effervescent optimism of the Prime Minister, too much in the form of gay prosperity need not*be expected all at once. There are several lions in the path. Unemployment still is deplorably bad. Indeed, the cost of relieving distress in Auckland alone fully justified the auguished comment of the Minister of Health yesterday that the present position here is an absolute tragedy and not at all complimentary to statesmanship. Since a Minister of the Crown has brought statesmanship into the question the Prime Minister and his immature and somewhat bewildered colleagues should realise that the statesmanship to win a ready compliment would be the employment of a thousand dispirited and distressed unemployed men now instead of talking so much about employing ten or fifteen thousand idle men during the coming winter. Charitable institutions have been spending well over £I,OOO a week in this city on the barest relief of social distress all through the summer

No wonder Sir Joseph Ward vehemently protests that the State has been “killing the taxpayer and the ratepayer.” This is the black month for income-tax payers who will have to surrender close on £3,500,000 to the collector under a process of legalised banditry. Then, indirectly, the drawer of dues will have taken over £8,000,000 from the people through Customs taxation without any special effort having been made to develop secondary industries and thus provide more work for the unemployed. The Prime Minister has made out so impressive a case against strangling taxation and municipal rating that if his Government fails to loosen the noose it will learn quickly that there will be uo good times ahead for responsible politicians.