The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1912. XMAS CHEER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 181, 18 December 1912, Page 6

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1912. XMAS CHEER.

People are prone to growl. It really seems to be a part of the general equipment, ami at the moment the tradespeople and the hotels and the newspapers and the man who pretends to black boots at the street corner, are all saying that if it does not rain soon this will be the worst Christmas trade for many years. If only it would rain, of course we should he told that the weather was ruining the pre-Chriatmas season, because the general public, like the typical farmer, always want the weather different to what it is. But as a matter of plain, ordinary fact, times arc not so bad either in New Plymouth or in New Zealand. There is a certain amount of monetary tightness in Australasia, and even the Bank of New Zealand, rich and estimable institution as it is, has seen fit to issue a word of caution to those commercial prodigal sons who abjure the paternal veal for the husks and other luxuries of the simple life. But reports from all parts of the country show that men who h ave the mind and the strength to work can be well employed, and a pleasant promise of good produce ought to gladden everybody. Except that it has rained when it ought

to have been fine, and been fine when it ought to have rained, Taranaki has had a specially good year. A few weeks ago many men on the land had reason to fear heavy losses, because winter persisted in lingering long after the duo date of departure, and some did suffer misfortune. Bat the country as a whole is in good heart. Summer leaped in at the casement in the most whole-hearted way possible, and the magical effect of ten days' sunshine has been a notable | stimulus to the retail trade, and has changed pessimism to optimism in a marvellous manner. Yet even with the sun and the rain in excellent partnership to increase the national wealth it behoves us to "hasten slowly." The Balkan war is in a fair way to settlement, but the financial system at Home will not be normal for some time to come. Our own Government has found itself obliged to preach economy, even if it does not practice all that it preaches; and this doctrine is not without cause. Well all of us know that we can live more simply, but there is just one direction in which we should hate to see retrenchment. We are already receiving appeals for assistance from various public and charitable institutions, in order to make Xmas something more than a phrase to the poor and to the needy, and we should not like to see any lessening of the customary Xmas generosity in those who are less fortunately situated than most of tlieir fellows. Various workers for the comfort of people who deserve sympathetic aid are appealing to the public, and they all have a request to which the response should be hearty. Some kind folk may be inclined to defer a gift of money or material till a day or two before Xmas. It is certainly better to have such help late than never, but that proverbial truth is capped by the other, which says: "He gives twice who gives quickly." Much organising effort lias to precede the actual dispensation of Xmas cheer in ,i large establishment, and the promoters natuially like to know their resources as much in advance as possible. Therefore they will be doubly mid trebly thankful for the gift that comes promptly.