A PASSING PHASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1921, Page 6

A PASSING PHASE.

PRESENT DEPRESSION. PREMIER’S OPTIMISTIC LETTER TO FARMERS. • Christchurch. Nov. 23. An optimistic letter from Mr. Massey was read at the meeting of the* North Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ L’nion this afternoon. The letter was in reply to a resolution passed by the executive conveying to the Prime Minister its appreciation of his services at the Imperial Conference. “I note with pleasure,” Mr. Massey wrote, “‘the faith expressed by youi executive in the future of this Dominion. and its belief that New Zealand, with its fertile lands and virile population, and its abundance of most of the raw products of which the world is) in need, must be one of x the first countries to. get back to normal and more prosperous times. I have, again and again, urged the view taken by your executive that the present depression, which is common in every .civilised country in the world, is merely a passing phase—the aftermath of the troublous years of war —and that, by courageously facing the difficulties of the present times and making the best use of the opportunities afforded us, we shall, before long, resume our old standing and regain the prosperity that we have so long enjoyed. We have surmounted the worst of our difficulties. I think I may say that, in spite of the tremendous sacrifices we were called upon to make during the war, we have emerged from it with less real dislocation of business than any other State in the Empire, if not the world. Our credit is good, and the reputation we have gained as a law-abid-ing, self-respecting people is second to that of no other British community. We can look the world fearlessly in the face, realising that we have lived up to the best traditions of the race to which we belong, and the temporary embarrassments that beset us will soon vanish if we apply ourselves as we must and should do, to the further development of these wonderful resources with which this country has been endowed. “May I say, further, that I am grateful to your executive for the confident tone of its resolutions. It strikes the note of self-reliance and bespeaks the sturdy spirit of the early pioneers of this country—the men and women who toiled and struggled on against hardships and privations, and who have made this country what it is to-day. We need that spirit in the community to-day, for it is only by living up to the gospfel of hard work that we can reasonably expect to make good in temporal affairs, and to l regain t'hat easier position which the country held prior to the war.” “This, I think, is a wonderfully fine letter,” said Mr. Banks, the chairman. The farmers, he said. • had their . own troubles, and were apt to look at things through their own eye-glasses, as it were. The Prime Minister had to see matters from the viewpoint of the whole community,