DOMINION’S OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1922, Page 12

DOMINION’S OUTLOOK.

MR. HAWKEN’S OPTIMISTIC VIEW. At the conclusion of his address at Normanby on Wednesday night, Mr. O. Hawken,' M.P., struck an optimistic note regarding the near future of the Dominion. The finances of the country would very shortly be in a very much better state than they had been for some time past, he said. Revenue was coming in well, butter was a good price, cheese was better than we expected, lamb at 9d was bringing a wonderful price, and mutton was selling well. Assured of a fair price for his wool, the sheep farmer should shortly be in a. position to provide a good share of the income tax. There was no doubt that there had beer, too much speculation in land and too much buying of motor cars, and he sympathised with the people who had been unfortunate. He was sorry to say that he had a lot. of friends who had. lost nearly all they had through the slump. There were a number of men in the district, who had carried the burden of co-oper-ative bodies through their own public spiritedness, and who had been very much affected by the slump and the partial failure of some of their enterprises. Some people were saying that these men .had displayed very little , business ability. However, the speaker did not know of a firm in New Zeahad not lost and lost heavily during the last two years. Some of the biggest firms had lost money to a great extent. The Government' expected the fall, but none expected such an extreme drop as had been experienced.