A SATISFACTORY POSITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9691, 15 January 1910, Page 4

A SATISFACTORY POSITION.

The banking returnsfor the December quarter indicate clearly that the country is in a prosperous condition, and that there are still better days in store. -It is only natural that everyone should be pleased with such a state of affairs, and those critics who took a most doleful view oE the outlook some twelve months, or two years ago, now confess that the financial position of the Dominion is satisfactory. The cloud of depression that overhung the country for a while may be said to have entirely disappeared, and though some parts are going ahead more rapidly than others the general tone of business is decidedly healthy. It is to be hoped that the Government's efforts to practise economy will not cease with the return of better days, and it is undeniable that the extravagance of the Government in past years has retarded the natural growth and even injured the prosperity of the country to some extent. However, whatever .proper criticism may be levelled at the Government concerning both administration and legislation no state of depression can justify a determined effort to "howl down" the country's credit, and the more especially is this the case when the best should be made of a bad situation. To cast discredit upon national finances for personal purposes is completely unpatriotic—utterly unforgivable. Satisfaction at returning and increasing prosperity is tinged with regret when one considers that those who were but a few short months ago only too anxious to dicredit the financial position of the country will share in the renewed prosperity.