GOODWILL IN INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 3

GOODWILL IN INDUSTRY

A BUSINESS MAN'S APPEAL. CONDITIONS OF HAPPY PROGRESS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) i WELLINGTON, December 5. Speaking at the opening of the factory of Messrs Salmond and Spraggon. Ltd., at Miramar, Mr Edwin Salmond emphasised the enthusiasm and goodwill that prevailed throughout the staff. “We are. indeed." he said, "a happy family in this business.” “When I recall that there arc hundreds of businesses in this country which have reached success by this close and friendly co-operation between the businesses themselves and those served by them.' Mr Salmond continued, “I often wonder if it would not be possible to make New Zealand happy and prosperous by like methods. ' You may be very sure that it is quite impossible to make a country either happy or prosperous by Act of Parliament or regulation, alone. There must be a basis of spiritual things on which to build. Goodwill, respect, loyalty, truth, justice, charity and freedom—these things, not only between man and man, but between all the different sections which make up the community, between town man and country man, between employers and those employed, between rich man and poor man, and between the Government itself and all those sections, without exception. I confess I would like to hear our leading politicians of all shades of opinion preach this goodwill gospel. Yes, I would like to hear it shouted from the very housetops, and then that lead would be followed by all our public men. by our business leaders and by our leaders amongst the professions, by our prominent farmers, and, last, but not least, by our leaders of labour, because of all sections, labour has most to gain from goodwill. Then soon, very soon, no longer would we hear talk on the one hand of ‘dividend kings, moneybags, and public enemy No. 3,’ and. on the other hand, of 'loafers, spongers,’ and such like. lam convinced that all such talk does infinite harm. It creates resentment and it produces fear. Fear, in its turn, produces hate and cruelty. Fear which is the greatest enemy of human progress, and which paralyses all endeavour. Fear, in some, of unemployment, of poverty, fear in others, for the loss of their businesses, for the loss of their practices, for the loss of their farms, fear of hasty, rash, legislation, fear of inflation, fear of crushing taxation, and, perhaps, worst fear of all, fear for the future of loved ones and dependants. But if this Angel, Goodwill, could enchain this churl —this devil., Fear—does anyone doubt that the sun would break through those dark mists of pessimism, almost of despair, which threaten at times to • envelop us. Does anyone doubt that ; men would again press forward with hopeful hearts, that industry would flourish everywhere, and that the farmer, upon whom, in the long run. we all depend, would quickly increase his herds and improve his pastures. Thus, and thus only. will this lovely land become what is was intended oy nature to be, a land such as the psalmist sang, a land flowing with milk and honey, a happy, happy land, and the envy of all other lands. You say it is only a dream? Aye, alas, maybe ’tis but a dream, but is it not a dream 1 worthwhile, and could it not be made - a marvellous reality?” ‘