AUSTRALIA'S PLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 36, 12 February 1929, Page 9

AUSTRALIA'S PLIGHT.

COUNTRY IS HARD HIT.

BUT PEOPLE ARE CARE FREE

BUSINESS MAX'S OPINIONS

"Adverse opinions to the contrary, a 44-hour working week is not enough. Australians must work longer hours. sooner or later. The workers have been spoilt, and until this error is rectified Australia will not be honestly facing her problem." This opinion was expressed to a "Star" representative by Mr. Frank Goldberg, governing director of the Goldberg Ad-

vertising Agency with headquarters at Sydney. Mr. Goldberg has arrived in New Zealand to attend the annual conference of newspaper proprietors.

In a survey of Australia's present financial poiitias Mr. Goldberg said Australian trade reports, made available for the four months ending October, 1928, gave no cause for rejoicing, although they were no worse than for several years past. '"Imports are already about £10,000,000 in excess of exports," he said, ''a violent upheaval is taking place in the coal industry; members of the Timber Workers' Union and allied industries are in the throes of a devastating strike; unemployment is still worrying the country; rain is badly needed throughout the pastoral and agricultural districts; State undertakings are almost invariably showing big losses; an occasional murder enlivens, the lives of the avid newspaper readers; Australia has lost the ashes, and small boys in Queensland tear down Italy's national emblem from its proud position over the Consul's office and cause Mussolini much loss of sleep. Yet in spite of this formidable list of woes, Australia is a happy country.

Country in a Bad Way. "Although figures say that it is in a bad way, economically, Australians are enjoying a higher standard of living than ever before. Expensive amusements are still popular among all classes; the same big crowds regularly attend the race meetings, and everyone appears to be happy and care-free. Sydney resounds with the noise of workmen's tools in the construction of huge edifices, and business is brisk.

"The newspapers carry more advertising than they have had for years, and almost every publication has shown a profit on the year's trading," he continued. "In the usual manner of those on the land, the likelihood of long drought is cloaked over with optimism now. The motor industry is booming— nearly everyone has bought, is buying, or contemplates the purchase of a car. What most of them will use for money is a puzzle to me, but there you are. '"The recent taxation rate has not been justified, in the opinion of the people," said Mr. Goldberg. "Expenditure must be reduced somehow, but no one seems to know exactly how. The politicians argue that reduced expenditure means more unemployment; but why should taxpayers continue to keep a host of public officers in luxury? The public services, in my opinion, are a kind of benevolent institution where a number of people are kept, not because they are needed, but because they would starve if they were dismissed. In England," he went on, '"this unemployment problem is faced honestly—they invented the dole system. The taxpayer still pays, but the dole costs less than the public services. Australians have the happy, but unfortunate disposition, that ignores problems until they become crises.

"Probably there will arise a new generation which will shoulder the responsibilities that their predecessors have shirked, and place Australia on an economically sound footing. I am not a pessimist, but then to be falsely optimistic is foolish, and facts must be faced. In the production of wool and wheat Australia leads the world; but two industries can't make a country prosperous."