FACE THE FACTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 287, 4 December 1930, Page 6

FACE THE FACTS.

Into all the whirl of controversy seething" around us in the form 6f editorials,* statistics, political speeches and statements of overseas visitors on economic questions of the'hour, 1 let me enter, 'bringing into relief a few points of paramount importance. The working population of the country is divided, generallyspea,king, into two classes, the farmer and the', city worker. The first named has '.lately. received a severe check to his prosperity byC the price of our primary products falling-to-a low level of values. Now we have no control. over these prices because we are competing on a world-wide market, but the farmer could-' stand this setback except for one reason; lit is not the high cost.of living but the oyer-', valuation of farm lands, a false value ruling \ to-day, that makes the profitable working of ..', many fine farms an impossibility. A gradual' readjustment in-the price of land to its true economic value must follow, or,the producerscannot carry on. The -burning question of. , : unemployment could be settled definitely for . all time if our legislators placed a tariff-,'and.' in some cases a complete embargo, against ;u the bringing into this country yearly millions of pounds' worth of goods that- could and - .'' should be made in New Zealand. Any given amount of money kept in the country by this' means is equivalent in commcrcial value ~£o': that amount made up in exports. Now in the manufacture of goods the wage 3 paid out average one : third of the cost.of the finished' .. article, so for every million deducted from our imports, at a rough estimate, permanent; work would be provided for 1500 unemployed. • Then good-bye to doles, charitable aid and.' depressions.- ' HOPEFUL.