BETTER TIMES RETURNING

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21026, 30 November 1933, Page 8

BETTER TIMES RETURNING

Encouragements for Farmers LORD BLEDISLOE'S ADVICE That New Zealand could definitely look forward to better economic conditions in the near future was stated by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, in his address at a civic reception at Cheviot yesterday afternoon. His Excellency said that his advices from England gave clear indications of the approach of better times. He emphasised New Zealand's dependence on the Home markets for the absorption of her produce, and advised farmers to see that only produce of the highest quality was exported. "During the last two and a half to three years, the whole world has been passing through a period of exceptional economic stress, but I have never had the smallest doubt that New Zealand would pull through that period of trouble with success and possibly even with some advantage to her people," said his Excellency. "Now that the clouds are lifting and prices for primary products—particularly for wool—are improving, I take this opportunity of expressing my fervent congratulations to people of all classes and occupations in New Zealand for the steadfastness, patience, and optimism which they have displayed during this period of anxiety. You have shown that you possess those precious characteristics which have made the British race so great. "There is one drawback to a period of prolonged economic prosperity. We are apt to lose our sense of proportion: to raise the standard of our living and of our expectations, and to begin to regard what used to be deemed luxuries as the necessaries of life. We raise our standards to such an extent that we get depressed in periods of temporary economic stress. We lose the faith with which our pioneers faced their ups and downs. We must realise that these bad times are the inevitable prelude to better times." Favourable Indications. Those better times were approaching now, his Excellency said. In the last three months all his communications and advices from the Old Land had been full of hope and of the conviction that better times were coming, and would continue for many years to come. There was now more money in the pockets of the working man in Great Britain, and some of that money would be used to purchase the goods produced in New Zealand. New Zealanders needed to remember that they' had to look to the Old Country as the great source of stability and industrial prosperity. "I say that because I have noticed recently in New Zealand that some persons have been advocating that you should endeavour to find other markets than in Great Britain, so that you will not have to depend on the United Kingdom. I hope that you find new markets, but I also hope that your best market for many years to come will be Great Britain. (Applause.) Improving Prices. "The price of wool is improving; ihe price of meat is improving; the price of dairy produce has undoubtedly fallen a little, althougn I have no doubt that good value may be obtained for dairy produce of the best quality. But you must look for your economic solution by producing nothing but the best. ! "The British market, in normal | conditions, will be able to absorb 1 what you produce. I say that because it has been said' that the position of the British primary producer is going to be improved so much that he will be able to produce everything, or practically everything, for his own country. That is a big illusion. There is a population of 46,000,000 to be fea there, and the population is increasing. There is going to be an unlimited demand for the best possible produce that New Zealand can supply, as long as the quality is uniformly . good. Your safety lies in tightening up the grading of your produce for export, rather than putting on the market third-rate produce.''