PROSPEROUS NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 102, 23 January 1908, Page 6

PROSPEROUS NEW ZEALAND.

We must confess to some admiration, for the splendid optimism of the Premier. Sir „ Joseph Ward was ;good enough, last evening to afford an, interview'on financial matters to a representative of The Dohiniok, and in ,the report of ? the', conversation, which appears elsewhere, the.head of the Government outlines his estimate of . .the country's present position and its future prospects. Sir Joseph certainly can paint an attractive picture, and, even though; we cannot agree with ;him in, all his reasoning, we unhesitatingly affirm with him that New Zealand has passed through a year of remarkable prosperity, and that the future still holds much for the people of the country. But why will the Premier let that buoyant optimism of his sweep him from the region of facts into the realm of fancy? Why is he not content- to state that the condition of the country is highly' satisfactory, and leave his figures and facts to speak for themselves, avoiding extravagant embellishment ? Why, also, will he persist in ignoring conditions that aire known-to.every-farmer in' the country, and matters which come under, the nor tice-, of every business , man , in ;; tlis cities ?; We do not propose to repeat in detail the advice which we put forward last month when urging that the ! fall in prices of some of our staple products, coupled with signs of tightness in the money market, should not be, overlooked in forecasting the future. ; B,ut why . does the Premier persistently ig-. nore ' this side of the question ? , The country is prosperous, and everyone knows it, but we think Sir Joseph Ward is making a grave.error of judgment ■ in failing to realise that, when speaking in his official capacity, it would be Well 'on occasions to temper his characteristically optimistic views with a little souid-advice.-.'' ' . ' ;