MANUFACTURERS' PART

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 50, 28 February 1931, Page 8

MANUFACTURERS' PART

DOMINION'S TASK TO-DAY

(Contributed.) Economists assert that a period of depression is often healthy, or at least is essentiial for industrial health. It restores the proper balance of the industrial organism, whereas a period of activity is often one of prosperity in appearance more than in reality. This Dominion is now in a position to test the accuracy" of this theory, for it has passed through an era of amazing prosperity and now has plunged into the most disastrous "period of depression" in its history. The next three or four months should prove whether the test by fire has restored our industrial health. The signs are propitious, and if our captains of industry and of commerce read them aright and act on. them, with confidence there should soon be an improvement to record. There is a natural tendency in a crisis for business men to hesitate to engage in new enterprises, and to be cautious in the conduct of the old. Those who are still doubtful are reminded of the Prime Minister's assurance that, "given the support of all sections of the community, it should not bo long before the economic machinery is back into good working order." Merchants and manufacturers can give this support by a definite lowering of prices. Appeals to retailers are apt to fall upon deaf, ears if the prices of their goods at the source are maintained at present levels. It is well known that in some businesses not affected by awards of the Arbitration Court wage reductions have been enforced for some time, yet the prices of their goods and services do not appear to have fallen to any appreciable extent. With the almost ' certain prospect of awards being reviewed by the Court, it is reasonable to expect that all businesses concerned will gladly adjust prices accordingly. . it is possible that there are many people in every community prepared to take advantage of lowered prices. The periodical sales conducted by various business firms prove that that tendency needs little encouragement. Hence it appears certain that a wide field is offered to the manufacturers and wholesalers to reap substantial benefits and at tho same time do their share in restoring normal eonditious.