OUR CREDIT ABROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 64, 17 March 1931, Page 8

OUR CREDIT ABROAD

(To the Editor.) Six-—Since the /catastrophe in Hawkes Bay, thousands of illustrated papers have been sent abroad-to many countries. These illustrations are selected by the. newspapers as representing the'outstanding, in other words, theworst features o£ a dreadful happening. , Tens of thoxisands. ot letters have also been dispatched by wellmeaning folks, and here again the destruction has doubtless, been stressed,in- sensational language. Some at least' of those who -view the photos o£ the rum will-turn to their atlasestomake sure where- New Zealand is located and whilst engrossed in inspecting the tiny speck in the Southern Pacific they will conclude' that, judging by the pictures, little of the country can possibly be left intact. — Our credit in the money market ot tne world is one of our chief assets, and,, being so, should be jealously guarded. , It Australia has suffered.'severely through her extravagance and bad government, what "veater ills will befall New Zealand if it is looked 'upon as ail earthquake-ridden country? . ', ;" ' ... . The Nelson Borough Loan, which" a tew weeks ago was icily received by the investing public in Great Britain, IS but the first indication of the price we shall pay if steps are not taken immediately, (betore false impressions harden) to at least make our case as good as it can honestly be made. . .. : . : In my humble opinion, no less , an authority, than the Prime Minister should at once broadcast a carefully-worded^ statement pointing Out that the deplorable loss of life and property was chiefly .duetto faulty building construction rather than to the severity of the earthquake. Photographs of those buildings (which owing to sound construction are standing intact) fortunately can prove this statement, ana should be prominently featured. Accompanying the pronouncement should be a complete map of the Dominion indicating the comparatively small area :atfected by the recent upheaval. Expense should not be spared in such an endeavour to counteract the first idamagiDg impressions made upon the minds of all who have or are likely to have financial relations with this country. To illustrate how wrong impressions can easily take' root, I would cite .an instance where a certain.oyersea/fir.m. /handling New Zealand dairy produce, Bhortly after the Murchison 'quake, cabled to' its agents here inquiring whether -that, happening meant the end of the Dominions great dairy industry. Pity for. our misfortunes we shall most surely receive from the. good people abroad, but tliat emotion may at the same time dry up the financial springs upon which this fair land of ours ; must for many decades depend for the liquid cash so vital todevelop our resources. Crying ','stinking fish" .never attracted anything acceptable, so let us at least make the best case we honestly can, emphasising that drastic steps are being taken- to ensure that in: future building regulations will prevent a repetition ot such a misfortune as has lately caused sorrow and loss to ,the Hawkes Bay cqm-munity.-lam,etc:,ALEiGHHUNT_