TO CREATE CONFIDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 69, 19 September 1932, Page 6

TO CREATE CONFIDENCE

Too great emphasis cannot be laid on the value of confidence in lifting New Zealand out of the rut of depression. Mr. Masters, Minister of Industries and Commerce, stressed the need for confidence in industry by the industrialists themselves, and by all other sections of the community. The examples which he quoted, however, were not examples of the trouble caused by lack, of confidence alone. The coalmining industry has suffered in the past through labour

unrest, and. it is difficult to live this down. Confidence can be renewed only by re-establishing a sound basis for it. This applies particularly to our land industries. There is a tendency at this time to give over-much prominence to the difficulties of primary production. Certainly grave problems must be faced, and in order that this may be done the facts should be set out fully and frankly. But any exaggeratipn has its recoil. A. temptation to 'such exaggeration comes with.the hppe of thereby obtaining . special; concessions or favourable treatment, frpm the. Legislature. But in the end the benefit gained,from favourable treatment is', offset By the harm done to the industry which seeks special help. Confidence is hot created by constantly crying out that ruination faces us.