The Hawera Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1924. BALANCED OPTIMISM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 August 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1924. BALANCED OPTIMISM.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, N^rmanby. Okaiawa, Eltham, Pat**., Waver ley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Oiianga., Meremere. Fraser Road, and Otakeue- Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Mangatokt, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake,

In abnormal or subnormal times some people are inclined to take up a wrong attitude, and their perspective suiters. When the war broke out there were some who said that 'it would end in a few weeks, but when their prophecy proved to be incorrect and the conflict dragged on for years they became pessimists and lost hope in an Allied victory. After the war came the inflation period, when to those who did not realise that it was an abnormal condition everything appeared to be exceptionally attractive and prosperity seemed to be assured. Some people lived in a maimer suggesting that they never thought that the boom would end. Whatever good points were to be seen, they magnified them many times and the realities were lost sight of almost entirely. But unfortunately the happy dreams vanished when the depression came and money became less plentiful. The change quickly showed up the weaknesses and brought a. realisation that the prosperity of the inflation period rested in some cases upon unstable foundation-;. But it seems to one who has followed the course of events quietly that it has been unwise for people to sink into a pessimistic state of mind, and, because of the failure of some to withstand the depression, to take the view that everything is bad. One has heard the pessimist say that ‘'thousands of farmers will have to walk off their farms,” but fortunately the gloomy prophecies have not been correct. Some farmers have suffered heavily, it is true, and some are still in difficulties, but the returns of production from the primary industries for the twelve months ended on July 31 indicate that the position is very hopeful and not as pessimists would

lead one to think. For the twelve months butter and cheese graded for e-port totalled 135,753 tons, which represents but a very small falling off (.17 per cent) in butter-fat compaied with the corresponding period of 1922-23. The falling off was due to natural conditions, the dry period in midsummer causing a- shortening of production for some weeks. The woolgrowers had an excellent season, prices being about double those received in 1914 for all classes of wool. Lamb and mutton prices were satisfactory, and there was some improvement in beef. In view of these facts and with the coming season promising well, it is unwise for people to make too much of the difficulties in which some individuals are placed. It is fair that everything reasonable should be done to help them to overcome their diificulties and hardships, but it is unfair to the Dominion to magnify their misfortunes and make it appear as if the whole country were in a bad state. Even if it were gloomy forebodings would .not improve matters, for pessimism produces nothing except doubt and despair, and tends to make people lose faith and confidence in themselves and the country in which they Jive. The spirit which we think the position justifies is one mf balanced optimism, in which, while recognising that there are some difficulties and problems (and what would life be without them?), there is every reason to believe that by hard and consistent work and by people practising economy and thrift they will ultimately be overcome. It is claimed that New Zealand is by comparison the most prosperous part of the British Empire at the present time, and its remarkable progress in the last lew years should encourage the people to look to the future with confidence that the country’s trade and prosperity will continue to increase, and as such progress takes place the individual will receive his share of the benefits. We think that there is good cause to feel thankful that New Zealand has passed without more serious trouble through the depression which has affected the world so sadly and which is still causing the statesmen of the Old World great concern and difficulty. A reasonable spirit of optimism among our people will prove far more helpful to them and to the country as a whole than the unwarranted gloom which is produced by taking up a pessimistic attitude.