GLOOMY PICTURE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 August 1930, Page 9

GLOOMY PICTURE

AUSTRALIA’S TRAVAIL. STR ATFORD MEMBER ’S' VIEIWS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) STR ATFORD, Aug. 25. H Australia’si position is so serious that it must have an indirect effect on New Zealand,” said Mr. AY. J. Poison, MiP., in an interview to-day. “Public opinion cannot be, too strongly directed to the necessity .of profiting by Australia’s misfortunes. We..cannot afford to dirft a single hour. AVe must put, our house in, order at once. Australia has a eollossal public debt, a balance of imports over exports, and high taxation. What great difference exists between her position and New Zealand’s? Let ns face the facts. We are balancing our Budget by piling still, more taxation on ' tins already overburdened community, instead of attempting to economise. Political courage and a strong policy are needed) if wc are not to be caught next year as Australia lias been, caught this year. If Sir ! Otto Neimeyer is right in liis summing up of the position of the primary producer, not only in Australia, but in. New Zealand also, the call is for immediate consideration and' statesmanship. ’ ’ After setting out Sir Otto Neimeyer’s conclusions, Mr. Poison proceeded): “This dark picture, of Australia’s" position may not interest thoughtless pebble, but can anyone say that the situation in New Zealand is very much better or likely to improve under a policy of piling up costs through tariff, and; adding to the tax burden, which is already uneconomic? Drastic and far-reaching economies are called for. This country exports nothing but primary products. We have to export and maintain the balance of exports over imports that will pay our overseas interest bill if we are to retain a sound: position. If world prices continue to fall, and the primary producing goose fails to lay the golden egg, nothing will save Now Zealand from a catastrophe not experienced! since the sixties. AVe are caught in the cogs of the political machine, which we cannot control. Parliament might set about improving the situation, but no party has the backing to adopt radical remedies. Party spirit is too strong. The present Government cannot even tackle the job of reducing living costs through the tariff and putting substituted: taxes on the shoulders of luxury users. Yet wo must apply these remedies, however unpalatable, or suffer worse results, and the sooner the country wakes up to the fact, and insists upon its rulers acting instead of talking, more lightly will we escape Australia’s fate.”