UNEMPLOYMENT AND DEPRESSION.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 24 October 1930, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT AND DEPRESSION.

To the Editor. Sir, —It is said to be a Britisher’s privilege to grouse. A good many New Zealanders have exercised the privilege during the recent months. It would appear that our dcprcssionists enjoy telling the country how unutterably bad things arc. It would appear that unemployment statistics give them a real j perverse pleasure. But there can be no doubt about one thing —that their reiterated complaints make times that are admittedly difficult more difficult still and handicap those of us who. are struggling hard to improve conditions. Could anyone imagine a business man who, because customers buy less than he would like them to, stands at the doorway of his store decrying the goods he has to offer! That is exactly what our depressionists are doing, and they are doing it, not at the entrance to individual stores, but against a background that comprises the whole business of our fair Dominion. The collapse of the Wall Street inflation, and the Hatry crash have been contributing factors to the present difficult state of affairs, but the echoes of both these falls are now dying away. A steady decline in commodity values has also contributed, but economists agree that i prices have reached bottom level; prices | cannot decline for ever. Unemployment lis another factor, which politicians, of, i all colours have tried to remedy, with- j out success. The cure for unemploy-; ment can only come through improved trade, and as trade prospers the unemployed will be absorbed, and every unemployed man, given a job by improving trade, will himself stimulate the improvement, and ultimately bring about a further improvement in commodity values.. Many of our employed who arc earning their usual regular weekly wages and salaries take up the cry, “Times arc bad and I cannot afford it.” Although their spending! power is in no way reduced, they stop buying the very goods they would purchase when times are normal. They refrain from spending in case things grow worse and thus help to bring about further unemployment. What is wanted is a return to confidence and a more optimistic spirit. Optimism must be expressed in deeds, not words. If trade is bad, try to improve it. If business is declining, check the decline. Those who can, particularly the regular wageearners and those obtaining salaries, should set the buying example and help to keep the law of supply and demand in operation. Help unemployment, quit the grousing and—“GO OUT AND BUY SOMETHING.”