A PROSPEROUS FUTURE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 240, 23 September 1922, Page 3

A PROSPEROUS FUTURE.

RIGID ECONOMY AND HARD WORK. WHAT DOMINION REALISES. ADDRESS BY EMPLOYERS’ PRESIDENT. “The year has been an anxious and trying one for all branches of trade and industry. The Dominion, however, is to be congratulated on the manner in which it has weathered the storm which raged from October, 1920, to the close of 1921. The effects of that storm arc still severely felt in some quarters, and many individuals and undertakings have not yet been able to effectively repair the damages occasioned by it. Much has been done, however, during the last twelve months to ensure a prosperous future. ” These remarks were made the other day by Mr T. S. Weston during the course of his presidential address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Employers Federation. “First, and most important.” said Mr Weston, “in common with the whole world, but perhaps more thoroughly, the Dominion has grasped the main essential fact that no artificial remedies can restore prosperity, and that the country must pin its faith to rigid economy and hard work. The great increase lost season in the output of dairy produce, though partly due to an excpetionally favourable season, is strong proof of this*. “Secondly, sane Labour has realised that strikes and go-slow tactics are altogether out of place at flip present time, and has endeavoured by increased efficiency to counteract the inevitable fall of wages due to deflation. The absence of industrial strife during the last twelve months is a striking tribute to the sound common-sense of the bulk of the' New Zealand workers. ELIMINATE INDUSTRIAL UNREST. “The members of this federation arc, I believe, fully in accord with the principle of payment of as high a rate of wages as the primary and secondary industries of the Dominion can afford. This is one of the essentials of a happy and contented nation. Uncertainty plays a big part in the increased cost of living. Eliminate the likelihood of •trikes and go-slow tactics, and building and other costs must inevitably come down. The increased cost of living hits the smaller man hardest, and a friendly and frank co-operation, between labour leaders and this federa- • tion, if it can be brought about, would minimise the troubles yet ahead of us. , “At the same time, seeing that if all • employers’ profits were divided among the workers of New Zealand it would not allow of an increased wnge of more 1 than £1 per week, it is idle to hold out ’ to workers the hope, if such co-opera-tion came about, of an immediate and , largo increase m wages. Much labour [ discontent is due to an exaggerated idea of employers’ profits as a whole. Cooperation between labour and capital > and increased efficiency both of the employer and employees will certainly be to the benefit of both. At the same time, visible progress will be slow, and both sides must have patience in awaiting results. There is no royal and ' easy road to higher wages. > “As showing the results of the ab- > sence of this spirit, take for instance i the coastal shipping trade. Several vesi seis in that trade have during the last ’ year been temporarily laid up in New 1 Zealand ports simply because a reduced scale of manning which was in accordance with the Shipping and Seamen J Act could not be amicably arranged , between the owners and the men. This meant more seamen unemployed, and it • is a poor consolation to tnese that the i owners were also losing earnings. JUDGMENT IN MARKETING. “Thirdly, tne price for dairy produce seems to be stablising at a figure which will ensure a fair return to the dairy ! farmer who has not given an excessive price for his land. The value of crossbred wool should within two years at the outside come back to a similar payable basis. With judgment in marketing, the next year should show a considerable improvement. The market for our mutton and lamb is certainly better than we could have hoped for. The pessimist should always remember that New Zealand, owing to its climate and soil, produces the finest lamb outside of Welsh lamb in the world, and dairy produce that in quality is ahead of most countries and is excelled by none. So tong as the farmer concentrates on mainfining and even improving the qualify of these articles, the volume of New Zealand exports must continue to grow. ‘ ‘ Fourthly, we have passed through one year of depression better on the whole than any reasonable man expected. It is always good to feel that part of the stiff climb back to prosperity Ims been left behind. These are the bright features of the situation. What are the dark ones? REORGANISING INDUSTRIES. “There is no doubt that both wholesale and retail traders have to face for a year of two a diminished turnover. Undoubtedly the purchasing power of the community is less. At the same time, economy on the part of buyers is laying the foundation of a sound and prosperous future. The manufacturers dependent for their market upon the farmer have made little or no. profits. The tide here, however, has begun to turn. The reorganisation of industries due to the cessation of abnormal demands for war materials necessarily entails redistribution of labour. Men have to change their occupation and seek fresh avenues of employment. In addition, the proportion between the town and country population has to change in favour of the country. This cannot be done in a day, and until it is effected some unemployment is inevitable. At the same time the necessary transfer of labour is going on. Another serious evil is that improvements on much of the rough country in the North Island arc going back owing to the financial position.” Mr Weston then referred to the matter of taxation and borrowing on the part of local bodies, his remarks on these subjects being published elsewhere in this issue.