MR. BRUCE’S MESSAGE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 96, 6 April 1934, Page 9

MR. BRUCE’S MESSAGE

Recovery of Australia ADVICE TO INDUSTRIES A feature of the official luncheon at the Royal Show in .Sydney was the message delivered, in a brief speech by the Rt. Hon. S. M. Bruce, High Com missioner for Australia. Writing of the gathering, Mr. A. J Stallworth'- M.P. for Eden, who was among the guests, says that Mr. Bruce’s popularity was manifest, his association with tho oversea loan conversions having given him a high place in the estimation of tho business world. ‘ ‘ His message to the gathering was direct and effective,” Mr. Stallworthy continued. “Being the last speaker, brevity was more or less forced unon an experienced platform man, and lie spoke for a few minutes only. However, it was an excellent summary or the Imperial position as touching the economics of Australia. Mr. Bruce gave Australia great praise for what had been done toward rehabilitation, but warned the people that they were not yet back to the days of easy prosperity. They must not deceive themselves that they were through all thei: troubles. It would be fatal to relax their efforts before victory was actually won. They must not be deceived by present improvement and imagine themselves back in tho pre-crisis days. Wool and gold had a rise, which he thought was genuine and would be maintained, but other great primary industries had not improved. Great export commodities were still in a difficult position. “Mr. Bruce, in conclusion, said he would emphasise three things. ‘Three’ is a well known number of Pauline philosophy, ‘There now remaineth these three, hut the greatest of these is charity.’ Mr. Bruce did not go so far as that. He declared that the throe factors he referred to were each and all required ultimately to lift Australia out of the depression. It was deeply interesting to me that ‘these three’ referrod to by Mr Bruce, just from London, indicated no easy way to primary or secondary producers, politic ians or anybody else. As against the easy philosophy of legislative juggling and State subsidies and all other such illusions, Mr. Bruce’s message was vibrant with a higher call to vision and self-reliance. He insisted on: (1) Higher character—quality—of production; (21 continuity of supplies; (3) competitive prices.

“It is, of course, apparent that the things asked for by Mr. Bruce must be tho test of tho character of tho people, not only of Australia, but of New Zealand.”

During the show, Mr. Stallworthy and Mrs. Stallworthy spoke to Wellington by wireless telephone, the transmission being perfect.