The Star WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1923. THE DOMINION'S PROSPECTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 18 July 1923, Page 4

The Star

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1923. THE DOMINION'S PROSPECTS.

Delivered every «?enmg by 5 o'clock in .Hawera Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Elthajn, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, .Ofcakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurley ville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakarnara, Ohangai, Mcremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

It would be difficult for any Prime Minister to speak more brightly of a country's position than Mr Massey did in winding up the debate on the Pinan- j cial Statement, and from facts, as far v as one can gather them, the Prime ' Minister's optimism is justified. It is ; sometimes said that the head of a Government must always paint a"' bright piekire of his country's position, but such paintings ■ would not stand investigation were the finances not sound. The freedom of debate and ] the access to information which our ; democratic^ constitution gives enable ■ people of all shades of political opinion i to gain a very fair insight into the 1

n:al state of their country's affairs, uud we have not noted any discoveries that 'disprove the statements which the PKme Minister has made. The Dominion is, as everybody knows, held in high regard by the people of the Old Country, and the opinion of other i parts of the Empire is that New Zealand is very prosperous and fortunate. It would have been impossible for the Dominion to pass through the most difficult economic conditions which arose out of the war without the people experiencing hardships. . That the difficulties of individuals have not been far more widespread and severe is due to the Avondorful resources of the country and to the management of its affairs, and we do'not see that in other hands the position shown in the Prime Minister's statement would have been more satisfactory. Two years ago the outlook was not good, but the recovery has been rapid, and it can be said th. t the slump has gassed, though there are still difficulties to be faced. We noted when the Budget was brought down that tire Prime Minister had stated that the Government's polic-y was to reduce taxation as far as eireumstanees would permit, and in his speech closing the debate Mr Massey again referred to the question, and indicated that .as things improve there will be further reductions. His desire to abolish land tax is interesting, but obviously he cannot do that yet, and the matter is one that* would require careful consideration. The statements on company taxation and the moratorium are clear, and there can be no doubt whatever that the Government will make the long awaited reductions as soon as circumstances permit. Charges for some of the State services are to be reduced, but other reductions will be necessary before the people are relieved of fee burdens which cannot be carried indefinitely. Reduced railway fares and freights would be welcomed by the people as a whole and especially by the producers, upon wheiu freights have rested heavily. Penny postage will return on October 1, but there has se far been no reduction in the telegraph charges for the newspapers, whose bills are many times heavier than during pre-war days. We think that the Postmaster-General should relieve the position regarding the cost of press telegraph services as soon as possible. However, the reductions in taxation and State charges cannot be all effected at once, but a beginning has been made, and we can look forward to the policy being continued. The process ia not an easy one and the Government has to act with care or it might reduce its revenue more rapidly than conditions warrant. The reductions in taxation contained in the Budget should stimulate trade and relieve the tension which, has been ex-' perienced in business and which has made, expansion and progress in in- | dustry very difficult. The sound state of the country should the [ people to work hard for its development, and in a few years' time the slump and its hardships will probably be forgotten, or looked upon as only a temporary obstacle to the national progress.