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Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1927, Page 2

I.v a study of the general financial outlook it must be remarked that the average citizen and family man denies himself very little. Fortunately, also, there is no element of selfishness in this, because the family man is as liberal with his family as himself. The world takes its pleasures very gaily nowadays. In dress and pastimes alike, prices do not appear to restrict patrons. Folk travel much more than they did, giving the impression of more money to spend. Perhaps iL is the higher rates of wages combined with the quicker and easier means of transit, lie that as it may, the last decade or so has seen great increases in the patronage of pleasure resorts. The moving crowds, always so well dressed in the correct seasonable attire give ail air of brightness and prosperity to the course of events which the average shop-keeper will dolefully declare is an incorrect surmise. Of course were there to be a. curtailment, of these plea-sure-going parties there would l>o a stringency felt in other directions. The opportunities for pleasant recreation and outlets for holiday making in approved methods of the times, arc a

growth of the changing world. It, is again a case of supply and demand, or vice-versa. The human element often defies the dogmas of the economist, and that seems to ho the case in New Zealand to-day. There is the old story (or fable) about Nero. Rome and a fiddle to bear in mind, but tbe world to-day is too light-hearted to allow any load of unseen trouble to mar its progress, and so as in the days of Sir Walter Besant, “the world wags very well.” But it is a mistake to be indifferent to the times, and to the need for preparing for the rainy day which will come assuredly unless practical politics quickly extricates the country from the present outlook.