Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, SEPT. 19, 1933. PRIME MINISTER’S RETURN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 250, 19 September 1933, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, SEPT. 19, 1933. PRIME MINISTER’S RETURN

The New Zealand delegation to the World Economic and Monetary Conference lias received a cordial welcome on its return to the Dominion. At the time of departure there were hopes—more silent than vocal—that the great gathering of world statesmen to which the delegation was bound would as it proceeded justify its convocation. As is now wellknown, however, there was no harvest for an economically sick world; the only achievement Avhich saved the Conference from the charge of having been absolutely fruitless was an agreement on silver among the countries vitally interested. But the effect of failure to find a solution to pressing problems has not been so disturbing to the world as it was predicted at the outset. The reason is that progress has been made,, and in the van of the march out of the depression is Great Britain setting an impressively magnificent example to other nations. More recent reports give a most encouraging indication of the movement of British trade, and the continued reduction in the number of unemployed workers. Mr Forbes is not prepared to write the Conference down as a failure. It is true, as he says, that it has not been abandoned and that committees are carrying on the work, but the chances of its being called together again appear to be most slender. Nevertheless, in so far as the New Zealand statesmen were brought into contact with those from other countries—and especially of the British Empire—they gained a certain benefit from the Conference. As Mr Forbes says, a wider and deeper understanding of the difficulties and experiences of other countries, and of tlie methods adopted for overcoming these difficulties, makes the gains very material. He has also learned that New Zealand lias been “relatively moderate” in the action taken to combat the serious effect of falling prices and lower national income. That opinion, it may be added, is not likely to dissipate the widely held views that in some directions the procedure has been very drastic. Mr Forbes returns to find evidence of returning confidence and better prospects than when he departed overseas. Prices for primary products are moving in the right direction after their lengthy halt in the doldrums. In two days Parliament will be again in session and the people look to the Government to watch the position so carefully that nothing is done but to stimulate the process of recovery. There is a very real obligation upon the Prime Minister and his colleagues in this connection, for it is notorious, at least in more recent times, that there has been a lack of confidence when Parliament has been in session. Tlie Government, of course, is not wholly responsible for that; Opposition speeches have not been conducive towards its restoration. Members should, therefore, take an earnest view of their responsibilities. The Prime Minister has been able to take stock of the economic situation in several countries—at first hand and from contact with world statesmen —and he is convinced that this Dominion compares more than favourably with the older world countries. This should help us to bear our troubles the more bravely. It is well to be reminded at times that other people are also, suffering in the present world crisis, and .his iourney through the United States brought to Mr Forbes knowledge of the desperate plight which threatened that country a few months ago. Even now, because the legislation is experimental, its future effect upon the nation’s wellbeing is problematical. This and other experiences have convinced the New Zealand statesmen that even our troubles might have been worse, and that they are not—severe. as they have been and still are —is matter for gratification.