A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 251, 20 September 1933, Page 6

A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK.

THE TIDE OF PROSPERITY. “I am pleased indeed to be able to state that the tide of prosperity has definitely turned toward us onee more and that we can look forward to better days,” stated Air J. Linklater, AI.P., at the Rongotea Bulb Show yesterday. “New Zealand exports more per head of population than any other country in the world, and it is on the price of exports that the whole of our prosperity depends.AVhen the export price falls, the local price falls in sympathy and the whole of our production lias, during the past few years, reached a basis not dreamt of a few years ago. The Government Statistician has prepared a comparative table of costs covering the years 1914 and 1923 which discloses that retail prices in all groups are 27 per cent, higher to-dav than in 1914. Further, wage rates are 37 per cent, higher and farm costs 25 per cent, higher. On the other hand, general export prices, including timber and gold, are 26 per cent, lower and the export prices for blitter, cheese, meat and wool 29 per cent, lower to-day than they were in 1914. “Those figures put the position of the primary producer in a nutsludl,” continued the speaker. “The action of the Government in effecting an increase in the rate of exchange lias been severely criticised, but it believes that it has been a great help to the producers and its full benefit will be felt during the coming season. The men and women oil New Zealand farms have maintained a cheerful attitude through every difficulty, and I sincerely hope that the general improvement in prices that we have experienced during the last few weeks will continue and that prosperity and happiness will soon be again with us,” Air Linklater concluded.