NORTHERN DAILY ADVOCATE THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1929. TODAY AND TOMORROW

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1929, Page 4

NORTHERN DAILY ADVOCATE

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1929. TODAY AND TOMORROW

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper,

Though there may be conditions beyond the manipulative power of individual or community, it is generally recognised that prosperity depends upon the energy exerted, and the economy practiced, by the people concerned. This was emphasised yesterday by an interesting ceremony whicii took place at the Whangarei Dairy Company's factory, where, it would seem, the last word in dairying economy has been uttered. The company has installed a machine’ whose purpose is the conversion, into a marketable commodity of butter-milk which, in the past, has been discharged into the river. from the commendable saving of a valuable food material, the action of the dairy company provides a useful lesson for everybody. It is not financial stress which makes it necessary for the company to obtain added revenue from the sale of dried butter-milk j the company is prosperous to an enviable degree, and could carry on very comfortably as it has 1 been doing in the past. It is this very fact which provides the lesson to which we have referred. The essence of wisdom and carefulness is to make the most of favourable Conditions. There is only one time to make hay, as the farmer who neglects the sunny days knows to his cost. In the same way, there is only one time when the ordinary man, or a community, can replenish, or augment, resources. That is during a period of comparative! prosperity. When times become hard, or misfortune occurs, there is no chance of augmenting wealth, and, indeed, so far as a wage-earner is concerned, there is little possibility of practicing economy. The Whangarei Dairy Company, by making it possible to increase its revenue, has acted wisely. It is putting into practice the doctrine of “greater production" so widely preached today. In other words, it is “making hay when the sun shines," an example which should be adopted by primary producers and others. This was the spirit of some remarks made by the Hon James Caigie last evening, when acknowledging a vote of thanks for his lecture on Robert Burns. Asking permission to make a digression, he commented upon the wonderfully prosperous period through which New Zealand is passing. Prices for meat, wool and dairy produce were high, and a bounteous harvest had been reaped by orehardists and growers of wheat. There was a tendency, he said, to slacken, effort during days of prosperity, but that was altogether wrong and foolish. It was hardly to- be expected that prices of primary products would remain at such a high| level as were now being registered. This made imperative increased production, so that, should prices recede, as was the experience not so long ago, the greater volume of products would compensate for the difference in market values. To secure increased production,! closer settlement and intensive cultivation were required, and the speaker urged the necessity for steps to be taken to ensure this. In similar manner, Mr Craigie drew attention to the unwisdom, of extravagance during days of prosperity, advantage of which should fie seized to make provision for possible days of stress. The speaker said he did not wish to point out examples of extravagant living, but wo think, with Mr Craigie, that little search is required to unearth instances in which people are living beyond their means. There -exist today many agencies Which arc apt -to induce people to spend on luxuries money they should save for days which may .be less prosperous. This is not calculated to promote the welfare of themselves or the Dominion as a whole. Early recognition of this fact js very desirable.