LET US TRY OPTIMISM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 February 1933, Page 3

LET US TRY OPTIMISM

“FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE” (Contributed by the New Zealand Welfare League) Hardly a ""week passes without our , reading *in the papers the comment by visitors that squealing and pessimism in New Zealand over the depression is most noticeable. This criticism is perfectly true, for the views expressed in our daily papers by local writers and speakers are pessimistic enough to completely stagnate all business. Why not try a little optimism for a change ? Why make a serious outlook worse In'pessimistic publicity. If one section disapproves of the Government policy it broadcasts prophecies of stark ruin while those that advocate that policy forecast disaster if it is not adopted. It would be far more healthy to draw inspiration from our knowledge that there are great resources and strong recuperative powers in this country, as lias been proved over and over again in our history. Past depressions were faced with far less grousing and pessimism and the people of those days did not fly to the Government to save them from every wind that blows—they girded their loins and worked out their own salvation. The public display «f despair and pcsimism is having its psychological effect on the daily talk and actions of individuals, and only makes things worse. What a contrast this is to the pluck and dogged way in which England faced her more difficult problems! For heaven’s sake lot’s try to cultivate a little optimism and see how that will work!