VALUE OF STATISTICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 December 1935, Page 14

VALUE OF STATISTICS

STRESSED BY MINISTER OF FINANCE ADDRESS TO INSTITUTE OF SECRETARIES (By T«legrapu—Press Association, WELLINGTON, 18th December. The Hon. Walter Nash, Minister of Finance, in an address to the Institute of Secretaries said the Government wanted to develop internal and external trade so that people would have rising standards of living: This would take a great deal of foresight and much planning ahead, and would need all the expert skill which such an organisation as the institute would be able to provide. Secretaries and accountants handled statistics frequently and realised their importance but there was still necessity for greater appreciation of and training in their use. Correct statistics were one of their most vital and treasured possessions and to omit a census as one had been omitted in New Zealand on the grounds of economy was a social crime. It meant that the Government were legislating in the dark and could not hope to plan properly and did not really know the country they were administering. He would welcome the co-operation of the Institute and others in flic improvement of the Official Year Book. 110 wondered how many lines of activity in New Zealand had uniform costing systems. He believed that like third party insurance uniform costing methods should, be compulsory. BUILDING FOUNDATIONS OF PERMANENCE Their problems could not be solved merely by improvements in their monetary system. The Government’s policy was to make full life possible to all. Its method was to remedy immediate necessitous cases while carefully and methodically building foundations which would have permanence. Offers of help, advice and co-operation had been phenomenal and they could win through if they were implemented, lie asked members of the Institute to interest themselves in New Zealand’s economic and social problems. “If the compulsion of circumstances is such that you are to go with us one mile, go with us two.”