STUDY OF ECONOMICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17040, 23 December 1918, Page 8

STUDY OF ECONOMICS.

I'%1 '% S MUTJUAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS." Jm* '•A feature of the last year has been Ifl the greater attention paid by the public to the teaching of economic experts," •i"-staled Mr, T. 3. Weston,, at the annual V> = conference of the New Zealand Employers* - ">' Federation in Wellington. "It is a cun. ' ~ ' oils trait in the British nation that it pre. : fere to' learn by actual experience, ana to ; " improvise in the face of immediate djffi. r --VcuUiee rcther than to arrive at ft comHI pletely-thought-out scheme of writ before--Iv-v-- hand, In this country popular education k has ken a fetish, yet in our political and ?■: social difficulties the knowledge.of eane, m'■■■'■ wise,' well-balanced, and educated men Iff has; not had the weight it should have. -: • Given force of character and a, determine, tion to''arrive at and present the truth, ■' apart from the per*oniJ prejudices M M ' themselves or their hearers, New ZeaIp land's ,'leading scientific and economic W-; itudenta should every year play a more ;.''> : important pajrt in the development of IP th» country. They can only do no if k * supported by public opinion; ' yet the 'i' otaer day the accuracy of the conclusions of the Government statistician ae to inp "- creases in the coat of living were bluntly W' r contradicted by workers whose demands for an increase in wages did not tally M therewith. This unbelief must be re- ! /■■— moved, and this is only possible by the |%u spread of knowledge and of education. In !rj this direction, the work undertaken under |V* the auspices of the Workers' Educational i-V- Association in the study of economics and •.- r - questions arising therewith is worthy of IJ*; commendation and support. Much «ood would result if employers would join these ; -" . classes, and discuss with their employees pf' the problems of life, in which they are ; both so much interested. Many mutual I ;... . misunderstandings would be swept away • : .; ..M this weTe done, and a united platform V.V-* for the common Rood would be built up and consolidated. "