OPTIMISM IN BUSINESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19604, 5 April 1927, Page 7

OPTIMISM IN BUSINESS.

ADVICE TO TRAVELLERS. BRIGHTER OUTLOOK URGED. "It is my opinion that we owe it as a duty to ourselves and, to our country to do our utmost to dispel this spirit of pessimism which is largely responsible for the present depression in trade. There is no real need for these gloomy forebodings. The future of New' Zealand is not black, but bright." This optimistic note -was struck by Mr. A. Thompson, president of the New Zealand Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association, during the course of an address at fclte annual conference yesterday. Mr. Thompson said it was inevitable that the recent industrial crisis in Britain should cause a feeling of despondency—almost hopelessness—to spread throughout Great Britain; and it was also inevitable that that feeling should have spread to these far-distant lands. "Great Britain, however, has made—or is making—a wonderful recovery from her time of trial, and there is throughout Britain to-day in industrial and commercial circles a feeling of hopefulness and revival," continued Mr. Thompson. "It is almost like the coining of spring after a long and dreary winter. Her mines are producing coal; her iron and steel industries are at work again; _ contracts have been secured by her ship-building yards. This is reflected in other avenues of trade and commerce, and generally speaking the outlook in Britain is much more hopeful than has been the case for some time. That ieeling of optimism, however, has not yet reached New Zealand, and to-day I ask the members of this association to do their bit in reviving the spirit of hopefulness here. I think that a study of the facts shows that we are justified in adopting that attitude. There is no rfal reason why our period of depression should last as long or be as severe as that of the older lands. Indeed, there is every reason why it should pass quickly away. "We have a country to develop, and it cannot develop without trade. We cannot stand still—we must either move forward or drift backward, and we should be for the forward movement every time and all the time. "How can we help ? Well, first by ourselves becoming confident as to the future; and second, by imparting that confidence to those with whom we come in contact. If a man tells you that trade is bad, do not reply, 'Yes, and likely to be worse,' but tell him what you know of evidences of improvement in trade. Cheerfulness is a great aid to business. 'Smile and" the world smiles with you' is a good motto for the commercial traveller—not, of course, the meaningless smile, but the smile which is born of confidence."

BAKERS AND PASTRYCOOKS NEW DOMINION AWARD. HOURS AND RATES OF WAGES. [BY TEfiEGRAPH.— f:ress association.] "WELLINGTON, Monday. A new award affecting bakers and pastrycooks in the Northern, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland districts has been filed in the Arbitration Court. The hours of labour are fixed at 46 weekly. Any excess of 10 hours a day shall be paid for as overtime even if the. total hours for the week do not exceed 46. Double time rates must be paid employees for work done earlier than the hour prescribed for starting (4 a.m. for bakers and 5 a.m. for pastrycooks). Minimum wages were fixed at £5 10s for foreman- bakers or pastrycooks, £5 for journeymen bakers or pastrycooks, and £4 0s 6d for bakers' labourers. Jobbers shall receive not less than 19s a day of eight hours, or 2s 6d an hour if for less than eight hours' work. The wages for junior labourers between 18 years and 19 w r ere fixed at £2 2s 6d, 19 years and under 20 £2 10s, 20 years and under 21 £3, all over 21 years labourers' rates. Four years was fixed as the term of apprenticeship for females, the minimum weekly rate of wages being £1 2s 6d for the fi'rifc six months with an increase of 3s 9d a week at. the beginning of each subsequent six months. At the end *)f four years females shall, be paid at least three-quarters of journeymen's wages. Females may be employed in unskilled work at a weekly rate of £1 2s 6d for the first six months, with an increase of 5s a week at the beginning of each subsequent six months. At the end of two years the minimum weekly wage shall be £2 ss. , SYDNEY WOOL SALES. SEVENTH SERIES COMMENCES. (Received April 4, 9.58 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, April 4. The seventh series of wool sales in Sydney commenced to-day. The market was fully equal to the closing rates of the previous sales. There was very strong general demand, particularly for comebacks and crossbreds. Greasy Merino sold to 28£ d. _____