BRIGHTER OUTLOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19779, 28 October 1927, Page 12

BRIGHTER OUTLOOK.

TRADE CONDITIONS IMPROVE. GENERAL POSITION BETTER. INTEREST IN FARM LANDS. The brighter commercial outlook in the Dominion and overseas was referred to by Mr. E. E. N. Russell, at the annual meeting of (he South British Insurance Company. Ltd., yesterday. " When we last met," he said, addressin,, shareholders, "the outlook was clouded by the coal strike in England and the fighting i- China. The former has long sim? been settled, and reports from the Old Country indicate that trade there is showing materia! improvement. In China, where ouj interests are important, fighting continues, although happily with reduced intensity, and to that oxtent the position may be said to have improved. The crying need of that country is political and industrial peace, without which this most industrious race can neither produce nor consume to its capacity, to the great disadvantage of themselves and the rest of the world.

" Coming nearer home in Australia the outlook *a month ago, owing to a prolonged dry spell, was very gloomy, but good general rains have brightened the picture. This Dominion is still feeling the effect of the high figures at which land changed hands during the moratorium —figures based, no' upon average productivity, but partly upon war prices and partly npon no better foundation than what othe' land had bee i sold at.

" There ar j signs that productive capacity is again becoming the basis of value, inquiries for farming properties are increasing, and the general outlook is improving."