BRIGHTER OUTLOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 15

BRIGHTER OUTLOOK.

STEADY IMPROVEMENT SHOWN RECOVERY OF OVERSEAS TRADE GOOD PRICES FOR PRODUCE. Industrial conditions in New Zealand and abroad were discussed by Mr. Albert Spencer, president of the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association, in liis address at tlio annual meeting yesterday. Tlio outstanding feature during the year in the Dominion was tlio National Industrial Conference. If regarded as a foundation for public discussion to get at tlio facts, and to facilitate future practical results, the conference might be said to liavo been successful, but the results must bo admitted to be disappointing. After traversing tlio business done by tlio conference, Mr Spencer said in the interests of industrial peaco and progress and tho welfare of tlio country, the various aspects of tho question would require attention. Discussing the Dominion outlook, Mr. Spencer said conditions had steadily improved since the difficult period, 11)26-27, and tho bright, cheerful, outlook during this year had been justified. The markablo recovery of tho overseas trading position, tho buoyancy of the prices for wool, butter, meat and other staple commodities, had vastly improved the economic position, bringing much needed relief to the primary producer.

Lesson ol tho Past. \ With these prospects, however, tlicy must not lose sight of tho past and bo led into a too optimistic feeling of security. Careful attention to better business efficiency, tho lowering of production costs to tho manufacturer, greater thrift on tho part of tho individual, and greater production on tho part of tho worker, would all help to rcstoro tho economic position, thus providing steady employment for all. With increasing prospects of the dull times passing, and primary exports climbing upward, they had every re-son to bo thankful, provided tho lesson of tho past was heeded and loss speculation was indulged in. Mr. Spencer criticised tho further inroads mado by the Government on taxpayers' incomes. There was urgent need for tho Government to reduce taxation, instead of adding further burdens to tho already heavily taxed community, and to take steps to improve the present position in trade. This increased taxation had put a serious check on tho expansion of business and had tho effect of diverting capital from necessary expansion of industries to gilt-edged securities, with a marked effect on the unemployment problem. High Wages in Industry.

Dealing with unemployment, Mr. Spencer said tho need of national activities was apparent. Tho improvement of highways and other important work§ so necessary for the development of tho land now lying idle, should absorb a large amount of labour. Land settlement on small holdings would bo one solution. Mr. Spencer then went on to refer to conditions i.u Great Britain and in America. The brighter prospects of industrial and commercial conditions in tho Old Country provided a clear indication of tho dogged perseverance of the people, revealing what tho British nation was made of.

Mr. A. G. Lunn, speaking ns tho representative of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce, deplored the high wages in secondary industries, which, he said, were reflected oil the primary industries. These conditions had to be altered. With regard to unemployment, he said they should get together and forco the local bodies and the Government to draw up a schedule of works. That was the only economic solution. New Zealand was too young to have conditions such as now existed.