MINISTER'S OPTIMISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 14

MINISTER'S OPTIMISM.

PROSPEROUS PERIOD AHEAD. COUNTRY " ROUND THE CORNER." [BY IELEGHAPII. —vWN CORRESI'I INDENT.] WHANGAItEI, Friday. A note of optimism was struck at Whangarei yesterday by the Minister ot Internal Affairs, Hon. P. A, de la Perrelle, when referring to New Zealand's financial position. "There is no doubt," the Minister said, "that the Dominion is now well round the coiner. The people and the lending institutions realise this, and there is justifiably an atmosphere of optimism. The record in the export trade for the year just concluded is an example of the people's thrift and enterprise, and the £12,000,000 surplus of exports over imports is an indication of their determination to keep within reasonable limits. "The Government is fully alive to the need of further the country's condition, particularly in regard to land settlement and cheap money for farmers and workers. The Government realises that it is on the land, and the land alone, that prosperity depends. A rigorous land policy of smaller holdings is being put into force by the Minister of Lands, and the State • Advances Office has endowed settlers and wpi'kers with cheap money to over £2,000,000 in the last four months.

"It has been stated that the banks -lie overflowing with money for investment, and no doubt they, too, will find avenues on a liberal rate of interest. We are in for an era of prosperity, and, if tempered by judgment by tho people themselves, a lengthy period of prosperous times is ahead of tho Dominion."