NEW ZEALAND'S OUTLOOK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20383, 11 October 1929, Page 16

NEW ZEALAND'S OUTLOOK

Sir,—As an octogenarian, a resident of New Zealand for 55 years, with some years spent in other countries, the illustration in Wednesday's Herald gave me cause for serious thought, for I noticed a photo of one of Auckland's unemployed relief works, the new sports area at Western Springs, on which thousands of pounds are being spent. Then I looked up my Herald files, and found that the bulk of the money raised and allocated for the relief of unemployment has been spent on sports grounds and other unproductive works, totalling a huge amount, on which, indirectly, the public has to pay interest. Then I noticed a detailed description of now Civic Theatres on which hundreds of thousands of pounds are being spent, and I tried to estimate the vast amount of money spent and to be spent by the patrons of numbers of similar places of amusement in New Zealand. It would be an eye-opener and a staggerer if this could bo ascertained. I came to the conclusion that this, at any rate, partly accounted for the doctors, dentists, merchants and shopkeepers' accounts not being paid, and indirectly for many bankruptcies. Then my thoughts wandered to the large buildings now being erected in Queen Street and its vicinity for offices and shops, and I came to the conclusion that wo are building at least 10 years ahead of present requirements. Quite right, in one way, to build for the future, but not very profitable in the meantime. New Zealand is a wonderful country and has a wonderful future if given a fair chance, but I would like to address a word of caution to those in authority and to suggest that less money bo expended in providing for amusements and more in reproductive works. We must increase our production and exports and reduce our imports. To this end every available acre of land must be brought into profit and every encouragement should be given to immigrants of the right class, preferably with some capital, to come to this glorious country that possesses so many natural advantages, and is crying out for a larger population to share its advantages. F. H. Wood. Takapuna, .9, .1929.