BETTER TIMES AHEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20991, 30 September 1931, Page 10

BETTER TIMES AHEAD.

ECONOMIC CLOUDS PASSING. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S OPTIMISM NEED OF CO-OPERATION. [FKOM oun OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Tuesday. "We are passing to-day through a period of war, just as we did in the period from 1914 to 1918," said the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, in an address p.t To Awamutu to-day. It was a world war, not with human beings, but with economic conditions. The same qualities which were called for in the Great War, discipline, sacrifice, tenacity, comradeship and mutual sympathy were required to-day, continued His Excellency. The nations which avoided internal discord in this time of trial would win through most rapidly and most successfully. Those who had been thrown out of employment and the farmers and their families, particularly those in the back blocks, needed all the sympathy and support that could be given them. He mentioned the farmers particularly, for he regarded them as the national breadwinners, for unless they could make a living tho nation would starve. His Excellency said the people could help to bring tho economic war to an end by facing cheerfully any equitable sacrifice that they might be called on to make, and by taking any steps that were possible by local efforts and mutual co-operation to ease the financial burden which the Government and the country had to carry. The people could assist by not putting pressure upon Parliament to do what the country could not at present afford. The position would be easid if people denied themselves superfluous luxuries, and by buying prudently all their requirements with a view to giving employment to their own people and to the people of Great Britain.

Lord Bledisloe said New Zealand was perfectly sound to-day, but the financial precipice was not far off. There was nothing so important but that New Zealand should maintain her credit, and nothing should be done by way of extravagant expenditure to impair that credit. Expenditure should be confined to the purchase of necessities. This was not a time to indulge in luxuries, especially luxuries bought in foreign countries. "The highest form of patriotism to-day is to buy locally-made and British goods," said His Excellency. He referred to conditions in Great Britain, and urged New Zealand producers to supply the British markets with uniform and best quality produce. Referring to Britain's suspension of tho gold standard, Lord Bledisloe said he looked at the position mainly from the standpoint of/ the New Zealand producer, and he saw in it nothing but good. It would be otherwise if the financial position of Britain were permanently shaken. Britain was the soundest country in the world, In spite of her recent over-spend-ing. Foreign countries had forced her to protect herself. " Although the clouds of depression may still be hanging over our heads, the silver lining is now appearing," said Lord Bledisloe in conclusion. "We will never get back to the high prices of a few years ago, but with reduced costs of production better times' are coming if we pursue our way with pertinacity, courage, sacrifice and mutual help."