"WISE SPENDING"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21328, 1 November 1932, Page 14

"WISE SPENDING"

ADVOCACY BY AUSTRALIAN ADVISABLE IN DOMINION PRAISE FOR SCENIC BEAUTIES A suggestion that New Zealanders might bo well advised to indulge more in wise spending rather than economy at any price was made by Mr. George !' il palriek, of Sydney, superintendent of the New South Wales Community Hospital, in an interview in Wellington. Mr. Fitzpatrick, with his wife and daughter, is making a holiday tour of the Dominion and has been greatly impressed by its scenic beauties. " I am tremendously impressed with the quiet courage and extraordinary confidence that New Zealand has shown in facing its difficulties," Mr. Fitzpatrick said. " In Australia wo have had a very bad time, but since tho advent of tho Stevens Government in New South Wales there has been a wave of optimism and people who have money are beginning to .->pend it. " If one might be excused tho temerity of making a suggestion—simply as a humble visitor—ono might point out thai the fact that you luivo £56,000,000 in your savings banks is not necessarily a good thing. If a man is on tho basic wage—assume that it is £4 a week—it is obvious that if lie saves half and spends only half ho is doing a grave injury to his family and his dependants. When we were younger we were told to save and save and save. But 1 venture to think, in all humility, that this is a timo for wiso spending. National thrift may become a national menace." Mr. Fitzpatrick said lie had been struck by the extraordinary hospitality of New Zealanders. The majority of Australians knew hardly anything of the Dominion's scenic beauties. They were ignorant of tho marvels of the glow-worm cavo at Waitomo, of the beauties of Mount Kgmont, and of Nature's masterpiece, tho Franz Josef Glacier. However, excellent publicity work was now being dono in Australia and New Zealand, and should bring good results, lie added that he had arranged with the Government for a series of lectures to be given in Australia at his own expense on New Zealand and its scenic attractions.