DOMINION'S PROBLEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21937, 22 October 1934, Page 11

DOMINION'S PROBLEMS

OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE PRIME MINISTER'S REVIEW NOTE OF OPTIMISM STRUCK [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday Confidence in the ability of the NewZealand people to face the difficulties of the present economic crisis and eventually to solve them ■was expressed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, in a speech at the celebrations of the Woodend School dia-r mond jubilee. "We are not the only country in the world in financial trouble," said Mr. Forbes, "but we have one great advantage in New Zealand, we are of British stock, and the finest quality of the British race is steadfastness in face of difficulties. Ours is only a temporary problem and it will prove to be not beyond our power to solve." In GO years, Mr. Forbes continued, by sound and faithful work, a country had been built up of which all might be proud, but the problems of the past had presented a far easier task to those in administrative positions than the problems of to-day. The early work had been the development of production, and, although there had been occasional fluctuations in prices, there had always been some outlet for tli* goods produced. To-day, New Zealand found her principal market, the United Kingdom, supplied by every country in the world and in a state of glut. "But there is one thing we can do," said the Prime Minister, "we can get our products out of the ruck and into the forefront as regards quality. There is always a market for the very best product. That, undoubtedly, is the way open to us. In the meantime, we have to do our best to carry on the services of the country with a diminished revenue, although with improved prices for wool and meat we have been able to produce a Budget we are not ashamed of. If you look at the conditions in other countries you will find, in comparison with them, that we have something in which to take consolation."