ECONOMIC DEPRESSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 36

ECONOMIC DEPRESSION.

EXPERIENCE OF AUSTRALIA. „ , AUCKLAND, Alay 8. Australia has undergone the same economic depression as New Zealand has been going through during the past 18 months,” said Air J. AV. Tattersfield, who has returned to Auckland after a month’s visit to the Commonwealth. “New South Wales and AVestern Australia are the two most prosperous States at the present time,” he continued, “ but it is the general opinion that there has been too much borrowing of money, which has been invested in unproductive works. On the other hand, there has been a wonderful wool season, and there is abundant feed. As a matter of fact, there is too much ot the latter for the stock to eat off. The pastures ■which at one time ran one sheep to the acre could now run three or four.” Discussing industrial conditions, he said that some firms had adopted piecework with the minimum wage method, and this had been found beneficial to the employers and the employees, but more particularly to-the latter. As a matter of fact, he had been shown figures which had gone to prove that employees working under this system had made from £1 to 25s a week more in wages than previously. “As far as the economic difficulties of Australia are concerned,” said i' da ttersfield, “ the business men with whom I came in contact expressed the opinion that the solution would be to bring duties to what might be termed a happy medium. With this idea in view it was suggested that something might be done with regard to bounties on wine and butter.”