AUSTRALIAN DEPRESSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 34

AUSTRALIAN DEPRESSION.

DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIES. AUCKLAND, October 6. “ You ask me how Australia is going to get over her present difficulties.” said Sir Joseph Carruthers, ex-Prc-mier of New South Wales, who is a through pas- . senger by the Aorangi. ■ Well, I can tell you that the country

will not recover by a system of taxing the people. There has never been a v case in the history of the world to show tliat people have been taxed into prosperity. You can only bring prosperity by leaving money in people’s pockets to remain there to fructify, as Gladstone said. Australia must keep her people in employment. Give the people employment, and spending power is regained. . and things will immediately brighten. ■ With -the high taxation that is at present being imposed, employers are forced to put men off.’ Asked how the country would meet its obligations if taxation were reduced. Sir Joseph replied: “When a creditor sees a debtor’s business improving the credit of the debtor improves, and the creditor is more inclined to trust him and be patient and give better terms. But when his business is going to pot the creditors are all clamouring at tluF door for their money.” Sir Joseph said that a reduction o! . wages was pufely an economic question. Unless wages came down the cost of production would remain high. It was a matter of the employer and the worker using a little common sense.