Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2, 1935. THE OUTLOOK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18593, 2 January 1935, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2, 1935. THE OUTLOOK

The note of optimism which marked the New Year utterances of our statesmen is justified by the recovery so far made and the signs and portents of the immediate future. Moreover it is strongly supported by the renewal of confidence in the public mind. “I see it in people’s faces,” said President Roosevelt the other day —“we are coming back.” Such a statement if true of America must he doubly true of New Zealand, where a people who resolutely faced the depression arc enjoying- with greater vim than for some years past the holiday season. Every resort is crowded, railway and road services report record traffic, Christmas trade has been good, and there is a light-hearted gaiety manifest everywhere which betokens the passing of t lie- clouds and a happy confidence as to the future. This confidence is nurtured by several factors. Firstly, the international outlook is brighter than it has been for a long time past. The fear of a clash of arms in Europe, or the Pacific, in the near future, has passed and patient diplomacy is gradually bringing npout a better understanding, which, wo trust, before another year has passed will ripen into definite agreements giving assurance of peace and opening the way to freer commercial and social intercourse. Riitain’s sound financial position and her remarkable industrial and trade recovery must react to the advantage of the Dominions and lead to Empire development. The new year, we feed sure, will sec a clearing up of existing trade difficulties and the granting of a greater preference to Empire products than lias hitherto obtained. New Zealand’s balance of trade continues to be quite satisfactory and this reflects itself in the national finance and the internal trade position. The Dominion, in common with most oilier countries, is to experience an era. of cheap money, which should result in easing the difficulties of our farmers, the development of industries, and the circulation of a much greater amount, of capita! Ilian has boon available in trade channels for a long time. The provision made by the Government under the Agricultural Emergency Bill, also for the adjustment of rural finance, should be in full operation during the year and can scarcely fail to effect an improvement in general conditions. As a Parliamentary election approaches there is sure to be much political propaganda in circulation, but the great majority of New Zealanders, wo imagine, will hesitate to accept any proposals for swapping horses whilst

crossing a stream and will he content to let the National Government continue with its recovery work. Locally there is still work to be done to put this district on an equality with other districts in the Dominion in respect of its communications and living conditions. The disappointments and setbacks received in the past with regard to the railway project should not dispirit us but rather embolden renewed efforts. We would suggest that the matter be approached from a new angle, and that the chairman of the Railways Board be invited to visit the district to talk over at a roundtable conference the actualities of the situation We believe it will be found that Mr. Sterling is not altogether unsympathetic towards the railway and that he would be glad to he able to help the project forward in any practical way. Ministerial help, also, may not be so difficult to obtain in a pre-election year as in ordinary times, and no opportunity should be lost ol impressing upon members of the Government the importance to the Dominion from a national aspect of the proper development of East Coast territory. Tt is probable that this year the Government may see the advisability of relieving the unemployment situation by increasing its expenditure on public works, in which case the claims of this district, both for the railway and for roads, must be vigorously advanced. The improvement in the national revenue gives the public of the Dominion reason to hope for some easement ot the burden of taxation, which is pressing so heavily upon individuals and upon our various industries. This would be the best evidence the Government could give of the results of its administration and of its sympathy with the harassed taxpayer. The year is to be marked with national jubilations on the occasion of the King’s jubilee, and the celebrations in London will give opportunity for Empire statesmen to get together and devise ways and means for the betterment of inter-imperial trade. Before the year ends New Zealand should be linked up with Imperial Airways’ chain of communications and be enjoying the advantage of a speedy postal service which will serve to bring the Dominion into closer touch with the Homeland. Altogether 1935 promises to be a year of progress, full of interest, and bringing us nearer, we hope, to an era of settled prosperity.