CONFIDENCE JUSTIFIED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18633, 18 February 1935, Page 2

CONFIDENCE JUSTIFIED

(To tho Editor of tho Herald.) Sir,—A visitor to New Zealand., who lias just passed through Australia, has remarked upon the greater evidence of confidence in the latter country compared' with the pessimism so freely expressed by newspaper correspondents and certain speakers in New Zealand. What struck him was the tendency to blame ourselves and the Government for conditions which are due to a world-wide depression which we could not avoid — that other countries are taking; heart and showing confidence that things in general e.re "improving, but not so New Zealand. This criticism is justified if one listens to the pessimism of many speakers and writers, but when one studies facts there is clear evidence that solid grounds exist to warrant more confidence. _ The report of the Government .Statistician for December show's definite improvement in almost every direction—much greater volume of business was transacted in 1934 than the previous two or three years. Land transfers have increased 29 per cent, over the last six months of 1933. Bankruptcies were in 1934 lower than any year since 1920 and assignments to creditors the lowest since statistics were instituted, namely 99 as against 166, 236 and 318, for 1933, '32, and '3l. The employment situation has also definitely improved. In the, face of this and much other concrete evidence, of improved conditions, the continued propaganda, of pessimism is definitely unwarranted. The motive is in a measure political so it is unlikely that those with such bias will take any notice of facts, but the public can and should do so. The natural discontent caused by depressed conditions is all important to the advocates of patent remedies, this no doubt explains why certain people refuse, to admit a turn in the tide.—New Zealand Welfare League.