THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1930, Page 4

THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

FOOD FOR ENCOURAGEMENT. Some silver linings to the clouds of economic depression over the Dominion were pointed out by the. president of the New Zealand! Employers’ Federation, Hon. T. Shailer Weston, M.L.C., in his address at the annual meeting of the federation on Wednesday. “This country has certain natural advantages peculiar to itself,” said Mf. Weston.. “It can grow grass better and more plentifully than any other country in the world. It has a wonderful climate. We have already a very high and easy standard of living compared with other countries. Even though we all have to simplify it, we shall still be much better off than most other Countries. Moreover, I found lately that in Europe the primary producing countries were all complaining that the prices of their products were less than costs of production. “It is probable, therefore, that the present prices for our primary products will improve somewhat. It would, however, be unwise to expect this improvement to be very substantial. Competition in primary products must increase and become keener. You have only to look at the increased exports of food products from the various countries to recognise this. Still, our trade competitors and ourselves start on' the same handicap. All of us have to reduce our costs of production and the nation which does so most successfully will come out on top.”