The Daily News FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1032. A POLICY OF NEGATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1932, Page 6

The Daily News FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1032. A POLICY OF NEGATION.

At the annual meeting of a large cement manufacturing company at Auckland this week Sir George Elliot found an opportunity to make some very timely remarks upon, a particularly undesirable element in the life of the Dominion. “There is,” he declared, “amongst a section of the public a growing sentiment against firms, companies and individuals who are in any way successful. In the eyes of a great number it has become in New Zealand almost a crime to be successful.” Because of this, he pointed out, there was difficulty in getting suitable men to accept public positions. This is an aspect of the matter that would naturally exercise Sir George’s mind, for he is himself a citizen who during a long life has not only filled important business positions but also given his country good service. The point is well taken, but Sir George is more concerned with the attitude of mind which prompts the ungenerous criticism of which he complains. In his view it “encourages a disastrous outlook on life; it is a brake on personal' effort; it stifles progress and puts a sprag in the wheels of enterprise. If it spreads it must lead to national stagnation and decline.” This is a very grave indictment, which no man who takes a serious interest in the welfare of the Dominion can read without misgiving. If it were possible to say that success in any walk of life was always regarded in New Zealand as a thing to be applauded, and also emulated, the outlook would be bright. Times are hard for most of us, and success in any kind of enterprise seems almost impossible of attainment. Surely, then, we should all welcome such rare news as that of a success in business and accept it as a cause for hopefulness and an indication of better things in store. But if

Sir George Elliot’s comments are justified—and in respect of a proportion of the population they undoubtedly are—the tendency is to take an entirely wrong view. This may result, as he suggests, from the smallness of the population or from plain envy and jealousy or simple malice, but whatever the cause the result obviously is dangerous. Admittedly there are many people in this country who are finding life full of difficulty, and where actual hardship exists it is not altogether surprising that there should he a feeling of jealousy in respect of those who are not so hard put to it to make their way. But it must be obvious that if jealousy of this kind develops into a desire to make less successful those who have gained some measure of success it becomes a hopelessly destructive force. To try to drag down to one wretched level all those who by their skill, enterprise or good fortune have risen above it is a policy of negation and could only lead to ultimate submergence. The idea is, of course, the fruit of pernicious propaganda which is all too freely circulated nowadays by a certain class of politician. The doctrine of levelling down is closely allied with the equally evil belief that the State should provide for all the needs of all its citizens who are unwilling or through the influence of adverse circumstances temporarily unable to satisfy their own requirements. The spread of that belief has weakened the national stamina because it has sapped the independence and the self-reliance of individuals. These pernicious doctrines certainly put a brake on personal effort, and it is personal as well as national effort that is needed to-day to place the whole country again on the road do success. Times are hard, but if no one is to be permitted to be successful they will become harder. If there were no business in this country that could make a profit, what would be the prospect of adequate relief from the burden of unemployment? There would be no prospect at all. We should be facing a future in which there would be no businesses and no employment, and even the best intentioned and most paternal Government would be without resources with which even to keep the people fed and clothed. Far too much nonsense is being talked about present-day conditions and their causes and possible cures. As the outcome of such talk there has been rioting in some places, and we all know now that its only result was waste and destruction. There is loose talk now of easy ways out of the depression, but those who are willing to reason things out can have no difficulty in realising its futility. There is a case in point in a brief report of an address given by Mr. H. Atmore, M.P., at Nelson. He has made the stupendous discovery that the world depression is “artificial poverty,” and he offers as a cure a State note issue, which means neither more nor less than the creation of artificial money. The idea is as worthy of Mr. Atmore as it is useless to the country. Such silly propaganda cannot be helpful, and may easily become dangerous; it certainly will not cure the depression. Nor will envious or malicious criticism of success lead anywhere. The more success there is in established business the sooner will the handicap be overcome and stable conditions attained. It is the successful business that can provide employment increasingly. Too few of them unfortunately are anything like successful nowadays, but that is all the more reason why we should rejoice when any industrial or commercial enterprise is able to report that it is making headway and thus giving a lead in the direction of the better times that we all hope await us.