A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1932, Page 9

A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

NEW ZEALAND’S PROSPECTS. lmprovement in conditions, Stating that New Zealand had seen the worst of tho depression, the Prime Minister, the Rt, Hon. G. W. Forbes, expressed the confident opinion at Christchurch on Sunday that from now onward there would be a steady improvement in general conditions. Mr. Forties said there were many signs of returning confidence, and this in itself was an important step toward recovery. Producers in New Zealand were paying close attention to means of increasing production and improving quality. As Minister in charge of Scientific aud Industrial Research, Mr. Forbes was in a position to say that there had been a number of promising developments. “The upward trend of markets for outproduce is encouraging,” ho said. “People have to a certain extent got over tho shock of tho sudden drop which took place.” The arrangements made at Lausanne for dealing with th© reparations question wer© the first practical step, toward the solution of Europe's difficulties, said Mr. Forbes. Others would no doubt follow. War debts had next to bo dealt with, and Mr. Forbes said ho was sure that, if th© question were tackled in a similar spirit to that which had prevailed at Lausanne, arrangements would be made to enable business to be carried on without the heavy debts and high tariff's which had largely brought on tho depression. Tariffs were the third thing that would have to be considered. . '

“The Ottawa Conference will bo the initial move toward the establishment of a reasonable policy in regard to tariffs within the Empire, It will start a movement which, I am stu'e, will remove many of the barriers now impeding the natural flow of trad© between countries. The conversion loan in Great Britain seems to be a complete success. Great Britain has been an object lesson to tho rest of the world, and her citizens hav© shown that they are willing to play their part in facing the situation. Such patriotism makes one proud of the Old Country and to b© of British stock.” Taken as a whole, the position .in New Zealand was decidedly hopeful compared with that of a. year ago. Improvements olrfoad wer© bound to be reflected in New Zealand. One of. the best signs was the return of life to the wool market, which had been practically dead. An increased demand for wool would no doubt be, reflected in higher prices. Prospects for the dairy produce season wer© distinct]” better than they were last year. “I feel that we ar© on the move up,” said Mr. Forbes. “Ono benefit that has come from reduced prices for our primary* products is the attention which Is being paid to improving quality and increasing production. More has been done in this line lately than for -some years past. Producers are equipping themselves better to meet the keen competition which exists in the markets of the Old Country,”