LOOSING PURSE-STRINGS

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1932, Page 7

LOOSING PURSE-STRINGS

PUBLIC WORKS POLICY URGED. WELLINGTON EMPLOYERS’ VIEW. The opinion that the Government should set an example <by letting go its purse-strings and pushing ahead with public works in th© meantime was expressed in th© annual report of the Wellington Employers’ Association, presented at the annual meeting on Tuesday. “It is a time for san© optimism and supremo courage,” stated the report, “and great comfort is to be derived from the manner in which Great Britain is overcoming her multiplicity of difficulties and problems. “It is generally recognised that the ciifculation of money is of paramount importance, in the encouragement of trade and enterprise. If people could only be persuaded to let go their pursestrings and circulate their money, the present outlook would undergo a rapid change, and a bouyancy in the spirit of the community would soon be apparent. “The Government should set a lead in this direction by immediately pushing ahead with numerous public works which have been shelved in .th© meantime. Surely it is wiser to put public works into immediate operation, thereby greatly assisting to encourage confidence and relieve unemployment, than to delay such works until th© advent of better 'times, when the same urgency and necessity will not be apparent. If ever there was a time when the Government should be bold and proceed with all necessary public works on a contract basis, which will require to bo carried out sooner or later, surely it is the present, when th© urge is so great and construction costs are down to a low level. “In this connection, the example of th© people in the Hawke’s Bay district is to be highly commended. The people there are suffering a double calamity. They suffered greatly as a result of the earthquake and they have also been called upon to bear their share of the existing financial stringency. By proceeding as quickly as possible with reconstruction work, they have displayed courage and enterprise, aud by the circulating of money they are not only helping themselves, but rendering an invaluable service to the rest of the community.”