NO COMPLAINING

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1932, Page 9

NO COMPLAINING

OPTIMISM IN AUSTRALIA.

SPENDING SPIRIT MAINTAINED.

“The people of Sydney never refer to the depression, and they have not fallen into the habit of moaning and groaning. They are determined not to forego their pleasures and pastimes and apparently they are spending as much as ever,” said Mr. S G. Holland, president of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association, at a luncheon tendered to him on his return from the Commonwealth after managing the New Zealand hockey team. “Our hosts wanted to take the team'to a theatre where a piece had been running for some time, and it was impossible to secure seats,” he said. It was difficult to discover the economic situation in Australia, but he was impressed, he said, with the fact that there was a strong feeling of optimism. In Queensland the Labour Government had immediately announced that it would pay the Arbitration Court rate of wages to relief workers. But as a matter of fact, although they were paid Court rates, they did not get very much work, and their income was very small. In South Australia the outstanding man was the Labour Premier, and the position there was extremely interesting because he had invited his Conservative opposition to co-operate with him in forming a Government. Mr. Holland referred to the fact that Mr. L. J. Schmitt, the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Australia, and his officers were doing very fine work inadvertising the Dominion. There was a definite value, too, in the visits of sportin" tours overseas. The hockey team had followed the All Blacks and the impression left by the footballers was one of which New Zealanders might be very proud. Everywhere the hockey team went there were flattering references to the All Blacks, and he would like to congratulate a kindred sport on the fine impression it had left in Australia.