“INFINITELY BETTER”

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1934, Page 9

“INFINITELY BETTER”

COUNTRY'S POSITION TO-OAY DAIRY FARMERS’ DIFFICULTIES. “FACE FUTURE WITH COURAGE.” OPTIMISM OF MR. J. G. COATES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A hopeful view was expressed by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Finance, speaking at the Helensville show. “Our position is infinitely better than it was 12 months ago,” he said. Our revenue is buoyant and although we cannot avoid a deficit, it will be much less than was budgeted for. There may be a lot of metropolitan criticism of the exchange rate but I will always maintain strongly that the main source of the Dominion’s prosperity comes from the farmers and I can state that as a result of the raising of the exchange rate we have paid to exporters nearly £8,500,000 in the first ten and a-half months of the depreciated currency. From them the money has spread to whole community. Any busines man will admit that business is better this year than last.” Referring more particularly to the difficulties of the dairy farmer Mr. Coates said that while it was foolish to pretend that the situation was good nevertheless it should be faced with courage.