AUSTRALIA’S PROBLEM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18501, 24 February 1930, Page 12

AUSTRALIA’S PROBLEM

LARGELY PSYCHOLOGICAL. MR FRANK GOLDBERG’S VIEWS. Mr Frank Goldberg, prominent advertising expert, who recently arrived in New Zealand on a tour of his organisation, is well qualified to speak on the general problems confronting Australia. Five years ago, Mr Goldberg extended his chain of offices to Sydney and Melbourne, and now has the largest business connection in the Australian advertising field. “It will be easily understood,” said Mr Goldberg, “that the nature of our activities brings us into the closest possible touch with all forms of industrial activity in Australia and thus gives us an opportunity for minute observation. Just as the human factor enters into every business consideration to-day, so it plays a vitally important part in the affairs of nations. I am becoming increasingly convinced that I the attitude of the average Australian towards his own country is largely to blame for the prevailing impression | that Australia is floundering in the ; trough of the waves. Such an impres- - sion is most decidely untrue. Australia’s industrial and economic problems 1 are admittedly formidable but their ; significance has been grossly exagger- j ated through gloomy propaganda. ! There is ample evidence that the recent depression is purely temporary and that Australia is rapidly recovering from it. But it seems inherent in the Australian to adopt a deprecatory attitude and a gloomy outlook. Value of Optimism. “In every class of business with which I have come in contact there is proof of abounding energy and a sincere faith in the future. Australians show no signs of decreased spending power. The market for cars, household luxuries and domestic equipment multiplies rapidly. Yet the Australian abroad seems incapable of optimism! New Zealand, on the contrary, has realised the value of cheerful and encouraging propaganda and is reaping the benefits of it. Australia can be, and shortly will be, one of the world’s most profitable markets—and the more widely the fact is advertised, the sooner will the trade renaissance occur.”