The Path to Prosperity.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5281, 11 June 1895, Page 4

The Path to Prosperity.

(LytteUon]Times.) As there is no royal road to learning, so there is no short cut to national prosperity. This fact a long, acquaintance with adverse timeß has doubtless impressed upon the people of New Zealand, but everything is not gained when we have grasped a negative truth of this kind. After State aid has done its utmost, whether for the encouragement of industries or the relief of temporary distress, the true source of all prosperity must be sought in the intelligence, the enterprise and the courage of the people. When trade is flourishing and employment plentiful it is easy to be brave and buoyant ; I but in times of depression our spirits ; are apt to take on the sombre hue of ' our surroundings. Bat even hopeful- , ness will sot suffice to bring the j desired prosperity ; we must be ;up and doing our utmost, each ' one in his sphere, to take | advantage of the favourable tide Sin commercial affairs. Unless we • do this, we shall be no better than a ■ community of Micawbers. It sounds very stale and trite to advise^ a vigorous application of the principles of self-reliance and intelligent effort, \ but it is none the less the very best ; advice that could be offered at the | present juncture. And, aB was I impressed at the recent conference with the Premier on the sub-

ject of the Canterbury unemployed, there is a self-reliance of the community which is as necessary as that of the individual. Patriotism is nothing but an extended and glorified form of Bel fishnesß, embracing all the highest qualities of excellence that charac- ! Cerise individual aim and aspiration. If New Zealanders exercised the ' collective self-reliance to which we i refer, they would at a stroke solve | the problems of depressed trade and i lack of employment. This species of I self -leliaace ia not a -very elevated [ form of patriotism, but it is I one of great practical value. Mr H. ( B. Kirk has put it on record that if the people of this country would only cease to buy imported boots, they would at qnce give employment to ten thousand persons at the bootmaking industry. At least two thou- ■ sand of these would be located in j Canterbury, and where then would be I the bitter cry of a few score of workers [ divorced from work ? And the crowning commendation of a system of collective self-reliance is that it increases the volume of trade all ] round, for the additional workers ! have to be fed and clothed and

catered for in other ways, so that the growth of one industry leads to an increase of others, and even to the creation of new industries. There are other articles of common use besides boots which elm Vbe supplied by the local producer or maker, and every person ought to recognise it as a duty to give a marked preference to the article of colonial production. We complain of our meat and butter not getting fair play in the English., market ; but do we give fair play in our local markets to our own products and manufactures ? The answer must be in the negative. In saying this we do not forget that the preference shown for some lines of English goods is not altogether based on prejudice and custom. It is highly desirable that colonial manufacturers should do their utmost to attain perfection in their processes, so that their goods may compete on their merits with thoee from the older centres of manufacturing industry. They must not expect people to take goods of an inferior stamp out of pure patriotism, but, at the same time, we believe

I that a great deal of the neglect of 1 colonial manufactures is due to want ; of thought, to habit, and to the tenj dency of trade to run in grooves. We appeal to the public to make the ! necessary effort to cast off the bonds ! of custom or indifference, and to take | a lively practical interest in farther- ; ing the welfare of their own country. I The projected Industrial Exhibition ia calculated to have good effects in the way of dispelling some of the lethargy that now prevails. Another way in which injustice is done to the country's interests is the practice of retailers beating down the price of produce offered by the small farmer. Here, trade custom,

the course of interchange and thoughtless . habit have all told against the producer. The Hawke's Bay farmers, we were told in a recent issue of the News, cannot get rid of their bacon because the local grocers draw their supplies from Canterbury, and the Canterbury orchardi'sts, ■ we know, cannot sell their apples and plums because their own neighbours demand Ofcago and Auckland fruit. The system of trade competition and the crystallised forms of trading are primarily responsible for this irrational state of things ; but it is in the power of the public to correct the evil by courageously resolving to get rid of every absurd prejudice against articles merely on the ground that they are "locally " produced or made, and in fact to give such goods a decided preference. It is the old lesson of self-help, which cannot be too often or too forcibly enjoined upon individuals and communities, with the added motto: "That is best which lieth nearest."