NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2558, 20 August 1931, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

TWO BLADES OF GRASS. Writing to the Editor of the Wellington “Evening Post,” a correspondent. lias some interesting comment to offer on a remark made by the Gover-nor-General, in an address to the Farmers’ Conference: “If we can make two blades of grass grow where but one grew before.” To my mind, he says, these simple words, if seriously and closely analysed, carry a wealth of meaning. Taken literally, when addressed to a gathering of farmers they must mean a great deal to the man on the land in the way of greater fertility of the soil, more luxuriant pasturage, more sheep and cattle to the acre, and increased production to make up for falling prices, dull markets, and increased competition. No doubt our city business man, when reading these words, passed them out of mind with the thought, oh, yes, all very nice and fine for the farmer. How many, I wonder, took trouble to analyse them and apply them personally? The lesson to be learned from these little' words “Two blades of grass” properly considered and carried into every avenue of business activity in New Zealand would soon help to lift the depression and put us on the high road to prosperity. Are we, as sane-minded, sound-limb-ed business men going to remain content to moon around meeting and tolling each other things are bad and going to be worse, or are we going to put our shoulders to the wheel and lift this place out of the mire of despond? When the Great. War struck us we did not sit down and cry about, it. And yet today, when we arc struck by an almost equally malignant menace, all the energy and all the fight seems to have been knocked right out of us. Are we going to take up our share of the burden and as business men explore every avenue, to bring added wealth to the Dominion, and thus help to ease the heavy burden lying at present on the shoulders of the primary producer—and there can be no doubt he is carrying, a heavy load—or are we simply going to wait till the farmers’ markets improve? If we were to tackle the problem with a little of our war-time energy, and try to both pull and push out ship out of the doldrums, she would soon run into a good steady trade wind that, would carry us forward. Such sentiments are probably shared by everyone, and without practical and sensible suggestions are worthless. May I suggest that a start be made to develop and win the values contained in the vast mineral deposits known to exist, at our very doors. Millions of tons of ores, carrying commercially valuable acid contents as well as gold and silver in payable quantities, if treated on sound scientific, and practical lines, are lying untouched and undeveloped and only requiring sufficient

enterprise to make them a vast national

aasot i:i the form of added wealth so urgently needed at the present time. Is the great amount of money expended by successive Governments in helping the mining industry to be allowed to go to waste for lack of energy and enterprise on our part to take advantage of our opportunities? When talking on this subject not long ago with a Wellington man —shall I say business man —he remarked that;-it was the Government’s job to develop the mineral resources. What It is our job, ami now is the tim,e.,to tackle it. The Government has done, .its job. It has spent vast sums in ..pointing out the sources and localities per medium of geological survey, and by setting up Schools of Mines, chemical laboratories and a research branch, and yet we, like Kip Van Winkle, have been asleep dreaming that good times will last forever. We awaken to a realisation that something is wrong, and something has to be done to effect a"remed?'. : Let us put our shoulders'-to the wheel, and as I suggest, let us make a start with the undeveloped wealth lying’around'(vs in the shape of our mineral ore deposits. Remunerative and ‘reproductive work can thus be provided for some thousands of men, and very much needed added wealth to thb general community. '