The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1927. TWO COUNTRIES COMPARED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19769, 17 February 1927, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1927. TWO COUNTRIES COMPARED

It is always well to keep a sense of proportion and for this reason especial interest attaches to the speeches made by the Prime Minister upon his return to the Dominion. Times with us are “tight,” there is more unemployment than is pleasant to see, and an eminent banking authority has told us that we are in for a “lean” year. Nevertheless, there is a brighter side.

Mr Coates has given it as his opinion that we can look to the future with confidence. He also shows that, by comparison, we are fairly well off, in spite of the clouds overhead. Ulster, with a population somewhat less than New Zealand’s has, he points out, an army of unemployed numbering 40,000. In New Zealand the unemployed registrations number only 1500. Many workless men, it is true, have not registered, but if we go so far as to double the figures to allow for this, the result will show that we are still much better off than Ulster —twelve times better off, in fact.

The incidence of unemployment can always be regarded as a reflex of the state of business. It is obvious enough that the more unemployed, the less the capacity of the country to employ labour. The condition of business in New Zealand is not at the present moment brisk enough to employ all the labour offering. But the fact that our unemployed number at the most about 0.2 per cent of the population while the ratio in Ulster is about 3.00 speaks for itself and .justifies Mr Coates’ belief that the Dominion can weather its troubles.

Support of Mr Coates’ view is contained in the recent report of Mr Beale, H.M. Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, who, while not disregarding the present situation, describes the economic cohdition of the Dominion as “thoroughly sound,” testifies to the satisfactory effort being made to face the intensified competition of our commercial rivals, and says there is no need for pessimism.

There is no occasion for gloom if New Zealanders will put their shoulders to the wheel. The present situation cannot be expected to pass in a night. Hard work to ensure increased production, a determination to avoid undue spending, and the practice of thrift by all classes will have its effect in due course, and the mors such a policy is practised the sooner will be th® return to normally prosperous conditions.