The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1932. SURSUM CORDA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 117, 20 May 1932, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1932. SURSUM CORDA.

New Zealanders poor losers? “A Business Man’’ writ

ing in the Christchurch Star, says: “A stranger paying a visit to New Zealand at the present time would be forced to the conclusion that, as a people, we might be good winners, but many of us. were distinctively bad losers. He might well conclude also, that, after a generation of comparative prosperity, our national character had been weakened to such an extent that we were in danger of developing into a race of squealers.” This conclusion would undoubtedly be justified—by a stranger, because a squealer attracts attention to himself, whereas a dozen men who are quietly pegging away at the problems created by the depression can be passed over unnoticed. Nevertheless, it is because of this elemental fact that the squealer makes more noise than the worker that the psychological aspect of the depression has to be faced. There is truth in the assertion made by our correspondent,

Sursum Corda, ’ that ‘‘the members of the Government while doing their honest best have, like so many ‘hard-headed businessmen’ overlooked the psychological and human aspects of the situation. ’ He is right, also, when he asserts that “the Press could do much more.”

Still, the conditions under which the Government has worked must not be lost sight of. An election was held toward the end of last year; in a very short while commissions were set up to delve into the problem that was becoming more acute as the hours passed by. This problem, progressively getting worse, was placed before Parliament after very little delay. ■ Indeed, it might be claimed that there was not enough delay to permit of proper discussion. The legislation went pell-mell through both Houses of Parliament and the Parliamentarians have only just been home long enough to cat di up on the sleep they lost during the elosing hours of the samion. The Press, too, has had to absorb, report and comment upon a wide variety of news from the Lindbergh babv to the banking statistics, and it has been this quick succession of important events which has prevented the Press from taking up the psychological factors of the present depression.

.But should the average man inithe street wait for the Government and the Press to emphasise the way to win through the will to win? Does that duty not rest upon every man and woman? Every articulate citizen, and particularly those in

any position of some influence in their community, are equally obligated to pay attention to the psychological factor:- as are the Government and the Press. That this fact has been appreciated by one correspondent—for otherwise he would not have been moved to write his letter—is ail to the good. If others will follow his lead, by word and by deed, there will then be before us additional reasons for lifting up our hearts.