WORLD OUTLOOK.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16896, 9 September 1926, Page 10

WORLD OUTLOOK.

NEW ZEALAND POSITION NEED FOR NATIONAL ECONOMY. Mr Oscar Monrad, of Palmerston North, delivered a lecture on the outlook of lhe world in general and New Zealand in particular, at the Palmerston North Rotary Club meeting. It was hoped and believed bv most slated lhe. speaker, that after the war we had entered into a new era and that ail values could he stabilised at about i>o per cent over and above 1914 prices. It now' appeared that Ibis hope was not lo be realised. The speaker stated that he was not taking an unduly pessimistic view. In the first, place, he recognised that this country should he able to carry comfortably 25 millions of people, and if we only reached ten. millions within a reasonable ’period, it would bring home to us the enormous deevlopments that bad to take place. Furthermore, with regard to our present civilisation, he would not dare, or venture, to suggest that the advantages did not outweigh, the disadvantages. Humanity as a whole was living under better conditions Ilian ever before. There was, towever, the. fear that our present civilisation could not be maintained, let alone carried forward, unless some radical change took place. If we were to carry on our present civilisation different methods would have lo be adopted. It was safe lo say that a very large percentage of our lighting force in the battle of life was not efficient and were not contributing their best cither physically or mentally. As a result, the efficient and industrious portion of the population was carrying the inefficient on their backs, with the result that lhe competent men, who were carrying on the fight, were beginning to find lhe load 100 heavy for them. When they gave way tender the strain it would be a had day for this country. “Tremendous Waste.” The amount of w'astc going on was tremendous, continued Mr Monrad. This was very noticeable when travelling around the country—implements left standing exposed to the weather year in and year out, stock famishing and miserable because of insufficient foresight and energy in providing tho necessary foods, etc., the extravagant use of the motor car. “New Zealand is all right,” slated the speaker, “and, taking a long view, the prospects arc possibly belter than in any country in the world if —and that is where the rub comes in—if we will all do our best to push things along to the best of our ability, and if we will endeavour to live within our means. It is imperative that economy shall he exercised. Because certain expenditure is considered, and is unquestionably advantageous, it does not necessarily follow that it is justified any more than one is justified in giving lo charity if one cannot sec one’s way to pay one’s baker for the bread one eats. “We are now passing through a period of restricted finance and one does not worry particularly over that. One will go through that again, but what does cause extreme concern is the fact that, in spite of good times, the general position does not improve. There is very Tittle hope of saving money in bad limes, and unless cnergy and economy are displayed in good times so that Ihere is something in hand when the lean years come wo must go down. Need for Halt In Expenditure. “It is necessary for the Government to pause and consider before it launches out any further with ils developing and benevolent schemes. It is necessary for flic towns to call a halt and refrain from further borrowing unless absolutely necessary. It is necessary for the man on the land to. depart from the old methods of farming and carefully study new, scientific and up-to-date methods, thereby increasing production. “After the Franco-German war, France, in spite of her very large indemnity, prospered, and Germany stood still for a period, showing how quickly united energetic • acLion can right a nation. What we require is self-reliance. To run continually to the Government for asistance is a sign of weakness. The Government lias nothing to give except that which belongs lo ourselves, and if any section of the community obtains special consideration, unless such consideration is imperative and of national importance, it is only robbing one section of the community to pay another. . There is only one way, and that is living for, and not on, the community. “Joy Of Life Is Work.” “However, what we require to-day is character and character is made up of work and constructive thought. The joy of life is work and the serious consideration of life’s problems. \\ c have a glorious heritage and a wonderful future. Low wages will get us nowhere. Good wages increase prosperity. If we acquire knowledge, develop energy and turn to good account the advantages which science machinery and quick transport provide to-day wo will move forward. Twice Hie wages with three times the result gives a 50 per cent more wealth, which, constantly applied, results in prosperity. Double Iho wages and give half the results means breaking up our social system and the wrecking of our civilisation with all the advantages and comforts which wc today enjoy. XVc have so many advantages and livc’undcr such favourable conditions that as a people, one fears that we arc not aware of that fact.

“One’s great fear is that the burden of debt, both public and private, will kill future development. Development is our hope and salvation, and if our debts are going to be so heavy that they rob the energetic and the enterprising man, so that he is unable to get adequate results from energy expended, then we reach stagnation. Viewed as a whole, the development in this country discloses a virile people, but of late years the cost of development has been greater than the production. On a population basis we are producing less in quantity, showing that either there has not been sullicient energy or that the energy has been misdirected. It is now a question of hanging on and keeping a firm control over our public and private expenditure on the one side, and, on the oilier side, dcevloping energy and making it more effective. If we can hold our present posilion without slipping any further we will win out, because while we are holding on the population is increasing, and, with the development of the land, we will get increased production. As lime goes on secondary industries will spring up and we will very soon have a sufilcienl. number of people to carry with comfort the existing burdens.”