A Cheerful Outlook

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 287, 16 April 1889, Page 2

A Cheerful Outlook

Dunkdin, Saturday. Iu his address to the Chamber of Commerce yesterday Mr Roberts made the following remarks in reference to the continued improvement in the commercial outlook: —•• During the past two quarters I have the satisfaction of noting a decided improvement in our prospects. It is with great pleasure I say the progress is still more marked than when we last met. We have now secured a bountiful harvest, and the prices of grain of all sorts are of a very satisfactory lever. If farmers be content to take them rather than wait in the hope of reaching higher values later, they will ha-e the satisfaction of knowing they have secured thoroughly remunerative values for the r produce. We have had a notable example of the danger of holding out for extreme prices. ” He expressed the opinion that the bag ques’ion is occupying too much attention. He does not think the farmers suffer any monetary loss from the bags given in and weighed, and believes the grain sellers are fully aware of the benefit they receive in hot paying for bags, and gives correspondingly high prices for grain. In reference to the frozen meat trade Mr Roberts said: —“ I shall rejo’ce to see the day when all the meat is bought in the colony, and is taken home by the purchasers, as it is high time the seller in Lon 4 on had a direct interest in the out-turn of the venture. The rise in wool indicates that our products of all descriptions seem to be on a steady rise. It is difficult to form a correct estimate of the increased value in grain and mutton and wool during the current year compared with last year, but I am not taking too sanguine a view when I put it down at £1,250,000. It must be a matter of great congratulation to all colonists that the financial year of the Government has closed with a small surplus. I consider the Ministry entitled to every credit for the manner in which they have pulled the country together, and am sure that the Home mon<*y 'enders must now feel that ' he country is in earnest in its desire to put the finances in a satisfactory condition. The enhanced value of colonial stock is an unmistakable sign that the people of London very discrlmin&tely and confidently look forward to our stock continuing to increase in valup until it takes a position very little behind Victoria and New South Wales. At a time like this, the dawn of prosperity, the greatest care should be taken not to abandon public and private econnmv. There can be no doubt, notwithstanding the better outlook, that the position of New Zealand is such as to make it of the utmost importance that for some years to come the revenue surplus should be steadily devoted to a reduction of taxation rather than regarded as clearing the way for that system of borrowing which has already brought so much mischief to the colony.”