FAITH REQUIRED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 21, 21 December 1932, Page 4

FAITH REQUIRED

FACING UP TO LOSSES. WELLINGTON, Dec. 20. “We have heard much from politicians and economists and others who cannot claim either distinction, giving us at some length the causes of the so-called depression, and at times equally lengthy remedies lor infallible cures. 'I hose have been so many and varied that the average person has become altogether contused, and we are all apt'to lose clearness of vision. There are many effects of the one big cause, but there is loullv only one basic cause lor the depression, and that is the war,” said Air C. W. Salmon, vice-president of the United Kingdom Manufacturers’ and New Zealand Representatives’ Association, at yesterday’s unnu il meeting.

“War means destruction,'' continued Air Salmon, “not only of life hut of tilings created by man, and in an endeavour to recreate we endeavoured to recreate wealth. This, in fact, we cl id not do, as you cannot lccrcate from what does not exist. The effect of this did not stop when the war elided ; after that inevitab'y came ,m economic war. The war docs not and when the last shot is fired. “Let us now face realities,” said Mr Salmon. “We have been living oil wealth which did not actually exist. All of us who were so'diers know that war meant destruction, and for destruction we obviously have to pay. Many soldiers paid with their lives, and they did it willing'y. and in what ran only he described as British spirit. Surely we have not lost the British spirit the economic losses which were the war accept with the same British spirit the economic losse swliich were and are inevitable.

“What is required to-day is not a lot of long faces and apathetic inaction : what wo want is a quiet faith in our Empire and in our country. Wc must quietly and soberly face up to our losses. We do not want any tinkering with exchanges, with currencies, with our industries, with our businesses. Let the game of life he a fair and even one for everyone, and do not let one part of the community benefit at the expense of the other. The main road to prosperity and hnnniness is paved with hard work. There is no other road. What wo require to-day is fewer cranks and more self-starters.”