The Dominion. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1918. A TIME FOR ACTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 31, 31 October 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1918. A TIME FOR ACTION

In tho ■ speech ho made at the Chamber of Commerce Conference yesterday tho Piujie Minister had some timely and interesting things to say about after-war problems and prospects, but his remarks on these matters might very well have been considerably developed and amplified. He was clearly right in declaring that, "if New Zealand was to carry her war burdens successfully, her output and her trade generally would have to. bo considerably increased, and a comprehensive policy of development would be necessary." A policy of drift obviously will not meet requirements in tho years that lift immediately ahead. The only way to lighten and minimise our heavy burden of war debt and iOibligations is to make the most of every opportunity of profitable and productive enterprise. We are confronted in any casc.by serious problems which leave no room for trifling. Our heavy debt and obligations stand as a concrete reality, and a more or less pronounced drop in tho prices obtainable for primary produce is to bo expected at the end of the war. The shipping problem also may be acute for years to come, though on account of other factors than tho war shortage which at present sets limits to our export trade. Mr. Massev announced yesterday that at the Imperial Conference this year it was agreed to set up an Inter-Imperial Shipping Board. As the constitution of this body is defined, however, ite functions so far as ocean freights and facilities are concerned are apparently limited to inquiring into and reporting on the facts. Much more than this may be- needed to give the Empire the sea communications which will be a first essential to its welfare and development .after the war. The shipping question in itself is hedged about with difficulties, but it is only an item in the array of. problems with which the Empire.and each of its Dominions will have to grapple in the near future. Our own alternatives as a Dominion are plain. If we revert to what was inefficient in our. pre-war methods in matters of national development and industry we must look forward to a period of crushing' taxation and to general hardship and hard/ times. On the other hand it is open to us, by responding to the stimulus of the times, at on«e to avert these evils and to inaugurate a new era of prosperity. . Granted an increasing population, an efficient organisation of development works, and a prosperous expansion of its industries the Dominion will have no difficulty in carrying its war burdens and affording steadily improving conditions of life to its population. To this point all who have given any thought to after-war problems are on common ground. But we are bound to_ ask a great deal more of our political leaders than a general affirmation of the obvious truth that vigorous development is the key to after-war problems. Nothing. could be more satisfactory, as far as it goes, than Mk. Massey's'emphatic statement that a comprehensive policy of development is necessary in this country and that it must be framed on a scale never before attempted. But before we can as much as begin to look forward confidently it will have to be demonstrated that the Prime Minister and his colleagues of the National Government not only hold this belief but are acting upon it with all possible energy and foresight. In regard to tßis vital matter of afterwar policy we cannot get down too soon to practical working details. It is possible, though not certain, that the war may end in the comparatively near future, and it is every whit as necessary that we should prepare for peace and for the_ problems it will bring in its train as that we should continue to play our part in the war. We cannot afford to emerge from the war unprepared or ill-prepared to attack the great problems of reconstruction and development which will then demand undivided attention. ■ Mb. Hassey said yesterday that already the Government is taking the necessary steps in connection with the big development policy of which he had spoken and which was bound to come. This being bo, and more especially since Parliament is in session, the Prime Minister and his 00l leagues will no doubt take an early opportunity of letting tho country know a great deal more about their plans of after-war development. It is plain enough that the policy called for must be very wide and far-reaching; in its scope if it is to serve its intended purpose. In his speech Me. Massey referred to the exploitation of natural resources, some of which we have in the past unwisely neglected, and to the possibilities of attracting British immigrants in increased numbers! These things will take their place in after-war policy, but there are others oven more important. It is most important of all that wo should do our utraoet to effect a clean break from what was inefficient and wasteful in our pre-war methods, national, industrial, and commercial.

New schemes of development will hardly make much headway, for example, until our existing system of constructing public works has been jettisonod in favour of more rational methods. It was never a sound policy to construct roads and railways by scattered piecemeal efforts, goveruod by petty political compromises, and certainly such a system is utterly incompatible with the bold and enterprising development of our national resources which is called for to meet afterwar conditions. Local government reform on a comprehensive scale is also an essential accompaniment _ of the ambitious development policy which the- PniME Minister has lightly sketched. Any programmo of 'after-war development would bo hopelessly incomplete which did not take account of the possibility of improving the existing relations between employers and employed in industry, and it goes without saying that such a programme must inako provision for the sweeping educational reforms which are now being demanded all over the country. It would, of course, bo absurd to expect the Government to prepare a cut-and-dricd scheme which would completely cover these and other aspects of after-war reorganisation and development. But it is necessary that it should plan boldly in a wide field if a good opening attack is to be made upon the problems which will arise in practical I shape as soon as peace is .declared.

A more detailed disclosure of the lines on which the- Governineut is laying its plans and of what it proposes to do will be awaited with much interest. Its manifest duty is at once to give a strong lead and to enlist all possible, co-operation and assistance towards carrying its plans into effect.