MORE PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 271, 12 August 1919, Page 8

MORE PRODUCTION

A FIFTF PER CENT. INCREASE

MR. MASSEY ON NEW ZEALAND

NEEDS

"Wo have got through the war period successfully," said the Primo Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) jj.t the ceremony on the site of the now State Fire Insurance Office yesterday. "But 1 think you will agree with me that the probloius of peace which liave to be taken in hand now, without any delay, are in many vespeots just as important aa the problems we havo tackled and solved during thfc war period. Tho new office of the State Fire Department is merely one of important. works that have had to'etarad over, during the last five years. There are hundreds of works to be taken in hand, including school buildings in many parte of tho country. Some country ohildren are being taught in tents at tha present time. I wn filad to be abf.o to say that as far as indications go there will difficulty in finding the necessary cash for school buildings and other public works.

"We are face to face with serious difficulties, though not so serious as tjhs difficulties off many other countries. Our difacul&s will bo more easily overcome during the nest two or three years tiian the difficulties of many other British countries. Wc have a splendid country, a highly productive country, and a splendid climate. The possibilities of production in this country were proved during the war period by the enormous quantities of producc wc were able to send to the Mother Country." But we cannot stop whero we are in the matter of production 1 . We have token up enormous liabilities. Wo have practically doubled 1 our National Debt, which lias increased from .£100,000,000 to 4200,000,000. We have got to increase production in every way possible if we aire going to carry that burden without very serious inoonvenience to the whole of the population. That we cap increase production I do not doubt. Wo have vast possibilities of expansion, but we must face those possibilities energetically and with determination, just as we did during the war period.

"V 7 ,' have the .great hydro-electric schemes., which I hope will be of immense benefit to Wellington and all the other centres. We have to cotnplete those rail, ways whioh iraro suspended during the war period, make roads, and do all we our. in connection with soldiers' land setfejisnt. M-y colleagues have done splendid work in this matter during my absence. Their efforts will stand looking into, ar.d are worthy of commendation from all quarters.

"That is only part of the great work that is ahead of us. We have to increase production and keep down unnecessary expenditure. I sajr 'unnecessary,' because there is expenditure contemplated and suggested that we cannot do without. We cannot increase production without increasing expenditure. We have to increase expenditure in order to provide facilities required for the increase of our exports by at least 50 per cent."

The Prime Minister Added that he hoped the shippinc; interests would play their part fully in the era of development tlwt was before New Zealand. The Dominion required inoreased supplies of shipping, and for that it must look to campanies controlled generally from other osimtrws.