New Zealand Opinions

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 January 1917, Page 2

New Zealand Opinions

4 AS VOICED EDITORIALLY. "Bread made of a. combination of wheat i:in:d maize flours is now the staple load of Greit. Britain, and under the title of "war bread" it indicates the origin uf the trouble arid the need for ille restrfctir.r. It would appear from this and also- from the fact that similar restrictions are being inipois'd in France and elsewhere "that there is an actual shortage of breadstuffs, but an examination of the facts will not bear out this contention. The root of the trouble lie.s in the shortage of tomuase owing to so many hundreds of vessels being commandeered for military and naval purposes, and to the wanton des'truc--1 tfon of dipping by pirate submarines. The • tonnage available for carrying foodstuffs for the people is* very restricted, and for a time at least the burden must be borne with patience." —(Mercantile Gazette.

''We are naturaly anxious to do everything in our power to assist the Military Boards, and to encourage enlistment; but the general character •c,f the appeals and the evidence in their support as submitted to the boards suggests to us that it will be well lor the authorities to temper their zeal on occasions with a good deal of discretion and forethought. We are net thinking of specific cases, but of the important general i question, how far the work of the country can be carried 011. if and when the vast majority of men of military age have gene to the front. It .is hardly necessary to point out that the agricultural and pastoral industries 011- which our welfare depends cannot exist with cut an adequate labor supply; <and ii' they dwindle and decline, not only will our own wealth be seriously diminished, but the cost of the production: of the surplus of food products which w<now export will be 110 longer available to supply Britain and her armies."— Auckland Star..

"To-day ntar.lyi everyone has conic to realise the enormous \alue of 111tensive eiiltivali n, and that in fact the faiuner is the. most important v. yjkiu- in the community; a fact accentuated hy the necessities of war. To agricultural production we must look for means of recouping ourselves the huge .financial drain of the war, and obviously 110 effort must he spared to ma:ko the utmost use of the Soil and to take advantage of the assistance which scientific research holds out to us."—Christcbuirch Star.

"The organisation of the nation for industrial purposes ought to have preceded or at least accompanied its organisation fcr military service. In certain occupations women can take the place of men ; there are others in which it would be better to continue the employment of men only: A great deal of enthusiasm was apparent among the women of the dominion when they formed the Women's National Reserve. We have yet to learn that they received any great amount of encouragement l'rom the Government. But, clearly, if the

drain on, the male population is Id continue, tli© Government must, piofo the more extended employ„f ,v.«m in ti„ now reserved almost exclusively for ■ mon. An advisory board of busing men would be of immense service to the country in organising its cervices, both in regard to the cm plovment of men who arc ineligible Solitary service and the women whese offers of .assistance have fallen , In deaf ea», „ ? t'no Ciwvn are concerned. —uMaiuwatu Standard.