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Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1917, Page 2

The changing effects of the war a'ro going to operate generally on all matters after the conflict censes and the nations settle down to peaceful pursuits and rehabitation. Mr. Burbury spoke the other evening of postwar times and the work ahead.- of tho Efficiency Board and its organisation in regard to coping with the new order of things. Tho world’s markets will he open very wide for some time after the war, to make good the shortages and exhaustion of stock created during

lie long drawn out struggle. For a good

.irne to come thero need not he much car of over production, certainly in

the primary products, for which this country has now become notable.' But there is a good deal in Mr. BurburvV contention that New Zealand should be more self contained, and instead of sending out the raw products, and afterwards importing the manufactured, article, it would he hotter to establish and expand industries locally so ato deal on the snot with our raw products,and export the manufactured goods. Remote from the war, and in a tranquil atmosphere, the Dominion has the opportunity to organise in good time for the task ahead. The Efficiency Board is now established on a new footing and should be icnpaTile of starting out- on the organisation for tho industrial period referred to. While the business of war must occupy our chief attention, and our duty is to assist in every way possible to bring that dire event t-o the culminating

point- we nil hopo tor wo must look n little further ahead and he

prepared to take advantage of the larger opportunities which will be offering after the war.

With becoming tolerance worthy of the cause espoused, the Allies have hesitated all too long in deciding upon reprisals for the cruel acts of ruthlessness perpetrated by the enemy on land and sea, from the air or under the war. There is not a more tolerant man than the British Premier in these matters. Mi s whole life and training has been such that ho would abhor to descend to the level reached by the enemy in its insane* effort to win at any and all costs. But human nature can give way from the finest ideals, if pressed beyond endurance. The enemy in every theatre of the war, in every action possible has long passed outside tho pale of fair-plav. Crime upon crime ha« been perpetrated, and nothing has brought homo to the English people the diabolical character of the enemy tactics more than the indiscriminate air-raids. These horrors have been typical of more extensive deeds in other places, but they have served to awaken tho public conscience to the lengths the foo will go in their war madness. It is difficult to make any punishment fit these great crimes upon humanity, or to devise any legal enforcement of authority which could have a correcting effect. The enemy so self-inflated with the mad desire to win the war at any cost to the opponents, cannot be checked by the ordinary rules of war, or restrained by any ordinary human device. In these circumstances there remains but the task of biting back in his own style,, taking reprisals by retaliation. This has now been virtually decided upon. r lho enoniv will not enjoy liberal doses of his own medicine, and the fact that it is being administered will bo ’ another reminder to him that his race is run, and the Allies are not going to be frightened from the victory to ho won.