NEW ZEALAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2000, 8 July 1919, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

ITS TRADE AND PROSPECTS, ARTICLE BY PRIME MINISTER. SCOPE AND NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT. London, July 1. . In the Empire number of the Financier and Bullionist, Mr Massey has a special article on New Zealand, its present position and prospects. After detailing the strength of the Dominion’s Forces, and noting their excellent record in the held and in camp, the Prime Ministerstates that the Dominion’s financial responsibilities as the direct result of the war are very heavy. Including the capitalisation of pensions, the war has cost the Dominion little, if anything, less than two hundred millions, says the article. It is estimated that the annual cost of the pensions, which are the most generous in the world, will be not less than two millions. This charge will be accepted as a debt of gratitude. There is no lack of confidence on the part of New Zealanders in the future. They have a sturdy faith in the strength of the country to carry its heavy burden. The Dominion’s resources, especially as regards the primary industries, are still capable of enormous development. The best is yet to be. There will, within a comparatively short time, be room for industries which hitherto have been scarcely thought of, far less explored. The iron industry T an exam];!?, there being- huge deposits of iron ore of first-class quality and Ironsand on the west coast of the North Island. Experts have expressed the opinion that there is nothing better in the world. There is immense scope for the development of our unique resources. As regards water power for generating electrical energy, it is intended to put these works in hand almost immediately as an importantpart of the reorganised activities of the Dominion after the war and following the lessons of the war, which have shown the necessity for each part of the Empire to develop its own resources. Plans are in preparation for a wide development of New Zealand’s enormous water power, in order to provide all the centres and many of the smaller towns with electricity for domestic and industrial-purposes. There is no scarcity of coal in New Zealand, but the cost of handling and transport make it necessary that we should economise our consumption of coal supplies hy the extensive use of electricity generated by natural water power wherever practicable. That is the aim of the Government, and the prospects of a profitable extension are very good. The experimental stage has been passed. The value of the development of water power is already proved by the State at Lake Coleridge, where the scheme has been marked by success. The results cry alomt for wide ovtension, and the response will- be practical. The estimated cost of the proposed works is about seven millions.

Kailway transit is also to bo developed. It is intended to complete several railways under construction as soon as labour and material are available, thus maintaining a steady supply of employment. Road-mak-ing and bridge-building will also be

carried on vigorously in order to open up new country for settlement, New Zealand will not be a manufacturing country for some time to come, and must rely principally on her primary industries, but that is no reason why the development of secondary industries, for which we have raw material, should not be encouraged in every possible way.

REPATRIATION AND SETTLEMENT.

The principal business in hand now is repatriation, which will be less difficult than many people imagined it would be, because the great majority of the men have homes or businesses to return to, while employment awaits most of those who require it. It must be said, witff*

satisfaction, that our men. are settling down with credit to themselves and the Dominion, The Government is finding suitable land for the settlement of returned soldiers 'with agrieulural experience who desire to secure holdings and win success on the soil of the country which rewards industry. Encouragement is freely given those likely to he successful settlers. To encourage men who, for lack of experience and oilier reasons, are unlikely to succeed would mean misery and failure for them, and certain loss to the State. Great care, therefore, is being exercised as regards the selection. The latest official returns show that 1,200 returned soldiers have been placed on the soil, and a large percentage of these are practically certain to do well.

New Zealand, like other countries, is .suffering from a scarcity of dwelling-houses, owing to the arrest of construction during the war period, But earnest efforts are to be made to meet the difficulty, and he is confident that the Government, local bodies, and private individuals will co-operate actively in supplying the demand which evidently exists with common acuteness throughout all the Allied countries. It necessarily must take some time, however, and will impose still a little more strain upon the patience of .patriotic people before we all can return to the even gait of normal activity. It is the policy of the New Zealand Government to provide (he citizens with comfortable homes, with the opportunity of making them their own. The prospects in New Zealand after the war are well founded on past results, and par-

ticularly so upon the achievements within the Dominion during the war period. Since March, 1015, in spite of the depletion of labour for the war, we have been able to produce for the Imperial Government about 120 millions’ worth of wool, meat, and dairy produce. That is proof of the productive strength of the Dominion, and speaks volumes for the country’s resources and industry. The energy of the settlers has been handicapped by the absence of the great body of men who responded to the Empire’s call. The policy of the Government throughout the longcourse and strain of the war Avas to do our full share in pressing the good cause to a successful issue, and still to keep the country prosperous. Now the war has come to an end avc can look back and see avc have been successful in both. Our losses, unfortunately,, were heavy; but our consolation is that our boys Avho made the supreme sacrifice have giA r en their lives in a great cause. They put an immortal seal upon our freedom. They heard the sunset gan too soon, but (hey have left for us and others a long day of peace.

A WELCOME FOR EMIGRANTS. Ngav Zealand, like all Allied countries, has its problems of peace as it had its problems of Avar, but in freedom from the world strife avc should surely achieve as full a measure of success as avc gained in the more difficult and dreadful circumstances of Avar —a full measure, of triumph. There is Avithin the Dominion great scope for progressive effort. Large areas .wait settlement. It may not he as good laud as that already settled, but it is useful laud, capable of profitable development by men with grit and eagerness to establish-comfortable homes. There is an opportunity for lens of thousands Avho arc prepared to Avork for success. The demands of war retarded the preparation for extensive settlement, oAving to the absence of surveyors and their assistants on active service; but shortly avc shall be able to resume operations at the promising point at which they Averc broken off towards the end of 1914, Our intention is to carry on vigorously our policy as regards land settlement and the development of the Dominion’s resources. Such a policy is absolutely essential if New Zealand is to carry without serious inconvenience the heavy burdens resulting from the war. Industrious people need have no fear of not doing Avell in Ncav Zcaland. Work means success. He had never known properly directed energy to fail. Mr Massey adds: “I Avelcome the Imperial Government’s scheme for emigration to the Dominions. But our oavh soldiers must come first. They have earned preference and Aviso encouragement.”