A HEART TO HEART TALK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2109, 30 March 1920, Page 1

A HEART TO HEART TALK.

On the assumption that inauguration is allowed to play some part in governance, the London Express suggests that it: would be a wise end titling thing for responsible British Governments to lake the people fully into their confidence and issue a manifesto in the spu’d of leaders who appeal to the reason and sentiment of patriots. Why not, it suggests, a pronouncement on these lines?- — TO THE PUBLIC.

Wo, the undersigned Ministers of (he Crown, responsible to h:s Mr.jcsly ami Parliament, for the ! oomlm-t of departments intimately ' eoneorned with the domestie wellborn,!’’ of the people, desire to make (ho following joint slatoment earnosl !y ■ commending it to Use careful consideration of the nation. The return of trade and industry to normal conditions is not (ahim-’ place quickly enough. There is evidence of; much antisocial conduct, not due to wilful onpo.-dtion to (lie nation's best interests, nut to a nvsnndersiandmg of the economic situation. The contra! fuel of Ihe economic situation is (ha! our country is no! paying its way. The proof of this is plum. Today the British pound sterling is selling on Ihe New York market for fifteen shillings and sevenpence. The goods we need most, especially food stuffs, come chiefly from America. The cost of living x/.l! remain high so long as, in the vciV first stage of the marketing process, we have to pay twenty shillings fur imported food worth only fifteen shilling.-; and sevenpence. Put Ihe American exchange rigid, so that twenty shillings here is worth twenty shillings (here, and (ho purchasing power <;(' wages will automatically rise hi! per cent. The exchange., can be set right only by importing less or exporting more, or by both together. This is not, and cannot be, entirely the Government's task. It is one for the people as a whole, working in enthusiasm to this end. An ill-spent hour nr ill-spent money is injurious to our country's lies.l interests, ami. indeed, injurious to the interests of every citizen. This is the plain statement of responsible men who earnestly desire that the public may understand what is wrong, such knowledge being the (irst step towards putting it right. • During (lie war it was impossible, to devote ourselves to the full production of the goods used every day by every citizen. The making of commodities for use in our homes was severely curtailed by the necessity of making war materials. The supply of such goods was further diminished by the German submarine campaign. The consequences were obvious to the eyes of all. Half-empty stalls in our markets, half-empty shelves in our shops, and high prices. The (irsl remedy for high prices in simps and markets is more goods in (hose shops and markets, and 1* is quite clear that they can- , not gel there before they have been produced. Money is plentiful, no doubt, but of what use is plenty of money when goods are few? We da not cat money, or wear it, or sleep in it, or live in it. Hood, .clothes, furniture, and houses a things we want. In the old story, Robinson Crusoe found a bag of money ami said he would give it all for a pocket-knife —but: he had to go without the knife. In the present circumstances every worker, every employer, and every citizen has an obvious part to play: — from every citizen is required prudence and patience, for, though every one can help, the united efforts of all will be long in coming to their fruition.

From every employer is required unremitting attention to business, the utmost efficiency, ;i strenuous omlea /our to extend bis markets abroad and, in particular, the cultivation of.,cordial relations with his employees. From every worker is required the maximum output of work while he i< at work, since it is as necessary for him to earn every penny lie gets as to get every penny he earns. THE WATCHWORDS ARE:— Spend less, save more, ivork harder. Stock our shops with goods. Fill our ships with cargoes. This is a national programme. K carried out it can have only one result —the completion of the bridge from war to peace with all the hopes of peace fulfilled.

An officer of the Lands Department will leave for America shortly to buy drainage dredges and machinery for the breaking in and reading of newly drained lands. Already groat areas of swamp land have been reclaimed by the Lands Department and turned into some of the best pasture land in the country. From early in the year operations have been very severely hampered by the Department’,s inability to replace old and worn-out machinery. Should it be possible to buy new machinery in America, the Government, it is understood, wilt push ahead not only with those wonts partially done, but with several hew areas as yet untouched.