The New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1920. SHORT SUPPLIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10614, 12 June 1920, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1920. SHORT SUPPLIES

Disorganisation followed the wan, of course. An the war was the greatest in history, both in scale and in savagery, the wonder is not that them should ho disorganisation, but that tho disorganisation has not destroyed civilisation with the forces of anarchy. For a time civilisation was badly threatened in places, while in Russia it actually wont under, and is to-day deep beneath tho most appalling savagery. But the Russian nienaco has been decisively checked, and tho | world’s producing power is getting into order again. Tho worst disorganisation is in the centre of what was onco the Austrian Empire. For tho moment, hotvever, tho restoration of the- old producing power is still far off. Hcnco there is considerable disquiet; and this is especially pronounced with regard to the production of wheat.” The latest statistics do not support tho most pessimistic conclusions about tho general shortage. But they justify apprehension to a certain extent. The latest estimate of a requirement by tho wheat-importing countries of 630 million bushels, and of the producing power of the exporting countries of 78S millions, shows a situation which, according to the universal complaints, might have boon easily worse. At the same time, it is a serious warning to all nations to put their houses in order.

In Britain the war work done in tho growing of wheat, in spite of a bad land law and adverse conditions, is being used as an argument for enforcing the growing of more wheat by the British farmers, and for encouragement in aid of the enforcing. This movement ought to bo helped by the improvements in the national wealth and tho national income noted in. Mr Cramond’s remarkable paper, which is attracting considerable attention. Hr Lloyd George states that in Russia (Southern) there is, according to the Poles, a vast quantity of wheat ready to ho railed westward. In Central Knrope the productive industry of the people was paralysed by tho effects of tho Peace Treaty. Under the Treaty several States sprang into separate ; independence v out of the ruins of tho Austrian Empire, and those promptly barred the courses of commerce which they had followed before their rebirth into separate national life. The result may have been satisfactory to tho now national pride, but it Was disastrous to the old national production. Legally there was no redress, for over independents there is legally no power in the world. The Allies mot the situation jiromptly by refusing loans until these commercial follies of a false and disastrous national pride are removed. They have been reduced in consequence, and probably the restoration of normal activity is not far off. Tho Gorman elections are not treated by tho critics with anything like enthusiasm, but the absence of fulminations encourages tho hope that the result of those elections may improve Central European stability. Putting these things together, and throwing upon them tho light of the extraordinary prosperity of tho United States and other countries, it is poesihlc to foci fairly well assured of an early return to stability and tho stoppage of tlic famine prices which figure so badly in many' walks of industry. Nevertheless, the lesson taught by tho war cannot he ignored. That in realised in England, for there the compulsory growing Of wheat is established. The coiiHcqiiencbs of academic slavery of mind induced by an irrationally swooping propaganda had so ruined agriculture that national disaster was very hcarly produced by tho inability of tho soil-holder to make tho soil produce enough food during tho stress of war. 'The truth had been, lost sight of by the selfish propagandists. That truth is that tho soil of every country must first produce food, and tho first duty of tho holder of the soil is to make it produce food. In the later Plantnganet days this was recognised, and tho population prospered. Presently tho woo! trade offered inducements and tho landholders diverting the soil to tho growth of clothing material, starvation depopulated very mahy villages. Still later, the claims of sport took an infernal haiid in the nefarious game of dutilesa wealth, and men and women and children wore ruthlessly swept olf the land on which their ancestors had lived in comfort; tlic -land, in fact, which in many cases their ancestors had owned until grasping chieftains despoiled their tribesmen of their tribal possessions. "When tho evil of unprincipled land misuse reached its clilntix, the Groat War descended on tho nation; the laud failed to feed tho people; and defeat began to advance with rapid strides'. Then tho"ni!cr6 rushed to tho laud to save tho people, and agriculture was stimulated by every possible encouragement; and the souse of agricultural

duty was restored. Th:s sense had been lost also in New Zealand. It was restored during the war It must bo kept up by drastic determination and judicious encouragement. Tho thing is cany now when the situation is abnormal. But we must determine to go on with it after tho abnormality passes away. The soil must not only feed the people, now in the country, but it must carry more people, and, to that end, must grow foodstuffs.