CANADA AND THE WAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 266, 13 April 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

CANADA AND THE WAR.

AVe are naturally proud of the part New Zealand has played and is playing, in the war, but we are not unmindful of the fact that other parts •of tha Umpire have responded with *?qual thoroughness and enthusiasm to the call of the Motherland. Canada s record, from every point of view, is a splendid one. Inclusive of the last -rote of 500 million dollars ior the A-ear beginning April 1, Canada's toti. war appropriation amounts to 900 million dollars. The Government and tho banks have lent the Imperial Treasury 250 million dollars with winch to finance munition orders in the Dominion, «nd further credits of the same kind mill be required. The Minister for .Vinanco has obtained 200 million dollars through popular subscriptions to •two domestic loans, and the public will probably bo asked for 100 million dollars more in the next few months. The Finance Minister has taken authority to borrow 250 million dollars on the American Continent during the coming year. A portion of this sum may ■"be secured in ; the United States, if suoney conditions are favourable there, and exchange conditions warrant such recourse. The Government is now issuing domestic war-saving certificates -of small denominations through a'l postal moncy-ord3r offices and branch banks. Certificates for 25 dollars, U) -dollars, and 100 dollars, maturing in three yeHrs, may now be purchased for 21.50 dollars, 43 dollars, and *:6 dollars respectively. The Dominion is .in an excellent financial position to bear the burden of the war, and to .take up these certificates, and forthcoming war loans of large dimensions. Canadian farmers were never so well 'off. There were never so few unemployed. Banks and manufacturing industries have got into sn exceptionally strong position. The national revenues expand. For the fiscal year •ending on March 31, Canada's foreign trade will exceed 2,000 million dollars, or doubb what it was before the war. In threo years an unfavourable trade -balance of 300 million dollars has been .turned into a favourable trade balance ::,i 400 million dollars. This satisfactory condition is due to the heavy war contracts executed in the Domiaion and to the high prices received lor foodstuffs sold to the Allies. Canada's output of munitions is now larger than that of any country in the world, except Germany prior to the war. The Canadian munitions industry represents one of the two or threo most extensive industrial organisations on the North American continent, its only rivals in size being the United States Steel Corporation and tho .Standard Oil Company. Six hundred -and thirty plants are at work under the direction of the Imperial Munitions Hoard, a small commission of eminent Canadian business men, with Mr. J. W. FlavelLe as chairman, acting for the British Government. The board employs a head office staff if £OO, and 4000 factory machine shop and testing inspectors. More than '390,000 operatives. including many thousands of women, are engaged in night and day shifts, lifting production to ever higher levels. These workers gave up their New Year's holiday to speed up output. About 500 million dollars' worth of shells have already been delivered, and orders for 700 million dollars' worth have been or are being placed for execution during the current year. War orders of all kinds received in Canada to the end of 1916 ■aggregated 1,097 million dollars, and the total now greatly exceeds that amount. Extensive munition and subsidiary steel plants are still in course •of construction, and two great aeroplane factories are being erected. The Imperial authorities are providing for the establishment of 20 reserve aeroplane squadrons in Canada as a branch •of the Royal Flying Corps. The total •=war expenditure has been 60,750,000 ■collars in 1914-15, 166,197,000 dollars in 1915-16, and 216.901,000 in 19101917. It is estimated at 433,000,000 dollars for tho fiscal year beginning en April 1. Of this sum, actual military expenditures are estimated at 115,171,000 dollars, made up of such items as 182,500.000 dollars for the pay of four hundred thousand troops, 436,000,000 dollars for separation allowances and 51,000,000 dollars for rations and subsistence. Pensions will run into nine million dollars. The revenue for tho year concluding on March ?i, 1917, is sufficient to pay all ordinary and capital expenditures and 60,000,000 or 70,000,000 dollars of the principal of the war expenditure. On January 22nd the Prime Minister gave the House ot Commons an interesting statement of Canada's war contribution in men. It snowed that nearly 435,000 individual-, have enrolled themselves for serviie. If we include those engaged night and day in producing munitions for the Allied armies, between ectly engaged in winning the war. if we add those engaged in steel and oth- «;• contributory industries, upwards ef a million nun are throwing their efforts into the conflict. This is a fairly ■creditable showing for a population < f less t.ian eight millions, only 60 per cent. British in origin, and it leaves O'it of account those who assist with continual contributions of money -.r comforts for the solders and their dependants. Nor is it suggested tin: 3noiv cannot be done. It is propoved that under the notional service svstem the man-power ot the country shall 1.0 •organised for a still more crVctivo

participation in the war at home ami oversea. Sir Robert liordon has i n <h. oatod that steps will shortly he taken io release a largo additional body of th.'ii for oversea serv'ce. Canadians ,•( the front, by bravery and distinguished rprvico, have won decorations, medals md mention in despate! )P<; to the num. I«t of 2715. Of thes". 11 were award«d l»v the French, and 12 by the Russian Government. Under pressure from

tlio Dominion Government, which threatened to take over the coal mines j and woik them on a national haas, operators and operatives in British Columbia have settled their differences. The stoppage of the mutes menaced large sections of the vest with a fuel famine m midwinter. At the same time the province of Ontario has been suffering from a coal shortage, caus;d by th.o general congestion of freight tiaffic on the railways in Eastern Canada and 'the eastern States. Munition plants will have to close down unless coal and coke can be moved moiv promptly from the American mines to Canadian factories. The recent curtailment of passenger services to release engines and train crews for freight handling, has not been sufficiently drastic to meet the situation, and a further cancellation of passenger trains is likely.