WAR MEASURER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 271, 1 May 1917, Page 2

WAR MEASURER.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Many of your readers will j doubtless have read the report of a \ meeting of the Franklin County Coun- ! cil held on Thursday, sth of April, and reported by you on Friday, 13th April. Therein we find the Council is considering national efficiency measures. It may he interesting first of all to note in passing the concensus of opinion that the war will terminate in three months' time (hut that is conjecture). However, let that be as it may, we are all desirous that the war should terminate soon. The Entente have, however, decided that no peace can come about until militarism is crushed effectively for all time. That being the position then, can we in New Zealand console ourselves with the idea that further preparations to win the war should cease, because public opinion prescribes three , months? Or does the decision of the Powers demand our united efforts in deciding that the position we have been forced into, consequent through j the war, requires expansion and decided action to be taken now to preserve our country's life by conserving | the host interests of the Dominion, the t harnessimr of latent energy, brineine into active service the heedless, thoughless. and careless, so that we may be able to continue reinforce- i merits, production, manufacturing, and finance? Now. Sir. referring »o the "Time=" | report of 13th April, the principal mat-., ter put to the Council for their con- | sideration was the control of soldiers' i farms, which under any scheme of . ' national character should not be taxed j with anv loss or mismanagement on I the part of any body of trustees, hut I -hould he borne by the Government, j The fallacy of such action seems to i ;ne lo hamper, instead of relieve, the -..Mi,.,-, hi him he a farmer, a mer- ; rhani, a manufacturer, or anything ' ,■!<,.. If anyone of these -oes lo fight fur us. should he sacrifice any portion of his equity? (With trood man- . ii'remenl there should he no loss.) j I think. Sir. the keynote sounded by Cr. Motion at the Council meet- I ing is strikincr at the root of the prob- j lem and if carried onl in its fullness dionld inert the case. Cr. Motion j -aid that "the success of the Eflfi- I i-ioncy Board would depend on the action the Government would take in , commandeering labour, and every- | , thing would hinge on what labour the | Government had to dispose of." 1 , think this is the most vital point the Efficiency Hoard are confronted with. | ' and to meet this very point nothing ■ •diort of drastic measures will have , 1., be enforced, if we want to have a , , square deal to all and sundry, and , ; a rapid return to prosperity after the j . war. , '

In the face of food shortage at Home, and no doubt in the trenches also, the Council raises the question uf rWucin-J the rate of interest on mort-'atres. Should interest be paid Ml all is the point? If the man who i- awav fiirhtinc is deprived of earnin- the wherewithal to pay, why -hoiild the financiers not abandon his interest, and go to work for their liviir' in the same day as the soldier, • ■-specially as the backbone of the r-, miti'v is bo in 2 called up and trained in sorve his Kin.u and his country in the defence uf whom? Cv. Renall wisely raises the quesli«n what will be done with the finaneiallv weak man when called up. Cr. Renall remarked that a man inv ived would fall, whereas in his opini,,n It" should receive more considera-ti-n and bo as-i-ted. J would add thai c>iisi(lerati"ii should ho made retrospective, for many who have en-li-ted and have be-m compelled ta |,..-e a L'reater or lesser proportion of their life's -avinu' to moot the requirements of the military court (1 am not eak'2oriziii'j those in authority, but the system). These "men have as much right to consideration as the 1,1,111 who is now beins called up. A forced sale now would result in heavy |i'?s, and many may be in that position. Tie; remedy, of course, is "do ii.« sell." Then why not apply the remedy at the moment he is passed I mi- service? In his nmarks published in the • !J, raid " of March 23rd. Mr. Gillies ! >avs: ,; The position of si,me farms mi'idit be such that the Board would j ui.t feel warranted in taking over the | tnis( of mana'.'intr them." Why. thi- j i- tlio very man who needs help the niM-t ,i,f all, because he cannot now realise his farm in open market at j a satisfactory price to reimburse him ] his equity in that property. No. sir, j I think the Efficiency Heard must be . prepare.) to take over the individual , - 1 lire's property, rare for if. and farm ; ii and hand il hack ai:ain. at the end hI the war, free ~f additional oneuni- I lira nee. The Pre-- Ruivau. T.ondon. February •22. 1117. state-- that the Board of ! \ •rieulfure ha = empowered local an- | Uioritios to enmpulsorily lake over al- i letmenls f..r the purposes of maintain- ;•!..' the feed supply. 11l conclusion, I maintain that unless a different method is adopted, as , ,i war-time measure, we cannot expect I-1 save the man vvc oniiht to save ii in nioiiet.u \ l"ss or iced •he man we ouuht to feed. Ju-' Honk of it. lednein.' rations (n h man in the tivnches. < 'an \\v -till uphold •'•■ it i.jd tradition, " Riitoiu n, v>r 1... H 1„. Jave- "f 1 am. etc.. \ TMBKHOPAT I'.UeI.HM.I \p>i| 27. 10)7. I