The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1918 WIRE FOR SOLDIERS' FARMS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 401, 16 August 1918, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. " We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1918 WIRE FOR SOLDIERS' FARMS

Wk have often in these colmnus commented upon the supineness of tlu- National Government in permitting the importation of excessive numbers '" of motor-cars and other purely unnecessary luxuries while fencing • wire, manures and agricultural machinery, were shut out for want of shipping space. We are glad to find that our efforts to drive this matter home to the consciences ot Ministers is being seconded by the organ devoted to the interests of returned soldiers. In a recent article it stated that soldiers who had been placed on the land could not obtain wire to fence their sections, while had

been coming in in hundreds. In 1917 they had been imported to the value of £535,329 as against £275,146 in 1914. The article adds " Shipping space is available for persons who have been able lo win war profits, but men who have helped to win the war have to wait for wire."

The Minister for Lands made reference to this complaint on Wednesday. He said the Government was not neglecting any opportunity to obtain shipping space for wire, but the question of space was controlled in America. Certain people offered higher prices for space than others and this might explain the exclusion of necessary articles and

the preference given to motor cars.

Evidently Mr Guthrie, like the rest of the Ministry, is ready to sit down and wring his hands and exclaim that he has done his best for his country but that cruel fate was too strong for him. Is it possible that it has never occurred to any member of the Cabinet to follow the example of the United States and obtain the articles that are required by the simple method ot only permitting the importation of the things that are not required by license ? If the New Zealand would prohibit the importation ot motorcars except by permit and no issue those permits too lavishly we should soon have all the wire and machinery that we need.