STOP THE WASTE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11652, 22 August 1916, Page 7

STOP THE WASTE.

Sir A. F. Yarrow, tlie famous builder of ships—some of which are now on the Tigris—in a letter to (he Times, says:— “Much is being said as to how we can mend onr ways after the war to ensure the prosperity of our country. The increase in wealth and prosperity in a country depends upon the amount of production in excess of the amount of consumption. This may be considered as the general ‘principal that governs the increase of wealth. It therefore behoves every one who has the welfare of his country at' heart to produce in some form as much as he can, and to expend in what is unnecessary as little as possible. In order to produce the maximum we must bring science, good education, and organisation to onr aid. We must be willing to work harder than we do, and. if it be possible, diminish the waste of energy in political disputes, and turn that energy to the good of the country. “It is owing to the above essential conditions for success that the Germans have made such wonderful progress in industrial development. The war will not alter the German character, and if we are to be successful in competition with them we must surpass them in these characteristics. The result of scientific education, industry, and organisation is evidenced iu the wonderful industrial progress during recent years in Germany, for in spite of an annual increase in population of threequarters of a million, emigration has nearly cei.s p d, because ample employment is found tor all in their own country, and thus loss of wealth doe to emigration is avoided.

“The effect of emigration from a country is to cause a constant dra:n of wealth. Thus, If an average man of productive age cost to feed, clothe and educate, say, £4OO, the country which he leaves and in which’he has been brought up ibses equivalent to £4OO, because the emigrant is not an article of commerce, and nothing is received in exchange. Thus, „if 100,000 people leave a country per annum, assuming the cost of producing an emigrant is £4OO, it represents a loss to the country of £40,000,000 sterling per annum. Such a loss, if productive employment were obtained for the emigrants in their own land, would not only be avoided, but the wealth of the country would he increased to the extent of what they produce. “Although the Germans have sacrificed the good opinion of the civilised world, it is well for us to study the causes which have led to their rapid rise iu prosperity before the'war.”