The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1914. THE DOMINION'S RESOURCES AND NEEDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 219, 16 March 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1914. THE DOMINION'S RESOURCES AND NEEDS.

It is always a of gratification when distinguished visitors, sueli as Karl Grey, who can speak from personal knowledge of conditions existing elsewhere, give expression to their opinions as to New Zealand's condition and prospects. We may not always agree with their conclusions and advice, but to the thinking portion of the community there are invariably some truisms that afford food for reflection. The comments made by Earl Grey when speaking recently at the New Zealand Club are worthy of more than passing attention, for although the object of his mission to this country is to advocate his Dominion House scheme, his natural bent is to observe'those tilings on which his large and varied experience suggests constructive criticism of a helpful nature. It is the irony of fate that a representative of the landed classes in the Homeland should so strongly urge the Government of NewZealand to assist the -farmers to obtain a better living, and though lie recognises that much has been done in this direction, yet he states that we are still behind Canada and South Africa in the organisation which is necessary for the purpose. It would have been more enlightening had Earl Grey outlined just where New Zeabmd failed in its duty on the matter. We were certainly under the impression that in most respects the policy of the Government had fostered and assisted the farming industry in all its branches, and as a result the revenue from exports had risen year by year, and was likely to do so for many years to come as the country develops its resources. It is just possible that our visitor saw how greatly handicapped were our baekblock settlers for want of roads and railways, and how greatly the need of these facilities was prejudicing the earning power of the settles. The speedy removal of this blot on our progress has again and again been urged, but it still exists, and the Dominion suffers a loss that is a standing disgrace to the Administration, while the settlers' struggles are needlessly burdensome and unremunerative. It is gratifying to know that Earl Grey considers that no public money spent by the Governments -of Canada or South Africa had been better expended than had that which had been spent on the agricultural farms and experimental reserves in New Zealand, but even on this point there is a difference of opinion, it being quite open to question that the same amount might have secured better results had it been utilised in other ways. Possibly the new Board of Agriculture may effect improvements in this, as well as in other matters concerning the extraction of wealth from the soil. Earl Grey considers that New Zealand, with its twenty-five millions of exports, has only commenced to tap the rich resources of the country, and that if the people devoted themselves seriously to the development of the untapped resources they would make as great progress in the future as the application of the principles of ! refrigeration to meat and butter had effected during the past twenty years. It sounds very enticing, but what are these untapped resources, and how are they to 6e exploited? One cannot help feeling what a great boon it would be to the country if Earl Grey would undertake to spend a few years here, and act as mentor in the development of these sources of wealth, and still more that he would overcome the need for the necessary finances. This country can do with all the sources of wealth it can develop, 'oat the need for capital is a great drawback, especially in such ventures as the oil industry and the exploitation for mineral wealth. "If," aaid Earl Grey, "only the half of what I have been told is true, the people of this country had facilities which, if they were only advertised as they would be if the Dominion House scheme were realised, would cause large numbers of men in England to take the first steamer to this country." He did not say what he had heard, but on his return he eould do great service by bringing before the men with money the possibilities that exist for obtaining wealth in New Zealand, but it will be necessary to state facts and not hearsay. Finally, Earl Greyplaced his finger on a matter that had caused him to experience a "shudder of apprehension." He had discovered that one-eighth of the population of the Dominion were directly dependent on the State. He viewed this with so much alarm that he uttered a welljustified warning against encouraging the people to rely on the State "to win either greatness or prosperity." Though it is evident Earl Grey does not quite realise what "government by the people for the people" means, it is natural for an impartial observer to feel concerned at the results of the spoon-feeding that has been customary in this country. Ths impressive words of warning given by our visitor should be taken seriously to heart. "The dependents of the State should not bo its masters. High wages may be stimulated by borrowed money, but the only source from which the greatness of the State can permanently be derived is the high average output of the individual worker, and the utmost development of the land by the primary producer." Reading between the lines, this opinion has evidently been toned down to avoid hurting democratic feelings, but the underlying truth is indisputable, and the warning may well be taken to heart. Unfortunately the gospel of work in the present day is one that does not adapt itself to the requirements laid down by Earl Grey, but partakes more of a state of warfare against the employers. There is no inducement for a "high average output,"

but closer subdivision, and the crushing out of hind aggregation will do much to increase the wealthy and prosperity of tliu country and its people.