THE WAR HORIZON.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1917, Page 7

THE WAR HORIZON.

THE END DRAWS NEAR.

, IMPERIAL DEMANDS ON I*EW i ZEALAND.

STATEMENT BY ACTING-PREMIER

"Speaking after very deliberate consideration and on information received, I want to say with regard to the national efficiency question." stated the Hon. Sir James Allen (Acting-Premier and Minister for Defence) to a Times representative yesterday, "that the mos: urgent claim upon New Zealand at the present time is to keep up the number of men for the various reinforcements. It must be evident to every thinking man (he added) that it is to the advantage of the Mother Country and her Allies to exert as much pressure as they can during this summer, in order to bring the war to a climax this summer if possible. I use the word climax advisedly. From the point of view of ourselves and our Allies, it is the most economical thing, both with regard to men, money, food supplies, and everything to finish the war this summer, !if at all possible. If we have to drag orer another winter it will mean heavier cost in money and men and everything else.

"MUST NOT SLACKEN."

"So we must not slacken in our efforts. Next to "the demand for men to keep up our reinforcements, and we arc not'asking for more than for our usual drafts—next to the demand for men, and a good second to it, are the foodstuffs that we can export for the use of our men at the front and for people at Home. It is our bounden duty to keep our products up as far as we are able to do it; and from the point of view of those engaged in these industries, it is as well that we should finish the war this year if we can. It will be still harder for them if we have to go on for another year. It is our obvious policy to try and finish this'year."

THE SHIPPING PROBLEM. Questioned with regard to the problem of shipping space for our products, Sir. James Allen said: "We have not got much control over the shipping question in New Zealand, except that we are urging the Home authorities to supply us with as much shipping as possible to get our products away. But it may be we shall be more short of shipping during the year, partly owing to Hie submarine menace and partly to the fact that the Imperial Government may find' it necessary to find food supplies from nearer their own shores, where transport is not so lengthy as to New Zealand. Indeed, they have already done this in the case of two ships."