The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1917. WHO SHALL BEAR THE BURDEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1917. WHO SHALL BEAR THE BURDEN.

During the debate on the Address-in-Reply there have been several references as to who shall ,bear the cost of the war. The question naturally resolves inito whether this cost is to >bo paid for straight out or iby means of a loan spread over a number of years so that posterity may bear its share as it will benefit more largely than the people of to-day. The advocates of the longer period have a strong case, fortified by British precedent and justified bv common sense and sound policy. The member for Patea ; Mr. G. V. Pearcc strongly advocated passing the burden on. Apparently the Government has not yet formed its policy on this important matter, though it is high time the principle to lie adopted was decided upon. The matter is in the hands of the House which has the power to stop further supplies until this point i 3 settled. The Government has, up to the present, taken authority to 'borrow twenty-eight millions, and Sir Joseph AVard stated in his budget speech last year that up to the beginning of 'May the war loans raised amounted to £9,850;000, while the August loan realised over eleven millions. This shows that there ia ft disposition on the part of the Government to spread the cost of the iwar over a period of years, 'but what is needed is ft definite pronouncement which will put an end to all doubt on the matter. It is all very well to point to the prosperity of the Dominion as a reason why the taxation screw should be applied to wring money out of the people, but such a course would soon be unendurable by a large proportion of the community which is already unduly pressed by the high cost of living and the other heavy burdens imposed on them by tho State. Jt is unreasonable as well as unjust to expect that the people of to-day should bear the financial (burden of the war. They are giving their services to King and country, and making enormous sacrifices in the cause of humanity, ibesides contributing generously to all patriotic and relief funds. (Some, of course, shirk these duties, but the people as a whole are nobly and cheerfully doing their part. It may he argued that for many years to come the country will have to provide large sums for pensions and allowances, but even that provision will grow lighter year by year after the maximum has been reached. New Zealand will well be able to discharge this obligation as -well as the interest on war loans, hut if the Government adopts an oppressive policy of squeezing the people they will (become impoverished and a burden on the State. We must j also remember that the losses we have I stillered in man power during the war will need to be made up, so that the people will require every possible relief from immediate financial burdens such as would be entailed by the discharge of war liabilities. The idea of long loans is not the outcome of a desire to shirk payment, hut to make those of the future bear their share of the calamity. The earning power of the Dominion is a long way from being fully developed and for many years to come the prices for our "produce must be high. This is a direct result of the war, and involves a corresponding duty to contribute tchvards its cost. From every point of view the principle of spreading the cost over a number of years i 3 commendable. Pro'baoly if the wealth of the country was commandeered the war cost could be wiped out. But would fchU be tolerated? Not for an instant. One of the outstanding blots on the Dominion at present is the absence of equality of sacrifice, and if the wealthy were to be called upon to pay lip in this manner it would require a Government with far greater courage and independence than any New Zealand is likely to have. Mr. I'earce voiced the opinion of a very large section of the people when he insisted on the cost of the war being defrayed out of loans rather than by taxation. It is a capital expenditure and therefore should be paid off gradually.