The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1918. PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1918. PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.

When the war broke out it found Britain and. the Empire totally unprepared, and a vital question that now demands attention is whether when peace is declared the various units of tlie Empire will be prepared to carry out that process of reconstruction which* will be inevitable. The whole of oar commercial, industrial and economic conditions will need readjusting, strengthening and amplifying, especially in view of the fact tliat the one great aim is to make the Empire selfcontained. The subject has been discussed frequently from maily standpoints, but the time for talking should now give way to practical action. It is admitted tin ill Sides that in meeting the financial burdens arising out of the war and in satisfactorily solving the many problems with whieh the Dominion will be faced, there Will be needed the utmost effort, the highest intelligence, the most profound statesmanship and the most scientific methods. Apart from the determination to make the Empire as nearly selfcontained as possible, the economic question alone will loom large, and there is the great responsibility connected with our action arising from the knowledge that whatever steps are taken will either be fraught with success or failure. We have arrived at the parting of the wayß and unless the right road is followed, the new era will be one of trouble and difficulty. There is only one course to pursue and that is to map out a plan of actioi. < hat will fit the new conditions, reconstructing our methods on new and fitting foundations, starting from zero and working out the problems in a practical and businesslike manner. We Gave' not only much to learn, but a good deal to jettison. "There will be no place for in the comihg era of national and industrial life. Every labor-saving device that will increase our industrial activities will be needed; every acre of land will have to produce its utmost; every mineral and other useful product will have to be exploited; every branch of scientific research encouraged, and our educational system so reorganised as to become the pivot on which progress and prosperity will revolve. The Dominion's ability to bear the burdens and duties of the future without unduly feeling the pressure depends entirely on the producing power of the people and the full, development of the vast resources which are ,at present only partially exploited. There is an infinite field of research awaiting action by the Government and those fitted for the work, and it is this process of making fit that demands the immediate attention of our educational experts and the unstinted support of the Government. Britain solved her vital problems by callibg for and obtaining the best intelligence of the country. New Zealand should do the same and do it in no niggardly spirit. The 1 whole of our national systems badly need re-, vising and reorganising so that orde| may prevail and muddle be relegated to oblivion. Let those who resent interference with the old order consider well the demands of the future. Take finance. Our war bill has mostly been met out of loan money, and the interest as well >29 the sinking fund will have to be provided. We know not how long the war will last, but we have got to see it through arid every week the cost mounts up, and the payment of these interest and sinking fund charges' will have to be met for many years to come. Our wounded will need help in order to live in frugal comfort. There are the pensions for widows and dependents of those who have made the supreme sacrifice, and tihe longer the war lasts the greater will be the cost of these charges. There are farms to 'be provided and financial help for the returned men, and a large expenditure on public works in order to give employment to discharged soldiers and help to develop the resources of the country. It is obvious also that there will be a considerably increased cost of administration caused by the foregoing,

and that if our educational system is to be made applicable to the needs of the Dominion u still further increase of cost 'on that head will bk imperative. J(, will mean working at high pressure—organised high pressure —so that the best results shall be obtained. The Government lias already made a commencement with some of the work that has to be done, but it only touches the fringe of the task. There is a strong feeling now being mani tested that a comprehensive programme should be mapped out for promoting the utmost efficiency in every department, of national activity without further delay. There is so much to be considered that there is no time to spare if our future, prosperity is to be ensured. Xo one who realises the extent of the Dominion's resources can have the slightest doubt that there is every reason to regard the future with the utmost confidence, provided the right steps are taken. It is not only the Government, but the people as a whole who will need to square their shoulders and get to work on progressive lines, and it is those display the greatest enterprise and determination that will come out on top. When the present war tension ends there will be the grave danger of a tendency to slackness, whereas greater efforts than ever will be needed. The war has taught US many lessons which should bear good fruit when peace arrives, aild if our national equipment is satisfactorily provided all will bs well. It must be remembered that competition will tie very keen and to ensure success new and fitting methods will have to be adopted. The more intelligently these are studied and worked out the greater will be the probability that the future prosperity of the Dominion will ibe assured