PROBLEMS OF PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1919, Page 9

PROBLEMS OF PEACE.

'Oi MONEY FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC WORKS. Wellington, August 11. "We have got through the war neriot! successfully," said the Prime Minister (lit. Hon. \V. I<\ Massoy), at the ceremony on the site <»f the State Fire Insurance Office today. "But I think you will agree with me that the problems of peace which have to be taken in hand now, without any delay, arc in many respects just as important a.the problems we have tackled and solved during the war period. The new office of the State' Fire Department is merely one of the important works that have had to stand over during the last five, years. There are hundreds of works to be taken in hand, including school buildings in many parts of th-i country. Some country children are being taught in tents at the present time. !am giad to he able to say that as far as indications go there will be no difficulty in finding the necessary cash for school buildings and other public works. "We are face to face with serious til Him! lie*, though not so serious as the diflicuiiics of many other eimnL-lc:'. Our difficulties will he more easily overcome during the next two or three years than tiie difficulties'of many other "liritish countries. We have a splendid country, a highly productive country, and a splendid climate. The possibilities of production in this country were proved during- the war period by f.h-. enormous quantities of produce we were able to send to the Mother Country. But we cannot stop where we are in the matter of production. We have taken up enormous liabilities. .We havpractically doubled our National debt, which has increased from £100,000,01)0 to £200,000,000. We have got to in- | crease production in every way possible if_ we are going to carry that burden without, very serious inconvenience to the whole of the population. That we can increase production I do not doubt. We have vast possibilities of expansion, but we must face those possibilities energetically and with determination, just as we did during the war period. "We have the great hydro-electric schemes, which 1 hope will' be of immense benefit to Wellington and all Die other centres. AW have to complete those railways which were suspended during the war period, make roads .and do all we can in connection with soldier.;' land settlement. My colleagues hav* done 'splendid work in this 'connection during my absence. That is onlv part of the work that is ahead of us." Wo have to increase production and keeiH down unnecessary expenditure. I say 1 'unnecessary,' because there is expenditure contemplated and suggested that, we cannr.t do without. AA 7 e cannot increase production without increasing expenditure. AVe have to increase expen-1 diture in order to provide, facilities rc-{. quired for the increase of our export; by J a± least 50 oer ami.' ' [■