A LEAD WORTH FOLLOWING.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1938, Page 4

A LEAD WORTH FOLLOWING.

TN what has been said on the subject of admitting Euro-

pean refugees to new homes in British ami other countries, considerable emphasis has been set on the difficulties that stand in the way of this humanitarian policy. A strikingly different, note was struck, however, in a cablegram from Prague yesterday which told that: —

South Africa is anxious to transplant certain Sudeten industries to Africa and is sending agents to secure Czech skilled craftsmen in these industries and is willing to provide the necessary capital. An opinion may be ventured that it would be quite* as advantageous for New Zealand as for South Africa to introduce and establish industries in this way. Why, then, are we not doing what South Africa is doing? Dependable advice and information that would enable us to follow intelligently the excellent example set by South' Africa no doubt are available. Lack of capital can hardly be assigned as a reason for our want of enterprise, considering, for example, that the Prime Minister is talking of the necessity of spending some £16,000,000 to £17,000,000 on public buildings. Apart from the erection, of dwellings, and schools, almost any building projects in this country might very reasonably take second place to a planned expansion of industry which would permanently enlarge our national resources and population. If there is any good reason why we should not be doing what South Africa is doing with reference to Sndetenland industries and Czech craftsmen it ought to be made known. In the absence of some complete and convincing explanation, we shall be driven to accept the humiliating conclusion that we are allowing ourselves to be outpaced and outclassed, and that by a sister Dominion at a stage of development comparable with our own, in practical and common sense enterprise.