Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1939. MEETING THE WAR CALL.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1939, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1939. MEETING THE WAR CALL.

ALTHOUGH the call to arms already is being answered 1 o-enerouslv bv the youthful manhood of the Dominion, the Government is not yet quite ready to set out the conditions in which it proposes that this country should give shape and substance to its total war effort. It had been hoped that when the House of Representatives reassembled yesterday, after an adjournment of a week, the Actihg-Prime Minister would be able to make a definite pronouncement on that subject and to o'ive the couutrv the lead for which it is waiting'. Instead, Fraser intimated that the Government needed a few more days in which to complete its consideration of the position and t < its proposals probably would be laid before the House on Friday Now that New Zealand, in common with the rest of the Empire, is called upon to put its affairs in order for a long Avar it is clear that a bold lead is needed and that the sooner it l oiven the better. In face of the supreme emergency that has now arisen, it goes without saying that partisan feeling must be set aside and that all less important considerations must be subordinated to the overshadowing necessity tor an effective mobilisation and employment of our national resources From that standpoint solely, it must be recognised at the outset that the Dominion is by no means as well placed as it mio'ht be to meet.the financial and economic demands that will inevitably he made upon it. To an extent, the problems 01. trade and of monetary exchange which of late have assumed so 'formidable an aspect may now be modified. There, is every indication that New Zealand export produce will be more than ever in demand in the Mother Country. On the other hand, British export trade is likely to be curtailed heavily on account of the extent do which the industrial energies of the United Kino'dom are and will be concentrated on war production. These conditions, in themselves, should favour a progressive improvement in the state of New Zealand’s London balances, though it is to be expected also that participation in the Avar will add more or less heavily to the volume of our overseas debl An aspect of the position that demands more immediately urgent consideration is that of the extent to which War needs and demands are to be met- from taxation. War inevitable means high'taxation and a free call on revenue is the only means of setting limits to the burden of debt which a Avar leaves in ifs wakm ft must be regarded as somewhat unfortunate that before war had broken out taxation in this country already stood at an extremely high level. There is, of course, nothing else to do than to make the best and most enterprising adjustment that, is practicable in the circumstances. The Dominion must be prepared to draiv freely on its resources in meeting war costs of every kind. This means, amongst other things, that economy must be practised where if is legitimate and permissible. With a Avar on hand, there can bn no question of carrying on with a peace time programme of spending as if nothing had happened. More than a hint that this aspect of the position is appreciated by the Government was given by the Acting-Prime Minister yesterday, when he observed that although Parliament Avas being asked to approve the Estimates before it, this did not mean that the expenditure thus authorised would be made. It is for the Government to shape policy proposals under Avhieh- Aviso and provident use may. be made of available national resources and demands met strictly in their order of importance.