Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1940. MEETING WAR DEMANDS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1940. MEETING WAR DEMANDS.

IMPRESSING upon all, as he put it, “the inevitability of much heavier sacrifices than have so far been demanded if New Zealand is to make her full contribution to the war effort,” the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, stated the other day that the estimated cost of the war to the Dominion next year that is to sav, in the twelve months commencing at the beginning of next month—was £33,000,000. Of that amount, a sum of £20,000,000 is to be provided meantime by overseas borrowing, and some £9,500,000 will have to be “raised by additional taxation, by borrowing and by oilier means, including savings in civil exipenditnre where such savings can be jusiiwithout injury to the production of the country or to the health and well-being of our people.” The Finance Minister has since, stated, in addressing a party of Southland farmers at the Centennial Exhibition, that it the war continues for some time. New Zealand may have £100,000,000 added to its public debt. , These rather obviously are figures to prompt sober reflection and to emphasise the need for genuine economy where that is practicable. In his address the other evening, Mr Nash said that the Government had received a. great deal of advice as to how substantial economies could be effected. Such advice, however (he added) usually takes the form of sweeping condemnation of its policy and is rarely accompanied by reasoned analysis and practical suggestions. The Public Works Department is the bugbear of most critics. Having added that the need for a tapering off of public works activity was recognised and that such a policy had been introduced and that every endeavour was being made to transfer men to industry and agriculture, the Minister observed that: — The Government will, under no circumstances, listen to the counsels of those who would limit our social security system by passing on the sacrifice to those least able to bear it the. old folks, the invalids, the widows, and children of the community. A great many people will agree unreservedly that there should be no attempt to pass on the sacrifice, to those least able to bear it. It needs also to be emphasised however, that in times like these the Minister of Finance does not discharge his responsibilities by engaging in controversy with critics of his administration and by demonstrating the difficulty of effecting economies. It is his plain duty, irrespective of what critics may say or leave unsaid, to put the finances of the Dominion into such a shape as will enable it to bear the strain that will be imposed during the war period and after the war is over. Whatever may be thought, of this or that detail of expenditure on public works —roads, buildings and so forth —it is hardly in doubt that it is both practicable and necessary that- the level, of civil exipenditnre should be brought now to a considerably lower point than it was allowed to attain in days of peace. The people of the Dominion are entitled to an- assurance from the Minister of Finance that positive and purposeful efforts have been made and will be made to reduce ordinary expenditure and that substantial results have been achieved and will be‘added to in this indispensable adjustment . It rests primarily with the Minister of Finance to make in this way an all-important, contribution to the national war effort and to an effective handling of the debt and other problems that will arise after the war. It may be pointed out, too, that failure to bring the national finances into an adjustment taking reasonable account of war demands would not only work out very badly .for the Dominion at large, but would affect beneficiaries under the social security scheme in precisely the same way as if their pension and other payments had been cut down deliberately and ruthlessly. FIGHTING SERVICES APPEAL. TN the main an excellent response is being made to the Fighting Services Welfare Fund appeal, but reports by some of the collectors engaged in canvassing for donations in Masterton and district suggest, that even now the circumstances in which the appeal is being made are not everywhere fully understood. It may therefore be worth 'while to emphasise that the Fighting Services Welfare appeal is the one authorised patriotic effort that is being made with a view to providing comforts and amenities for the members of our fighting services (other than those sick or wounded) in camp, at the front and elsewhere. The essential aim is to supplement by voluntary effort the provision made by the Government for the maintenance of our fighting forces. Some particulars are given in our news columns today of the personnel of the organisation promoting the Fighting Services Welfare appeal. It is an organisation national in scope, but voluntary in character, and through ils agency the community is offered an opportunity of providing for the members of onr fighting forces, wherever they may be, elements of comfort and amenity, rest and recreation, which cannot well be provided by the Government under equipment and rationing scales. Those who wish to help in making it plain to the members of our fighting forces that the thoughts and the gratitude of the people of their homeland are with them al all times may do so by contributing to the Fighting Services Welfare Fund. The essential aim is to make a given amount of money go as far as possible in providing comforts and amenities for our troops. That, this is an enterprise which deserves the hearty and liberal support of the community goes without- saying. There does not seem to be any doubt that the Salvation Army and the Y.M.C.A. are well qualified to undertake the work involved and to do it well. Should it appear, however, in a practical test, that the plans now being shaped are in any particular defective, it. will be entirely open to the local and national organisations promoting the Fighting Services Welfare appeal to improve upon these plans. The position meantime is that the community is invited to support the only organised effort that is being made to provide comforts and amenities for the members of our fighting forces over and above what is provided by the State in tin* way of routine obligation. Every effort has been and is being made to build up an efficient organisation to that end and Io ensure that the greatest possible benefits shall be conferred upon those who are undertaking the burden of war service for the Dominion. Individual members of the community are beingasked to make some small sacrifice for those who have answered their country’s call and are facing all the hardships and hazards of war.