Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1941. BRITAIN’S HELPING HAND.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 June 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1941. BRITAIN’S HELPING HAND.

IX Ihe midst of a war which taxes even her magnificent resources, Great Britain has entered into what may well be described as a remarkably generous agreement lor the purchase of export produce from this country—an agreement which is verb lai - indeed from being governed and determined by the ordinary rules of purely commercial dealing's. Xo agreement of the kind could solve all the financial and economic problems by which Xew Zealand, like other Empire countries, is and will be confronted as a result of the war, hut: the arrangement now made with Britain will help very materially to set limits to these problems and to reduce them to manageable proportions. More than ever it is of course incumbent on this country to do everything within its own power to overcome the economic disabilities arising out of the war.

With contracts in force for the duration ol the war and one season thereafter for lhe purchase by Britain of the New Zealand wool clip, and of cheese, up to an export of IGO,OOO tons per annum, the Dominion is freed ol any financial problem where these commodities are concerned. Problems exist, and may develop, where meat and butter are concerned, but Britain has undertaken not only to purchase as much of these products as can be shipped, but to share equally with Xew Zealand the financial burden of holding reserve stocks pending their disposal. This extremely liberal treatment of the Dominion by lhe Mother Country is subject only to such conditions as must in any ease have been laid down in the interests of both parties to the agreement—the adaptation of production (by the deboning, canning or pressing of meat and in. other ways), the opening up of alternative markets where they are available and other measures that can be adopted towards keeping industry operating efficiently, while avoiding the creation of unmanageable surpluses.

In their many-sided detail aspects, these problems of course must be dealt with under technical and expert guidance and obviously it will lie very necessary to take account not only of problems and demands arising out of existing war conditions, but to give serious attention to the state of production and trade that may be expected to develop when the war is over. Account clearly is to be taken of a probably phenomenal demand in the early post-war period for foodstuffs and other primary products, but this will be. a temporary phase and much is likely to depend on planning in good time for more normal and settled conditions of post-war trade.

At a nearer view, full approval is likely to be given to the principle laid down by the New Zealand Government that unavoidable losses incurred on account of the restriction of export trade during the war period are to be spread as equitably as possible over the whole population and are'not to be allowed to fall with crushing effect upon those engaged in primary industry. The position to be faced evidently is that the difficulties immediately confronting primary industry are bound to affect in greater or less degree every section of the community, and that it is for the community as a whole, in its total interests, to do everything that may be done to modify and overcome these difficulties. In the extent to which inevitable losses are incurred, they must be shared, but it is even more to the point that by enterprising and co-operative effort and by adaptation to extraordinary conditions a great deal may be done to reduce these losses to smaller proportions than they would otherwise assume.

One very important question in this connection to which attention has been directed pointedly by the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, is that of the more expeditious turning round of oversea ships. In his broadcast last evening, Mr Nash said he. had been astonished to learn how much might be done, by speeding up the discharge and unloading of ships, to increase the amount of produce shipped. This matter in fact had only less urgent and serious claims to attention in days of peace than it has in the extraordinary conditions ruling at present.' It has long been maintained by those in a position to speak on the subject with authority that very important* economies in the use and costs of shipping transport; might be effected by the speedier turning round of 'ships trading to this country.

Tn this way and others there is much that may be done, with all-round benefit and advantage, in giving full effect to the agreement now concluded with the Mother Country. A field of enterprise is defined in which it will be possible, in the right conditions of general co-operation, to extend and give added effect to our own war effort and-that of the Empire, and incidentally to modify appreciably the adverse impact of the war on. our national economy.