Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1943. ONE YEAR AND ANOTHER.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1943. ONE YEAR AND ANOTHER.

1943 almost at an end and another year almiil Io open. the outlook of this country, like that ol' so many olliers, is dominated still by Avar and its demands. Although high hopes are raised that the final phase of t he conflict wit It Nazi I lermany is about to open, the task of conquering Japan stretches out still in more extended perspccJive. blxcellenl preliminary pro gress has been made in dealing with that task. Il is possible, for instance, to agree unreservedly with a broadcaster on Hie Tokio radio who observed not long ago that the oven pa I ion ol the Gilbert Islands shows that the Americans “desire Io secure springboards to attack the heart of lhe (Japanese) empire.’ Plans are taking shape for attack on Japan and her empire on her western flank, in the Indian Ocean, as well as from oilier directions and the late achievements ol' lhe Allied forces in lhe South and South-Western Pacific —achievements Japan has abstained from attempting Io counter by the full-powered use of naval, strength to Avhich she has repeatedly been challenged —take on that account an added value and significance as a contribution to ultimate victory.

In Hie Pacific, as well as on I In l oilier side of Hie world, the Avar is going well. from the standpoint of t he United Nal ions, on land and sea and in the air. The sinking ol' lhe bat! le-erniser Scharnhorst in the Arctic and of a German blockade runner and three destroyers in the Pay of Biscay have rounded off splendidly a year in which great, strides have been made towards the final defeat of the enemy U-boat flotillas. Much as lhe Allied forces in all theatres have achieved. however the visible magnitude of the remaining Avar task will make all thinking people concur in the declaration made by Hie British Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) in a recent speech that this is no time for relaxation or soft thoughts on the joys of victory and peace. Apart from, the fact that the Avar makes and will continue to make heavy demands, it is becoming clearer every day that peace, when it is attained, will make demands hardly, if at all less onerous.

This little country must be prepared to play its part Avith others in the great undertaking of doing what may be done Io relieve and assist nations overrun and despoiled by totalitarian aggressors and to make its contribution, particularly in the Pacific, to the structure of international organisation which is essential if security in years to come is to be something more than an aspiration.

It should be possible to agree that a stage has been reached at which more serious and sustained thought and attention than they have yet received must be given to the problems of reconstruction as they present and will present themselves in the Dominion. If we are honestly and faithfully to honour the pledges made to the members of our lighting forces the whole field of economic and social policy must be overhauled, with the cardinal aim of unleashing the maximum powers of useful production of which as a people we are possessed. It is not impossible that under plans and action well considered and wisely directed we may be able to reconcile the rehabilitation in the right conditions of the members of our fighting forces with early and considerable additions to our population by selected immigration.

The year about to open must be one of unrelaxecl war effort, but we shall impair or endanger our national future if we fail to make the year also one of enterprising preparation, and of preliminary action, where it is practicable, for the development of a soundly-based and expanding national economy. This plainly is indispensable if wc are t'o make a worthy contribution, internally and in our external relations, in proportion to our opportunities, to that better world order on which the hopes of free humanity, and of great sections of humanity awaiting liberation or struggling to achieve it, are centred.