MORE PRODUCTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 134, 18 March 1940, Page 3

MORE PRODUCTION

UNITED EFFORT NEEDED. APPEAL BY MR NASH. The need for more production to enable/ the war to 1)0 carried on, and for more financial assistance to enable the current production of the necessary goods and services to he increased, was emphasised by the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) in a broadcast address last evening;. Food, clothing, munitions, aud other items had to "bo produced for the forces as the war proceeded, Mr Nash said, but there was still a shortage of these, and there was still not enough production in the country. The farmers were responding splendidly, but there was still some distance to go, and ultimate success would depend on universal contribution to the cause.

The Minister, after repeating figures on expenditure in New Zealand for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, .stated that gifts to the Government in the last week, since his first address, amounted to about £200,000. It had been a splendid response, the total of these gifts now being about £1,230,000. The further gifts included one of £IOO,OOO (from the South British Insurance Com, parry, Auckland), one of £IO,OOO, and one or two gifts and promises of £SOOO. Twenty-five firms or persons had sent £IOOO each, several had sent £SOO each, several £2OO each, 34 had sent £IOO each, and 40 had sent sums of less than £IOO. The range of remittances covered every cldss of society, and the gifts showed a fine spirit and a national determination to uphold the rights and privileges of democracy. “We should hear constantly in mind’’ the Minister said, “the impossibility of telling how the war will develop and of telling the consequences to other countries and to ours.. Because the present war has followed a different course from the last one some people may have failed to realise how our liberties and .privileges are being threatened. In our position it may he hard to realise the seriousness of the position in Europe, but we, like others of the British Commonwealth, are at war and every effort must he directed to the success of our cause. This means sacrifice by all. The soldiers are going overseas prepared to do their part, and it is up to all who remain behind to do likewise by giving all financial assistance possible.” For the next year, expenses to be financed in New Zealand would be about £13,000,000, or about £1,000,000 a month. There would also be overseas expenses, and it was proposed to obtain £20,000,000 by loan from the United Kingdom Government, which had agreed to provide the necessary funds. About £1,400,000 would still he required in New Zealand this month.