IMPERATIVE NEED FOR NATIONAL ECONOMY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 53, 2 March 1916, Page 5

IMPERATIVE NEED FOR NATIONAL ECONOMY.

CIVILIAN ARMY MUST PLAY ITS PART. ! IN KEEPING MEN AND SUPPLIES GOING. ' APPEAL FOB ABANDONMENT OF LUXEBY. (Received 105 a.m.) . . LONDON, March 1. At the Guildhall to-day a crowded meeting inaugurated a national savings campaign. Mr. Reginald McKenna, Chancellor of the Exchequer, enumerating the national war resources, said that we could borrow externally, but not many nations were able to lend money, or goods. If the consumption continued in the ordinary course, not. enough goods could be supplied by the world to make up the immense war destruction. There was not means in the whole world to supply the Army and Navy with its full requirements unless the Empire's i capital and labour now engaged in. peace services were diverted to supplies for the Army and Navy. .It was not a question of money, but a question of the efficiency of our capital and labour to supply all our needs. ' TAKING STOCK OF DAILY HABITS. He urged everyone to take stock of his daily habits and see how much he could give up without detriment to, Ms powers of work and without sacrificing his obligations to his dependents. Lord Kitchener, who was given' a rousing reception, said:—"l want the country to realise what it means when.it is told that the present war is largely a war of financial and economic exhaustion.. This is. a war in which.the whole nation-is fighting. Speaking as a representative of-the Army in the field, I want to appeal to the civilian army at home to play its part strenuously. This is vital to the Army in the field, which cannot last a single day without the efforts of civilians. Wlether the Army continues to get vital things in sufficient quantities depends entirely on whether every .man and woman at home-shows his utmost energy in > production and utmost economy in consumption. If they are "not doing this, civilians are doing something to help our enemies to win. We arc bound to take.all men who can possibly be spared from industry, agriculture, and commerce. We.want an unceasing supply of munitions of war for ourselves and our Allies. CIVILIANS MUST WORK TO SUPPLY SOLDIERS. "The question is, how can we take millions of men from workshops, farms, banks, and offices and yet provide the things the nation consumes under peace conditions and the vast mass of war material for ourselves and our Allies? If we admit that those left behind are only going to work as hard as before and civilians arc going to consume as much food, clothing, and luxuries as before, then the problem is insoluble. If everyone is going on living as though times were normal we shall he unable to get the soldiers.and munitions imperatively needed to carry through our tremendous task." Lord Kitchener continued:-"Let those making large profits or wages, and therefore tempted to extravagance, remind themselves that such profits and wages arc only possible by the sacrifices of the Navy and Army, and therefore should not lie spent in personal indulgence. If every man and woman works his hardest to produce everything the Army needs they will be doing their bit. If those receiving higher wages owing to the war are saving, apd investmg all, it is possible that they are equally doing their bit. This has only to be understood for everyone to do his duty to the utmost of his power."