PLEA FOR LEADERSHIP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 20 (Supplement)

PLEA FOR LEADERSHIP

By TROOPER

SOME months ago the president of an ex-servicemen's organisation in Australia was arraigned before a commission at the behest of politicians in that country because he expressed a candid opinion on the need of leaders and political unity. Brought to the altar of sacrifice, lie was given a choice of relinquishing his position as a State servant or ilie leadership of the ex-service organisation. Of these he chose the latter. Nevertheless, his remarks appear as justifying themselves in the light that some attempt followed them toward better efforts to bring about what lie advocated, proving, if indeed such is necessary, that ex-servicemen can play j a vital part in national affair*, even in the realm of politics, without themselves being allied as partisans. New Zealand, at the moment of writing, faces an economic crisis, or crises. Producers have been informed that meat, bacon and butter are, in effect, not wanted overseas. Shortage of shipping is said to be the reason. 15e this as it may, there is this fact which indicates that shipping is not entirelv swept out of the picture, for cheese, the demand for which is increased, is to lie carried from our shores. Unhappily, those whose responsibility it is to lead and direct our national affairs appear to have become somewhat panic-stricken. Fortunately those most concerned with the produce under restriction, the farmers, show themselves as being, as ever, prepared to face the position and devise ways and means of overcoming the difficulty that has arisen. "Unity, loyalty, tolerance and clear thinking are essential,"' says Mr. (J. A. Moore, chairman of the Meat Committee of the Auckland Farmers' Union, '"if , we are to win what may be termed New Zealand's lirst great wartime emer- ]

gency. There is no difficulty created by man that cannot be overcome by man, and the New Zealand farmer has given repeated and striking examples of his ability to cope with almost any contingency." Mr. Moore is to be congratulated for these words. They stand out, encouraging and courageous, at a time when they are needed. If we look the thing boldly in the face, as Mr. Moore advises, we will realise at least two important facts, 'the lirst of these is that the war will not last for ever, maybe not for so very long. Hitler himself in his "Mein Kampf" has long ago said, "The British nation can be counted upon to carrv through to victory any struggle that it once enters upon, no matter how long such a struggle may last, or however great the sacrifice that may be necessary. or whatever the means that have to be employed.'' And well must he realise, since writing those words, how true they are now, more than ever, likely to prove. The "Battle of the Atlantic" is but a phase of the struggle Britain— and New Zealand—has entered upon. It will be carried through to victory, and ships will be available again to carry produce from our shores. The other fact, of course, is the future need of the starving people of Europe for food, and still more food. Any "cut" in production, and lessening in the number of producers, any factor which discourages or prevents the provision of this food that will be so urgently needed cannot be lightly permitted, much less encouraged, for once the means go out of action they cannot easily lie reintroduced. Herds are not built up in a day, nor yet (locks and beef stock.

We need the men to overcome this man-made difficulty, or difficulties. We ex-servicemen arc concerned in this. Many of our fellows are affected vitally by it, and all of us, with the community in general, arc in great measure affected. More than this, it affects the future of our "young brothers. ' those lads now on active service and going there, the lads who will help to carry Britain through to victory in the struggle in which she and we are now engaged. i We cannot readily permit that any lack of foresight on the part of Ministers of the Crown ill this country, or anyone else, shall create unnecessary difficulty for them on their return, and make it impossible or more difficult for them to carry out their part in this act of mercy —feeding the starving peoples of Europe which they will most certainly have helped to free from the torture of bondage. Rather than discourage and depress bv panic-born words the production of the food necessary, stimulus should be given, and if our storage capacity is not sufficient—as I. for one, believe it is by 110 means up to what we have been led to believe it would be —further provision should lie made, and continue to be made, to store every pound of worthwhile food possible against tlie day of its need, and so that our machinery of producing more food in the future will not find itself unequal to the task it must face. Jf for no other reason than that we "profess and call ourselves Christians." these facts should be noted by those in authority, and acted upon. If they are not prepared to act, then they should get out and leave the way open to those who will. These men must be Ihe leaders we need. New Zea-i land has them—somewhere.