THRIFT.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15767, 7 December 1916, Page 5

THRIFT.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF "THE mESS."

Sir—ln your issue of this date, under tho heading "Chamber of Commerce and Thrift," your correspondent "Conserve Our Strength" has raised a most timely and urgent question—one -sv-hich hitherto has not received the consideration its ever-increasing importance demands at our hands.

I gather from his letter that the local Chamber has circulated a form of appeal, received from Home, inculcating thrift, but hag not deemed it any concern of theirs to deal further with tho subject. If correct, this apathy is much to be regretted, for the Chamber could render no greater service to tho community and our Empiro than to initiate an economy campaign, and uso its position and influence to promote such propaganda. _ ! If ever the Allies are worsted in the present war, it will be due to economic exhaustion from lack of proper organisation of their vast resources. We would all like to think this impossible; and yet thoughtful people cannot shut their eyes to such an awful calamity when they read of tho wonderful organisation of our chief enemy, not only as regards man-power, but in the matter of every form of economic force as well, both "of which, especially the latter, have been enormously increased by recent developments in Belgium, Poland, and more lately in Roumania, where vast sources of food supplies, minerals, oils, and other munitions of war, have become available for Germany. In these Tespects the position of onr enemy would seem to be better almost than before the war started, and we read in to-day's cables that already Germany has started organising that part of Roumania captured, as a source of her future food supply. The wasteful expenditure, extravagant and luxurious living, loss of time by strikes, which means reduced production, are each and ail tending to hasten an economic exhaustion and to promote the triumph of our enemies. At a time when all should be organised- towards tho greatest effort to increase wealth by the highest possible production, so as to strengthen an economic position, we have demands on all sides for more holidays, and threatened strikes. The employers and better class generally are not without blame in the matter by the example they set in their lives and work to those under them; and the New Zealand Government more than any are responsible for the scandal of the pre-war conditions of life we seo around us to-day. The accursed party system of government seems to make it impossible for any leader to press reforms which trespass on the people' 6 liberty of action, comfort, and luxury, and thus they have had no inspiring lead. Fortunately, New Zealand is such a small part of the Empire, for if the hvholo were so deaf and blind to the urgent exigencies of the occasion, the future prospect as regards winning the | war would be black indeed. The importation of motor-cars from America referred to by your corresponident is a gross scandal and an indictment of the Government's incompetency in allowing it. It is absolutely suicidal to be sending so much money out of the Empire—just as much as it would be to allow our shirkers to escape service by leaving our shores. The increased prosperity of the country owing to the high prices extracted tout of the pockets of the British taxpayer for our meat, wool, butter, cheese, etc. . largely accounts for the purchase of so many motor-cars, so that we are really bleeding our own people at Home to enrich America. Now that the British Government has thought it necessary to urge drastic economy on the people of the Homeland, even to the extent of cal}ing on hotelkeepers, etc., to cut down their menus to a three-course dinner, and to organise the whole man (and even the woman) power of the nation, surely we will realise the urgency of our duty in the matter. I hope to see an Economy League formed in Christchurch at "an early date, and cannot think of any more capable or fitting organisation to initiate such a movement, and ensure its saiccess, than our Chamber of Commerce. I trust, Mr Editor, you will use your powerful influence in the same direction, and endeavour to arouse in our people a due sense of the seriousness of the position, and make them realise the terrible alternative they are risking in continued neglect of the warnings of the past.—Tours, etr..

ANXIOUS