A CHANCE FOR NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3140, 19 July 1917, Page 6

A CHANCE FOR NEW ZEALAND

OUR PART IN THE FINAL EFFORT. Sir,—Now that the war, as we all hope, is Hearing its final stage, it is more recessary than ever, if everyone wishes to do their duty to the men fighting for us, that there should be no slackening in our effort, but rather every ounce of endeavour should be put into,tho struggle. \\ r o know there are some faint hearts, but, thank goodness, the British pluck is still with us, and there is no degeneracy, and very few of the Second Division have expressed anything but willingness to do their duty if their dependants are sufficiently provided for. But has Capital, which is making money out of "the war, as is proved by the returns of the large sums of money received into the country, done its share? By capital I do not mean the very wealthy alone, but all those, no matter wliat their position is, who are deriving benefit from England's sacrifices. Let no one forget that the winning of the war has always been a more vital necessity for the than for England. Before the war New Zealand received great credit for presenting the bat-tlr-cniiser New Zealand to file British Government. Why not while tho wall's mi Cand BriKin is paying by far the greatest proportion' of the war exnenses) do something better? I would advocate presenting one thousand aeroplanes to the.Allies, ard. 'V possible, train sufficient men to handle them. Nothing that we could do would shorten tho war sooner than this, and help to rave the lives of the troops at the front. I have it from a returned soldier from the Somme push that at one time, when tho Allies had complete control of the air, the Germans were helpless in directing their artillery fire, and put their shells well on the side of a road on which our troops were advancing, which meant safety to them. With overpowering preponderance of aeroplanes, Krupps. and most of the German munition works, could be reduced to ashes, and the Germans who started the game of bombing towns brought to their knees. England is too busy, and no doubt using'

every man and factory possible to construct aeroplanes, but there are neutral and other nations who, if they were paid for it, would build them. No coubfc America and Japan, if they received payment, could construct many more. England would lend men with experience from the Royal Flying Corps to overlook their manufacture, and the New Zealand Government could send representatives to see io the finance. The cost would not be much more than a battle-cruiser. Hach aeroplane equipped costs from .£ISOO to ,£2200, therefore an equal number of each kind would cost ,£1,850,(100. The advertisement to •New Zealand would be worth the-iwmey, and fiie world would see that when we talked of giving our last man and our last shilling, it was no vain boast, but we meant to do our duty, and see it through.—l am, etc., IMPERIALIST.