LOOKING AHEAD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 50, 22 November 1917, Page 4

LOOKING AHEAD

WE SHALL HAVE TO ORGANISE,

"The time is coming," said Mr. Massey in a speech at Tuakau, "when we shall'have to organiso moro thoroughly to keep the country going. Last November I was in France, and I could not help being struck with the fact that a great harvest, sufficient to feed the whole French population, was gathered in hy the women, old men, and hoys under 17. It will not come to that in Now Zealand, but something approaching it may come to pass later on in New Zealand if tho war continues. 11l Britain a vast army of women (l'e engaged in munition work and on tho farms, and I am sure if the women of New Zealand are called upon to take the placo of tho men at tho front they will respond to the call as willingly as their sisters across the sea. (Applause.) In maintaining our production wo have to think what the position will be when tho war ends. There will he un enormous debt to pay off and interest and pensions to provide for, and if wc 'are going to get through without serious financial depression the resources or the country will havo to be developed to the utmost. Uncultivated lands will have to be made productive and tilled lands must bo made to produce hiore. Should any of our British kinsmen desire to come out to tlio Dominion to assist us tliev will be given facilities to do so. Every effort will be made to keep thein within the Empire should they desire to emigrate. We now require SO million pounds' worth of exports to enable us to do our duty in this war. For the first sis mouths we have got 18 millions, and we aro looking forward with confidence to getting tho 12 millions required during the r.ext six months."