DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 77, 23 December 1939, Page 15

DOMINION TOPICS

The Problem of Man-Power. There are many problems outstanding that Parliament, meeting in a constructive spirit, could do much to solve. First and foremost the-people require a clear statement of New Zealand’s military plans and what is needed to carry them out. Au objective should be set before them. Parliament is the proper body to see that the objective is reached and to concern itself with ways and means. At the present moment the question of man-power requires the most earnest consideratkn of the people's representatives. The first echelon will shortly proceed overseas on active service and its room in the camps must be filled, if it is to be kept up to establishment by regular reinforcements. And that is to say nothing >f future expansion. How is tegular reinforcement to be ensured, and how is this prime claim to be reconciled with other calls on man-power for war effort of other kinds? Parliament is the proper body to determine such large questions. Directly related to this matter is the business of production, which is not prospering as it should. Britain, in whose shelter we live and are kept secure, has a right to expect in return that we exert ourselves more. Parliament should insist that conditions are created that will encourage rather than discourage producers. If the latter feel they are receiving a fair deal, they will do their part.—“N.Z. Herald.”

Unsatisfactory Recruiting. There are, in fact, two reasons for the widespread belief that enlistments have fallen to a rate less than was expected and less than is necessary. One appears in the district lists, reported day by day. The other appears in the fact that fuller information, statistical and analytical, has not been made available. It may be a relevant fact that officers and non-commissioned officers for the second echelon, already in training, will have to be brought to a full complement from later enlistments. The Minister does not explain his statement to that effect and leaves it open, therefore, to this obvious interpretation. If the position is wrongly judged, the Government must be able to furnish the facts and figures necessary for public reassurance, and should do so. It is not sufficient that the Minister for Defence should declare himself “confident” that volunteers will follow, in sufficient numbers, where others have led the way. If, on the other hand, the Government is unable to show that the rate of recruitment has been and remains satisfactory, it will be under the hard obligation of showing why a better system should not be introduced. —“The Press,” Christchurch.

The National War Effort. When the last session closed the Government itself did not know the extent of the war efforts to be demanded of the Dominion, and indeed there was scarcely a suggestion that New Zealand would have to organize an expeditionary force for service overseas. Since then the organization of two divisions for foreign service has been announced, and the Dominion has joined in the great scheme for the creation of an Empire Air Force, and has thus been committed to expenditure far in excess of that contemplated in October. It seems that there will be no difficulty in maintaining the flow of recruits for the Air Force, but Parliament 'will obviously have to discuss measures to stimulate recruiting for the Army. Moreover, as Sir Andrew Russell has painted out, the Dominion, in its anxiety to assist the Mother Country in Europe or wherever else British forces may be required' to fight, must not overlook the necessity for maintaining an adequate force for home defence. The suggest tion has been made during the past week that a coalition government should be formed for the period of the war, and although present circumstances do not indicate that a combination could be successfully worked, It is certain that as the war progresses it will be necesfeary for Parliament to put aside all other considerations and concentrate on war work alone.—“ Christchurch Star-Sun.”

Need For Real Co-operation. Leaders of Hie Labour party have been very scathing in their denunciation of any politician who has dared to express any opinion which does not. imply complete concurrence in every decision of tlie party. There have been loud cries of non-co-operation when even tlie mildest criticism lias been attempted, due to a failure to appreciate the fact that the very nature of co-operation demands mutual consideration, that it calls for appreciation of the point of view of each and decisions which, as far as possible, give the minority opinion some measure of recognition. A roughshod riding over the other side, added to an arbitrary refusal to admit that it could ever produce a useful suggestion does not form any true basis for a charge of non-co-operation. Class issues have been especially in radio propaganda, where no answer of any kind is permitted, and the appeal for a real co-operative effort, for a binding of the people together for tlie one purpose of ultimate victory, calls for sympathetic consideration. If properly voiced, it will get its Immediate response, and the imminent return of the Hon. Peter Fraser witli a mass of information outside the range of anybody else in New Zealand offers an unrivalled opportunity for a consultation upon which a completely unified effort can lie built. —-“Auckland Star.”

“First Things First.”

“I give my ‘assurance that ‘first things first’ will be the- principle guiding the acts and thoughts of the Government.” These words were-uttered by the Prime Minister less than three weeks ago in seeking the co-operation of the people on the grounds that “the prosecution of the war to victory is the paramount aim.’’ With those remarks of Mr. Savage it was impossible to express anything other than complete agreement. So long as those “guiding principles” were adhered to tlie Government has every right to ask, and every reason to expect, tin' co-operation of all sections. “First things first!” The Government is committed to an expenditure of between £70.00(1 and £BO,OOO for new broadcasting studios for the dissemination of political propaganda. The Government is proceeding with the erection of a building to cost £lOO.OOO for housing the Auckland branch of the Internal Marketing Department—a department which so far lias bungled everything it has handled, which bought thousands of tons of New Zealand potatoes and shipped them to an unknown destination, which imported onions from Japan and had to dump them on Auckland rubbish heaps, and which so mishandled the marketing of lemons that crops are being buried and trees cut down. — “Gisborne Herald.”

A Nation of Invalids? A disquieting fact about the public health of the Dominion has been noted by Sir James Elliott in the steadily increasing number of hospital patients. This is not a product of social security but may be traced in a gradual rise of patients treated a 10.009 of mean population. In 1928 the figure was 552. ami •It had risen in 1937 to 618. There would be nothing disquieting in this it hospital treatment generally made for the better health of the community, but there is evidence that it does not do so, or at. all events that it falls far short of the value of preventive medicine which, unfortunately, is not provided for under the social security scheme. The value of prevention may be traced in the fact that a decline in the hospital admissions for three years after 1929 was attributable to a diminution in the incidence of the principal epidemic diseases, in particular scarlet fever, and to a lesser extent dipththeria. The special fever hospitals in the large centres were virtually empty during those years, and in one year actually closed.—Christchurch “StarSun.”

The Opposition’s Rights. When Mr. Hamilton complains that the Opposition party which he leads has no access to the counsels of the Government in its war effort, he puts a finger on an obvious weakness in emergency administrative method so far as New Zealand is concerned. Parliament at the moment stands adjourned until February 8. It does not appear that any special need yet exists for its re-assembly before that dale, provided that the Government will itself make available, within the limits of discretion, what is of public interest in Mr. Fraser’s experiences. The understandable curiosity of the Opposition group could be satisfied by the adoption by the Government of the British practice. It could, and should, invite a committee led by Mr. Hamilton to meet it and hear at first hand what Mr. Fraser ha.s to report, for publication, in whole or part, as the exigencies of the war situation may determine, to the country as a whole. It is certainly a valid claim that the Opposition party, which represents a considerable section of the people, has a right to know in what direction and by what forces the Government is Influenced in its decisions. —“Otago Daily Times.”

Decline of a National Virtue. When saving was still regarded ns a virtue, frequent reference was made to the savings banks as an indication of the prosperity of the ordinary people. At the present time any such reference 1 is not satisfying, for in the past year withdrawals from the banks have exceeded deposits by over £4.000.000, and i the gap is widening. This does not necessarily mean that the public handles less money, but it does mean that Hie will to save has been weakened by the loss of the former incentive, coupled > with the greatly increased cost of living and taxation. Most of the depositors in the savings banks are wageearners. and even with higher wages, how many such people have a reason- ( able surplus over the higher cost of| living to deposit in the bank? The trend is national as well as individual. Instead of encouragement to save there is encouragement to spend. Thus the totalisator has displaced the savings bank as the “barometer” by which Hie people's prosperity is read. , Whatever the political attitude to public spending may be. there is no doubt that a significant change is taking place in a national characteristic. —“Waikato Times.” Voluntary' Service.

A remarkable achievement in voluntary public service stands to the credit of the National Committee of Swim- i ming and Life-saving, which early this ■ year organized a "learn to swim” campaign. As the result of its organize- 1 tion, which brought in the voluntary ■ services of about 1700 amateur coaches and the co-operation of the Education Department and the school teachers, no fewer than 28,478 persons were taught to swim. The achievement was the more remarkable in that the season of instruction was short, the weather conditions were bad. and the number ,of swimming pools was far from being sufficient. "In practically all country districts,” the committee reports, “there was no pool available, and even in cities facilities were meagre.” The cost of the campaign was about £2OOO, so that of the sum of £3OOO provided by the Government the committee was able to hand back £lOOO. This was not. the least remarkable feature of its achievement. 'The work done by the*National Committee deserves to be supported in every district iu the Dominion. —“Auckland Star.” Holiday Road Risks.

The holiday period last year was pre-, ceded by an intensive and highly sue- j cessful road safety compaign which! was given the willing co-operation of I motoring firms, local bodies, the Press I and the radio. As a result, the holiday j motorists agreed that there was a noticeable improvement in road man-1 ners, courtesy and consideration, and although the toll of accidents continued. • this was, in proportion to the large, number of ears on the roads, not high. I Unfortunately much of the valuable, propaganda of a year ago is now for-1 gotten, together with the realization! that good and improved roads do noli in themselves secure safety for roadl users. Thus there is a fear that much' of tlie excellent work of the Minister and his department will he wasted, with an unfortunate increase in Hie accident rate. In an attempt to prevent this, motorists can help themselves and can set an example by observing due caution, by obeying the rules of the road and by strictly avoiding any temptation to take a chance when traffic is heavy.—/‘Taranaki Herald.” •

Radio “Uncles.” In an address at Auckland Jit. R. F. Algie, formerly professor’ of law in Auckland University, speaking on behalf of the New Zealand Freedom League, gave wholesome ad-, vice to the people of this country. The lecturer prefaced his speech with some timely remarks about "uncles” and the unreasonable way in which the radio is used for political propaganda on behalf to the Government. It does not appear, however, that anything can be done about it, for Ministers have shown not the slightest inclination to have the practice stopped. Indeed, Mr. Savage and some of his colleagues use the air freely as a means of expounding and defending their policy. The late Mr. E. V. Lucas’ once said that the greatest advantage of the radio was in one’s ability to turn it off, and that seems to provide the only way of escape for bored listeners. After all, it is safe to say that most of those who do listen to the political broadcasts aie already on the side of the Government, so that not. much harm is done. Mr. Algie makes a good point by suggesting that people who are sure of themselves, and are satisfied that all is well, do not fear criticism- One of the most curious characteristics of the present. Government is its extreme sensitiveness to critical comment on its actions.’ —“Dunedin Evening Star.”