DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 87, 6 January 1940, Page 15

DOMINION TOPICS

Our Special Force for Overseas. The men of the Second Camrdian Contingent have just been told by the Secretary of State for the Dominions, in a New Year greeting, that their answer to the call for help is a guarantee of final victory and an inspiration to the free-dom-loving people of every nation. It cannot be doubted that Mr. Eden spoke truly when he said that the men from the new world were welcomed with a full heart by every man and woman throughout the length and breadth of the Mother Country. That welcome, which awaits the New Zealand troops who are to join the Allied forces, will be not less heartfelt, in whatever sphere the men may serve, but it would be a mistake to look upon these troops, or any other overseas troops, merely as men who are going to fight the battles of other nations or other peoples. They will do that, and in the noblest sense their service will be for others, but they have enlisted for the protection of New Zealand first of aril, and their own nation will owe them the greatest debt. —“Christchurch Star-Sun.”

A Time For Unity. At the outset the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton, told the Government that his party would cooperate in every way possible to prosecute the Dominion’s war effort—an intimation gratefully recognized by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage. Since then, however, Opposition members have criticized the Government because they considered that the war was being used to cover Socialistic legislation. While no one would doubt the fundamental support of all New Zealanders for the war aims of the Dominion and Imperial Governments, and while no one would doubt the sincerity of the present Administration, there is some evidence both in the House and outside it that the country is not as united as circumstances demand and the blame for that cannot entirely be cast on Labour’s opponents. This is a time for sinking political differences, for the Government to be careful to give no reason to resurrect them, and for the Opposition to be scrupulous not to make excuses for fostering them, —Auckland “Star.” The Mating Of New Zealand.

The making of New Zealand during a hundred years has been worth review and worth commemoration. Doubtless there is much still to learn and much to achieve, but foundations —and something more than foundations—have been well and truly laid. We shall survey tlie accomplishment most modestly if we read what Professor Sewell, of Auckland University College, has to remark in the latest commemorative volume, contributed to by himself and his colleagues, “IS4O and After.” “We in New Zealand are today to a large extent what our early Victorian forbears have made us. Martin Tupper [comfortable platitudinist] would have a large fan mail if he had a weekly session on our radio, and Dickens would find much material for his more fantastic personages. . . . Our concept of happiness expresses itself too readily as a big Cheerio. . . . It is part of the limitation of our outlook that, we tend to regard social security as an end and not a beginning. Nevertheless, the better parts of our heritage have not been forgotten.”—Dunedin “Evening Star.”

The Split in the Government. If there is a split in the Government it is probably as well that the showdown should come now rather than later. For the present unity is essential, and members of the Opposition have reason to complain if vital policy decisions are being made merely on a majority vote in the Labour Party caucus. If the whole party is not behind the Government, it is unreasonable for the Prime Minister to complain because the Leader of the Opposition refuses to endorse the Government’s policy unquestioningly. This incident will make 'the general political situation clearer than it was, and the country will be right in demanding now that the Opposition should be given some part in framing war policy. . The only way to remove' diecontent is to allot special tasks to the representatives of all tlie electors. Mr. Lee’s dismissal has! removed tlie mask of unity from the Government’s face, and it is obvious that genuine national unity must be sought in some other way.— “Tiinaru Herald.” -

Party Co-operation. It is not surprising that generalizations appealing for a united war effort, however eloquent and sincere these generalizations may seem to be, should appear divorced in reality from the present political scene. In Mr. Hamilton’s words the Opposition believes that wartime unity on a firm and enduring basis is impossible till the political air is cleared, till the Government shows it has the courage and support to put New Zealand’s political house in order, and till the party split is repaired or the discontented elements form a new party. The Opposition, and a big section of the community with it, believes that national unity must be achieved not by eloquent appeals but by practical proofs that the Government of the day is legislating for the whole people, is suspending the more controversial'elements of its policy, and is giving the clear and forceful leadership demanded by the occasion. In the Opposition’s unshakable opinion the war emergency demands more and not less interest in party politics because New Zealand urgently requires the strengthening and consolidating of her ability to withstand any severe tests the future may’ bring. Four months of war have in the Opposition’s opinion not yet brought any sign of this strengthening.-r-“Tara-naki Herald.”

Essentials of Policy. Both leaders agree that the. mam task is winning the war, but they differ on the methods of achieving that end. Both would have the nation put its full strength into the effort. Where the difference arises is that Mr. Savage declares he can achieve greatest efficiency’ by allowing the policy of Socialism to develop concurrently with the war programme, while Mr. Hamilton is emphatic that the two should not be mixed, and- that pushing the political programme ahead Is interfering seriously with the national economy and causing the many difficulties which he enumerates in his message. He asks the public to consider those problems: “The need for some organization of universal military -service ; import restrictions, leading" to shortages of essential goods and raw materials and to unemployment; commandeer of the radio for. party ends: public and relief works of an unproductive character; falling primary production, followed by a farm labour crisis; the cost of living, which outstrips alarmingly all fixed incomes and salaries to the point of oppressive reduction, of the standard of living of average men and women and their families; the financial crisis, bringing disrepute to our good name, which is further threatened by experiments by- the State, which must further undermine our ability to stand a severe test.” —“Waikato Times.”

Their Excellencies. For nearly five years now Lord and Lady Galway have identified themselves completely and whole-heartedly with the life of New Zealand. They have travelled extensively within the Dominion and its island territories and, with a complete absence of ostentation but never with loss of dignity, have shared the life of the people. Their Excellencies’ own children have come to be accepted almost as young New Zealanders, participating in many forms of outdoor recreation with the young folk of town and country. Lord Galway’s term of office has not been without its difficulties, arising chiefly from changes in the Monarchy, but their Excellencies have never spared themselves in providing a steadfast example of devotion to duty. In particular they have maintained an enthusiastic interest in all forms of welfare activity, while more recently, since the world outlook has been darkened by war, Lord Galway, himself a soldier by profession, has been able to speak words of comradely advice and guidance. His Excellency has now' expressed gratitude for many acts of kindness and hospitality extended to his family and himself in New Zealand. An equally warm expression of gratitude is due to Lord and Lady Galway from the Dominion as a whole for the services they have gendered to the country; and with that expression of gratitude will go satisfaction that a happy association is not yet to be severed. —“New Zealand Herald.” “Moral Blackmail.” The weakness of the present system of obtaining recruits for the special military force was demonstrated at the annual meeting of the Territorial Association of Canterbury. “Moral blackmail” was a term used by several speakers to describe methods of stimulating recruiting. It was suggested that young women be asked to use their influence and that brassards be introduced to distinguish unfit and returned men from those who are unwilling to enlist. There was nothing admirable in these suggestions. If they are put into practice the voluntary system will cease to exist in

anything except its name, for they are simply forms of compulsion adopted bygroups and individuals instead of by the Government. A volunteer in the true sense of the word is a man who conies forward from no motive except personal conviction. The moment there is a suggestion of coercion the recruits will include many whose services are given unwillingly, perhaps in bitterness. It may be true that if men were conscripted they would feel dissatisfaction and reluctance; but these feelings would be generally balanced by the awareness of an equality of sacrifice. When all men are called to the service of their country they know that there can be nothing half-hearted or artificial about the emergency in which they are to play their part. They know also that everyone is in it; there is no question of immunity for selfish minorities. —“Southland Times.”

Antarctic Competition. The existence of competition among the nations for place or sovereignty in the frozen south would, however, argue the attachment of value to these re-

gions. What that value may be remains largely a dubious and unknown quantity. Perhaps considerations of national prestige and strategy have weighed more than economic hopes have. Legal aspects of the question of Antarctic ownership seem to bear some semblance to an uncharted sea. By international law discovery gives no more than an inchoate title, to be made real by effective occupation within a reasonable period. Effective occupation in the Antarctic has hitherto been virtually impossible. Britain has taken the view- that here the normal criteria are inapplicable, and has claimed sovereignty over that territory on whose coasts her explorers and scientists have worked, and this conception has not been seriously disputed, unless, perhaps, by Argentina. Admiral Byrd is'content in the meantime to emphasize the scientific aspects of the present expedition. His attitude, he has observed, is that science knows no boundaries, and the Antarctic, he has very sensibly said, “would not be worth fighting for, anyhow.” Thatmay not prevent it from, being increasingly the subject of a war of words. —“Otago Daily Times.”

Our Added Burdens. Prior to the war crisis, the past year in New Zealand was largely characterized by a policy of drift. Import control, with which the year opened, became intensified month after mouth till trade in almost every direction was restricted and stifled. The financial position, which control was calculated to rectify, deteriorated still further, and even before the war started it had been found necessary to impose further taxation oh the most heavily taxed people in the world. When the war did have to be faced it was found that the financial resources of the country had been strained, almost to the limit and subsequent war measures, necessary ■though they undoubtedly were, brought increased hardship and difficulty.' The difficulties are emphasized by a comparison with the situation in 1935. Then New Zealand had overseas funds exceeding £40,000,000, but this year they were only’ one-third of that amount, while idle funds in the trading banks had been reduced to little more than half the level of £20,000,000, which was the figure four-years ago. At the same time other reserves have been exhausted and taxable resources have been exploited to the limit. The war, therefore, will place a serious burden on the whole economy of the Dominion and the new year will require the maximum effort on all sections, of tjie community.—Gisborne “Herald.” Salutary Lessons of the Year.

There are many salutary lessons to be drawn from New Zealand’s economic history’ during-1939, but the most important. of them is that the machinery of government, from the Cabinet down ward, is in need of overhaul. The worst mistakes made by the Government it 1939 were due, not to errors of policy but to blunders of administration Whether, for instance, the-policy of im:port and exchange control is intrinsic ally good or bad is perhaps an ope* question; what is certain is that, al applied in New Zealand, the policy ha* been an expensive failure because th< organization for applying it was hope lessly inefficient. Import and exchang* control, the social security scheme, and the extension of State control over hot) primary and secondary industry have seriously overburdened the Public Ser vice, as witness the unwholesome growth in the number of temporary State employees and the many example: of imperfect co-ordination among Stat* departments. Administrative reforn' has become New Zealand’s most urgent political need. —"The Press,” Christ church.