NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 249, 18 July 1944, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dr. Edith Suinmerskill, a member of the British Parliamentary Delegation now in New Zealand, lias added timely and welcome emphasis to ■what has previously been said in this country concerning the need for increased population. Her remarks follow very closely the line of thought developed by Dr. 11. M. Wilson in a recent address to the Blanket and kindred associations at Hastings, which was published in “The Dominion” on July 1 last. Both speakers have laid stress upon the claims of motherhood for more sympathetic and practical consideration of improved domestic conditions for the rearing of large and healthy families. The problem, as each has pointed out, is partly economic, which touches the responsibility of the State; and partly concerned with the status of women as wives and mothers, which involves a recasting of an out-worn traditional point of view. Of the sacrifices made, and the duties performed by the wife mid mother, too much hitherto has boon taken for granted. If motherhood and the rearing of healthy children are to become part of our community consciousness and pride of race a new public opinion will he required to ensure that the right conditions shall be provided. * * * * Discussing present-day shortages in many lines of commodities the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Sullivan, has been inclined to lay the responsibility almost entirely on wartime conditions. It is true, of course, that these conditions have had a considerable effect on this country’s imports of raw and manufactured goods, but if people will carry their memolies back to pre-war days they will realize that the wartime shortages would not have been so acute had it not been for the action of the Government in imposing exchange control and import restrictions immediately <ift(i the General Election of 1938. The result, of this was that when war broke out reserves of goods in New Zealand had already shrunk to so fine a margin that stocks dwindled very rapidly. It is also pertinent to recall the fact that New Zealand in 11)38 was in a serious financial position, how serious was only revealed by the former Governor of the Reserve Bank. Mr. Leslie Lefeaux, in two addresses reported on November 5 and December 16 of last year. While the war accentuated lhe shortages already existing, it actually averted the financial crisis with which, as Mr. Lcfeatix has stated, this country was faced, when the European storm broke. The public at the time wore kept in ignorance of the seriousness of the position. The war bus been blamed for many things, but two things Hint cannot be laid at its door are the financial crisis that as thO result of Government policy developed in 1938. ami 'ho exchange control and import restrictions that denuded the shelves of Hie warehouses throughout the country, thus leaving purveyors of goods ill-prepared for (ho stresses that followed.