Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1935. PARALLEL PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 87, 9 October 1935, Page 10

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1935. PARALLEL PROBLEMS

It is no mere coincidence that the League of Nations, in the intervals lof its consideration of the ItaloAbyssinian dispute, should have given thought to. means for bringing production and consumption into; closer relationship. The Italo-Abys-sinian trouble has been aggravated by the dictatorial methods of, Signor Mussolini, and by the failure of Abyssinia quickly to achieve ,;that standard of good government?1 expected of League members; but it is highly improbable that the backwardness of Abyssinia and twentieth century Roman imperialism would have resulted in a clash had not the hunger of Itajy supplied the argument which assured the dictator of support by the Italfan people. Lack of scope for expansion and lack of raw materials for industry have caused the Italian people to view with favour, or at least to accept, an imperialistic plan to make good the need. 11l balance between resources and the capacity to use them is, therefore, one of the primary causes of the war. .Though the lack" of balance is between nation and nation, it is essentially die same problem as that presented by the world depression which, as a recent writer stated, "has been publicised to the point of nausea" as "the paradox of poverty in .the midst of plenty." The two problems are in essence the same, but the remedies must take different forms because while the one problem is, international the other can be partly solved by national action. Italy cannot rid herself of her troubles by reorganising her national / economy and securing a better balance within her own borders' (including her colonies) between primary production and manufacturing industry. Her population demands new territory, or access to new resources, to help redress the balance. This need has been emphasised by Signor Mussolini in his reiterated demands for opportunities for expansion and his reference to the powers resting with the League of Nations to provide for the requirements of a nation on the march. It was acknowledged by Great Britain in Sir Samuel Hoare's admission in his Geneva speech that "the world is not static, and changes will from time to, time have to be made. The Covenant itself admits this possibility." Sir Samuel Hoare then suggested that the problem was economic, rather than political and territorial, and he proposed an inquiry directed towards securing free distribution among the industrial countries which required them of raw materials from colonial areas. There is a section of public opinion which would go further (Mr. George Lansbury is one who has stated the case) and would endeavour to base enduring peace on agreed redistribution of territories as well as resources. Argument for such action |is strongly set forth in the September 1 "Fortnightly" by Mr. Stephen Gwynn, who submits that die League of I Nations cannot succeed unless it thus positively helps the removal of war causes, instead of *only nega- | tively trying to prevent war. j Two important admissions are made by Mr. Gwynn, however: (1) That territorial adjustments must i come from national negotiation and agreement, with the League encouraging and ratifying die adjustments; (2) diat no statesman can propose the sacrifices which are essential for one side of an adjustment bargain. Public opinion must make. the. proposal to the statesman. This is common sense united to idealism. But jhow can public opinion be brought to realise that a world-wide humanitarian view must be taken? We can see jio better means of education than i the experience and the wider outlook which would be acquired in an endeavour to solve die narrower problem of inequality of production and consumption within the different national boundaries. It was to this problem that the British, Australian, and New Zealand delegates invited the League of Nations Economic Committee to give its attention—to consider what measures might be taken to use abundant foodstuffs so that improved nutrition might be | secured through increased consumpition.

New Zealand is vitally interested in this endeavour—so much so that she proposes to act without waiting for the League of Nations. Mr. Coates in his reply to the Budget debate said that part of the levy on chilled beef would be used for determining Avays of increasing consumption.

It was' agreed by representatives of the various countries of the Empire

that the question should be taken to Geneva and it was left in the hands of the High Commissioner. New Zealand and the United Kingdom, however, were not prepared to wait for Geneva, and investigations were being carried out today in the hope that it would be possible to place surplus products at the disposal of people who .were not able to buy those products. I There are obvious advantages in j such a scheme. Several of these advantages were stated by a writer in ! the "Round Table" for September in an article on "Agricultural Policy land Health." For example, such use of a levy stimulates consumption without the risk of encouraging vmj economic production as the application: of levy money for subsidies to home production would tend to do. Moreover it has a powerful appeal to public opinion in that it provides relief for the distressed and promotes public health through raising the standard of living. Yet there are pitfalls also. One of the greatest dangers attends on the admission of principle implicit in what is equivalent to a permanent grant supplementing the earnings of a considerable section of the ' community. Where may this not lead, and what complications may not arise from it? Is it to be admitted that the economic system demands permanent subsidies from the public funds i (however those funds may be provided) for housing, for food, and for .clothing? Nevertheless the prospect of such complications should not be permitted to hinder investigation. Rather it should prove the need for an examination which will lead to a permanent solution, and the evolution of a system under which the earth's bounty may be wisely and widely distributed to ensure a higher standard of living. With the knowledge and experience gained in this endeavour a public opinion may be formed favourable to the solution of international economic problems, and the removal of both the causes and the evil consequences of economic nationalism. But the national beginnings of such a movement depend in the last resort upon individual recognition of responsibility and individual unselfishness and willingness to make a practical and positive contribution for world peace.