OUR TASKS

Evening Star, Issue 17086, 3 July 1919, Page 3

OUR TASKS

TO DEVELOP NEW ZEALAND.' MR MASSEY'S~PROPAGANDA. NOVEL "PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT." (From the Official Representative with tho N.Z. Peace Delegation. Mr Eiley.] LONDON, July 1. In the Empire number of the 'Financier ami Bullionist* Mr M-issoy lias a. special article on ' New Zealand: Her Present Position and Prospects.' After detailing the strength of the Dominion's forces and noting their excellent record in the field and camp, tho Primo Minister states that the Domini on's 'financial responsibilities as a direct result of the war are very heavy. IndiKlimj capitalisation of pensions", the war has cost the Dominion little, if anything, leas than €200.000.000. It is estimated that the annual cost of pensions, which are Hie most generous in the world, will not be "less than £2.000.000. _ This chargo is accepted as a debt of .altitude. There is no lack of confidence on the part of Now /ealanders in. the future. They have a sturdy faith in the strength of the country to 'carry its heavy bui'dsn. The Dominion's resources, especially as regards primary industries. are still capable of enormous development. The test is vet to be. There will wirhin a comparatively short time be room for industries which hitherto have been scarcely thought of, far leas explored. The iron industry is ati example, there_ being huge deposits, both of iron ore of firstclass qualitv and iron sand on tho west coast of r.he North _ Island. Experts have expressed tho opinion that there is nothing better in the world. '.There, is immen?« scope for the development of our unique resources. A-s regards water power for generating electrical energy, it is intended to put these works in' hand almost immediately as an import-ant pa it- of the reorganised activities of the Dominion after the war. and, following the lessons of the war. which have shown the necessity for each part of the Empire to develop its own resources, plans are in preparation for the wide development of New Zealand's enormous water power, in ord*r to provide all centres and many smaller centres with electricity for domestic 'and industrial purposes. There is no scarcity of coal in New Zealand but the cost of handling and transport makes it ncoes-ary that we should economise consumption of the coal supplies by the extensive use of electricity generated by natural water power whercever practicable. That 13 the aim of the Government, and the prospects of a profitable extension are very good. Tho experimental stage has been passed. The value of tho development of water power ha» bsen proved already by the State at Luke Coleridao, where the scheme has been a marked success. Results civ aloud for a wide extension, and the response will be practical. It .is estimated that, the -cost of tho proposed works is about £7,000.000. Railway transit, also, will be developed. It is intended to complete several railways under construction as soon as labor and material are available, thus maintaining a steady supplv of employment. Road-mak-ing and bridge-lviilding will also be carried on vigorously in order to open up newcountry for settlement. New Zealand will not be a manufacturing country for soinp time to come, and must relv principally on her primary industries ; but that is no reason why the development of secondary industries, for which we have raw malerial, should not be encouraged in every possible way. The principal business in hand now Is repatriation, which is less difficult than many people imagined it would be, because the great majority of men have homes; or businesses to return to, while employment awaits most of those who require 'it. It must be said with w.tisfaetion that our men are settling down with credit to themselves and the Dominion. The Government are finding suitable land for the settlement of returned soldiers with agricultural experience who desire to secure holdings and win. success on the soil of a country which rewards industry. Encouragement 'is freely given to those likely to bo successful"settlers. To encourage men who, for lack of experience and other reasons are unlikely to succeed would mean misery and failure for them and certain joss to the State. Great care, therefore, is heincr exercised as regards the selection. The latest official returns showthat 1,200 returned soldiers have been placed on the soil, and a large percentage are practically certain to do well. New Zealand, iiU other countries, is suffering from a 'scarcity of duelhnghow.ea owing to the arrest of construction during the war period. But earnest effort., will be made to meet the difficulty, and T am confident that tho Government, local bodies, and private individuals will cooperate actively in supplying the demand, which evidently exists with common acuteness throughout all tho allied countries. It necessarily must take some time, however, and will impose, still -a little more strain upon the patience of patriotic people before we all can return to even a gait ot normal activity. It is the policy of the New Zealand Government to provide tho citizens with comfortable homes, with opportunity of making them their own. Prospects in New Zealand after tho war are well founded on 'past results, and particularly so upon achievements within the Dominion during the war period. Since March, 1915, despite the depletion of labor for the war, we had been able to produce for the Imperial Government about £120,0C0,00d worth, of wool,, meat, and dairv produce. That is proof of the productive strength of tho Dominion, and speaks volumes for tho country's resources and the industry and energy of the settlers, liandicap"ped by the absence of the great body of men who responded to the Empire's call. Tho policy of tho Government throughout tho long course and strain of war was to do our full share in pressing the -good cause to a. successful issue, and still keep the _country pi ospcroue. Now that tho war has come to -an end we can look back and see that we have been successful in both. Our losses, unfortunately, were heavy, but out consolation id that our boys who made the supreme saa-ifico have- given their lives m a great cause. They put an immortal seal upon our freedom. They Heard the- sunset gun too soon, but havo left for us mid others the long day of peace. What of the future? New Zealand, like all the allied countries, has its problems of peace as it -had its problems of war, Tout in> freedom, from world strife wo should surely achieve as full a measure of success as we gained in the more difficult una dreadful circumstances of war, and as full a measure of triumph. There is within tho Dominion great .scope for progressive effort. Large areas await settlement. It may not bo as. good land as that alroadv settled, but it is useful land, capable of profitable development by men with grit and eagerness to establish comfortable homes. There is opportunity far tens of thousands who are prepared to work foj success. The demands of war retarded preparation for extensive settlement owing to the absence of surveyors and their .assistants on active service. But shortlv wo shall bo able to resume operations at the promising point at which they were broken off towards the end of 1914. Our intention is to carry on vigorously oar policy as regards land settlement and development of the Dominion's resources. Such a policy is absolutely essential if New Zealand is to carry without serious inconvenience the 'heavy burdens resulting from the war. Industrious people need have mo fear of not doing well in New Zealand, where work means success. ' I have never known properly directed energy to fail. 1 welcome _ the Imperial' Government's scheme for emigration to the Dominions, but our own soldiers must come first. They have earned preference and wise encouragement.