NO EASY LIFE AHEAD

Evening Star, Issue 25742, 15 March 1946, Page 7

NO EASY LIFE AHEAD

PROBLEMS OF PEACE MR BOWDEN DISCUSSES WORLD OUTLOOK " The war caught all countries but one unprepared," stated Mr C. M. Bowden, M.P., in an address to the Dunedin Junior Chamber of Commerce last evening.' "Peace came with surprising suddenness, too K and caught the world almost equally unprepared, even though some aspects of the world that was to emerge from the conflict were being discussed by its leaders. The sudden termination of the war has left a legacy of vast plants now useless, useful plants destroyed, dislocation and confusion of economic and industrial life, and shortages of raw materials. In addition, there is the urgent problem of youth, the problem of the young men who left school to serve their countries under arms. These men have proved themselves courageous and capable, but to-day they lack training to make them useful beings in the world of peace. GEARING BACK TO PEACE. " The problems of the world to-day are an international matter, and will have, in many cases, to be settled internationally. After the first World War there was a universal demand for some international governing body, and out of this arose the League of Nations. "Some people will say," said Mr Bowden, " that the League failed. I say that it' did not fail. It did not fully succeed, it did not stop wars, but it did not wholly fail." He detailed the various fields in which the League had brought, and was still bringing, benefits to the world. These successful spheres will be continued under U.N.O. " In the reshaping of the peace-time order of life, the problems will have to be dealt with under six categories: (1) The physical, which concerns the utilisation or restoration of plants, the restoration of homes, electric power plants, and other utilities, the provision of food, etc. (2) The fiscal category, which is concerned with international finance, tariffs, and other barriers. ' (3) The social sphere, dealing with employment, housing, health, and amenities. ■ (4) Economic matters will include the degree of freedom in international management, direction, or control of nationals of each country. (5) In the political sphere there are the systems of government of the various countries to be accepted by all. (6) The spiritual category, covering ethical or religious aspects. Some of these things were foreseen, and world conferences have been held, while others are still in progress. GREAT BRITAIN'S DIFFICULTIES.

" Britain emerged from the war with practically all her overseas credits liquidated," continued Mr Bowden. " The proposed United States loan, if sanctioned by will prove a very bitter pill. The annual interest hill will be greater than the whole of Britain's surplus from her exports in any one year before the war. In addi-

tion, one of the conditions of granting the loan may be American insistence on complete abandonment of Imperial preference, which means that in New Zealand we would be required to throw our doors wide open to receive any kind or quantity of goods which America or any other nation may care to offer, on our markets. This would be a complete reversal of our policy of recent years." The adverse views on Imperial .preference held by influential United States congressmen were quoted by - the speaker in support of his warning. He further pointed out that one of the principles of the Atlantic Charter, which we had bo enthusiastically embraced, called for free access to raw materials, which in turn was an important element in world free trade.

"Should we be required to abandon our import control system, we will require to face the intensive competition of the low-standard countries. It is significant," said Mr Bowden. " that all countries of recent vast development, such as India and Japan, are countries where the workers receive poor wages and where a low standard of living prevails. Moreover, these countries possess the most modern equipment. "We don't want to lower our, standard of living, but to raise theirs. The solution to the earliest attainment of post-war settlement and prosperity lies with the employers, with the workers, and with the Government. The employers must not,stand in the way of progress, they must better conditions, and provide the incentive of reward for good work. We want no sweating or slave-driving, but the employees must perform honest work, and there must be no cessation of work pending settlement of trade disputes or fancied grievances. The Government must remove hampering restrictions, and all must adopt any measure that will make for more effectiveness, fhus. may we retain our standards.

" In all countries the test of ability to recover from war and regain a state of prosperity lies in capacity to produce a flow of goods and supply the wants of the population. There is no other measure of general welfare than production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and it is measured by the spiritual resources of the people. This is why the words of sacred writ remain eternally true: ' Without vision the people perish. 1 What vision shall .we, the people of New Zealand, exercise in our consideration of, and action in, the problems which face us and the world to-day? "