The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1946. ALL-IN EFFORTS TO WIN THE PEACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21945, 13 February 1946, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1946. ALL-IN EFFORTS TO WIN THE PEACE

TjpllF Jirst year of Iho new-found peace is slipping past without any apparent suggestion that the cessation of hostilities has brought peace of mind to the world. Nor in many countries are there signs of bodily peace, of economic comfort. Britain, who most of all is deserving of a high reward for heroic efforts, is in Fie throes of a plethora of worries—over vital food, and coal mol—which are striking hard at the national well-being. During Fie days when the victory celebrations were at their flush it was 1 ruly prophesied that the nations—European in particular could expect, nothing more than a period of relaxation, a brief respite, before tackling the burdensome problem of winning the peace. As time goes on, the prognostications of both Mr. Churchill and Mr. Attlee are being elucidated in no uncertain manner. Possibly the situation is even worse than these leaders anticipated. The devastation and dislocation caused by the war, both in Europe and Asia, have been aggravated by unkind seasons. Serious and repeated droughts have affected production in five Continents and the world is facing an unprecedented food crisis. Britain is concerned not only about her own immediate needs but about the plight of the people in the war-torn countries across the English Channel. Even the major enemy in two world wars must not be allowed to starve. One English authority has said with every truth that the twenty-two miles of Channel water will not save Britain if plagues break out on the Continent. So far we have been mercifully spared a virulent epidemic of the kind that broke out in 1918 and, as a means of preventing anything like its recurrence, modern medical science must be assisted by united efforts on all food fronts and an indomitable resolution on the part of the food-producing countries to share with others the fruits of their soil. All this concerns New Zealand as well as other British Dominions and the United States of America. Already Australia, despite the set-back caused by droughts in several important areas, has mapped out a commendable programme for helping Britain over her time of difficulty. Arrangements have been made to increase the shipments of meat, wheat, dried and canned fruits and eggs. New Zealand, reputed to he the most intensely British of the Dominions, must follow suit. There can be no let-up in primary production and, if the appeal goes out for further sacrifices on our part, refusal to respond cannot be entertained for a moment. _ , The uncertainty over the American loan is tantalising to. the British people. On this subject little comment in reported from the Homeland, but the British people would not be human if they were not pained by the opposition being shown to the project in some influential American circles. The actual terms aie surely hard enough to bear without manifestations of obvious reluctance to give help in any shape or form. The Department of Agriculture in Washing-ton has disclosed that, the American people this year will eat more food than ever while those of many other lands will be near starvation. Beyond any doubt whatever the call now is for an all-in peace-winning effort as the natural sequel to victory in a war fought with all the fury man could summon within the limits imposed by international law.