The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES." GISBORNE, MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 1947. GREATER EFFORTS TO HELP BRITAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22416, 25 August 1947, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES." GISBORNE, MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 1947. GREATER EFFORTS TO HELP BRITAIN

TT is hard to visualise precisely what the effect will be on the New Zealand standard of living if the recommendations of the aid to Britain conference are adopted. "What can be confidently hoped for, however, is that Britain herself will benefit from the measures taken. That assurance should be sufficient to put New Zealanders in willing lighting trim for the economic battle ahead. One of the differences between the war years and now is that, whereas actual hostilities saw our armed forces carrying the major and certainly the more dangerous burden, the present crisis brings into play as never before the spirited endeavour of the whole community.. . If. in the course of the battle for the economic stability of the Mother Country, those who have never been anything other than civilians are tempted to grumble about the difficult and possibly trying conditions to come, they should remember the record of the ex-servicemen on the. various fighting fronts, together with the fact that these men must now share with everybody else the self-sacrifice entailed in the new type of campaign. Despite all that has already been done to help Britain out of her restricted scale of food dilemma—in this the Gisborne district has played a particularly prominent part—the public have been left uneasily aware that still more aid could have been given if the Government had taken a clear-cut and forceful lead. In the economic slough of despond in which Britain finds herself today.she cannot afford even her present meagre import supplies from foreign country areas until her export trade provides her with more funds. . Yet a full industrial recovery must depend on her getting more food to sustain a maximum effort by her workers. “Combined Operations.”

Every thinking New Zealander must know that this country .can do more than it is doing to help Britain to break clear of the vicious circle. The biggest effort we could make ourselves will not entirely solve the British problem. It is noted, however, that the steps to be taken by both Australia and New Zealand follow more or less parallel lines; that being so, wc can take heart from the fact that combined operations of this nature will go a long way towards a solution—a solution which will eventually redound to our advantage. Fortunately, in this critical time, the aid to Britain conference suggested by Federated Farmers and supported by the Returned Services’ Association and other willing bodies has given, a bold and imaginative lead in trying to sweep away technical difficulties, and rising above any fear that more help for Britain, involving sacrifices in the Dominion, might be politically inexpedient. There are encouraging signs, also, that the Government, whose Cabinet members participated strongly and constructively in the talks, will be undeterred in its future actions by possible objections from certain minority quarters to some of the conference’s recommendations. In truth, it is likely enough that, with the over-all economic picture placed so vividly before them, even those who since the Avar have been concerning themselves more conspicuously with shorter working hours and higher pay will realise that the time has come to sink all political differences and contribute to the national unity of effort in the same Avay as during the war years. Longer Working Week?

One of the brighter patches in Mr. Nash’s otherwise dull Budget was that in which the call for harder work ivas emphasised. The Minister of Finance linked our troubles Avith those of Britain and made an appeal for helping both Britain and ourselves by increasing production in this country. Ways and means must be found, be said, of galvanising our people into greater activity. He mentioned the advantages of a system of incentive payments, oi payment by results, and added that the only Avay, in the present circumstances, of maintaining our standard of living Avas to press for the objective of an increased output per Avorker. If higher-pressure activity is not favoured, then there is only one alternative. The country must for the time being abandon the forty-hour and five-day Aveek. It has long been felt that no period could have been more illogical for adopting the shorter Avorking Aveek than during the last feAv years. At the moment a measure Avhich Avould have been Avelcome in a normally prosperous era is looming up as a positive absurdity. Britain needs all the foodstuffs NeAv Zealand can produce and she also needs the speediest possible delivery. Many minor plans can be devised or improved. . The necessity to limit dollar expenditure lias been frequently pointed out. But the basic demand is for the highest possible production and the most efficient handling of cargoes into and out of the country. Under these conditions the long Aveek-end of idleness is a considerable handicap. One of the disappointments that.Avill be expressed in the recommendations of the aid to Britain conference is that a temporary return to the longer working week does not seem to have struck officials and advisers as one of the essentials.