The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1917.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4497, 14 March 1917, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1917.

It is surprising that there are still so many people After the War— who affect the What? belief that after the war this Dominion will experience a great slump. These pessimists cling to the idea (which, of course, has no real foundation) that, when the war is over, the people of the Motherland will not be in a position to pay high prices for our products, and consequently prices will recede very appreciably. As for the likelihood of new markets for our commodities such a suggestion n> scouted by those who adopt the woeful attitude to which we are alluding. That the reverse will be the actual position we think every real student of current events will agree. It is indeed very pleasing in this connection to turn to the well thought-out comments in the annual report (just published) of the C.C. and D. Company on this very important subject. In brief we are told in this very interesting and very informative report that as a sequel to the war the flocks and herds of all countries, and especially of the belligerent countries, will be greatly depleted, and that not only will our Mother Country continue to prove an excellent market for all kinds of produce, but also that new Continental markets will be opened up to the growers of this and other producing countries. “The consumers in the United Kingdom,” says the C.C. and D. Company, if are not likely for some time to come to enjoy the benefits of those gluts of supply which were experienced in some years prior to the war. The petition of Continental and possibly North American markets will prevent a reversion to the level of prices which were regarded as normal before the war.” For our own part we hold that these anticipations aro wellfounded and it seems to us that similar conditions will apply in the case of wool, butter and cheese as in me case of frozen meat. It may not, of' courso, happen that, say, wheat will maintain correspondingly high values but the dislocation of shipping' and consequent continued high freights will combine to prevent prices in this connection from dropping to pre-war values for some considerable time after the war. And in this regard we might ask : What are the authorities in this Dominion doing with a view to meeting post-war trade conditions? Thero can be no quostion that unless the Government comes to the rescue of the producers flocks and herds will be found to have dwindled down in a very great degree within the next season or two. Already there is

abundant evidence in many localities that breeding stock to-day is not nearly so numerous as in. pre-wai days. It stands to reason, of course, that if growers cannot get adequate labor they will not attempt to breed such large herds and flocks, as they did formerly. "What, then, is the National Efficiency Board doing in the matter? One and all must realise that the prosperity of this Dominion rests solely upon high production an good markets. As regards the question of markets we have already expressed the opinion on many occasions that for many years to come the Motherland and some of the Gontinental countries will require all tie produce that can be spared hy on Zealand and Australia, and such being the case prices must on account of the competition that will prevail remain very high, if not quite so mg j as they are to-day. It is nonsensical for anybody to suggest that there must necessarily be hard times ahead for the Motherland. The fact is that when the war is concluded the workpeople of the United Kingdom will tor many a day be busily engaged in over taking arrears of work and fulfilling new business. Manufactured goo s are already in very short supply m a 1 countries with the single exception of perhaps the United States. Tj ne , r . suit of the war must he that British manufacturers will be far a iea ) dav in the matter of methods and it can be taken for granted that the output in regard to all lines will m future be greater and more speedy than in former years. Britain s ou lie a hive of industry for many years to come, and fnaybe she will requme to look to outside sources for supplies of foodstuffs to a much greater extent than hitherto. Here then is a chance for New Zealand, better fax than we have ever in the past had within our grasp. Will it be missed It is a matter for regret that it would seem that unless the authorities wake up and arrange for the replacement ot the farmers ai*l farm hands who are going to the war by others n 10 are In some degree, if not fully, fitte farm and station work it n ill )e °^ n at the close of the war tliat the primary industries of this Dominion will be in a partially crippled condition. There is a way out of the tlireatene difficultv and the sooner the authorities take action the better it will be not onlv for those who are financially interested in these industries but roi the Dominion as a whole. Sir James Allen’s message to farmer reservists in this morning’s issue indicates .a timely realisation of the situation, and it is to be trusted the National Efficiency Board will take the matter vigorously in hand at once.