POST-WAR RELIEF

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1943, Page 6

POST-WAR RELIEF

N.Z. AS SUPPLIER OF MILK FOODS.

ADDRESS BY MR. NASH. WELLINGTON, May 11. “New Zealand will have one of the Greatest responsibilities in the postwar relief settlement, for one of the greatest demands will be in the field of milk foods,” said Mr. Nash delivering the inaugural lecture of the newly-formed social science section of the Royal Society of New Zealand to-night. “It will take at least 10 years, I think,” said Mr. Nash, “tor the world to reach the point at, which it will have sufficient milk foods.’ One of the most disturbing features of post-war relief lay in the probability that there would, except perhaps in the case of wheat, be no surpluses such as it had been hoped to store up against a sudden demand for the supply of the occupied countries. However, a permanent settlement was more important than immediate post-war relief, and the forthcoming United Nations’ conference at Hot Springs was to consider a long-term settlement. 'lhe 1 problem of world production and distribution of raw materials would have to be dealt with in the same way, though the present inter-Alhed boards would serve as a basis, and might possibly be developed into world distribution controllers. The success of various forms of control was evident. Mr Nash instanced the Ministry of Food in Britain. The farmers of Britain wanted it carried on after tne war. “I do not think a peaceful reconstruction will result if Britain and the United States work out the reconstruction alone. Unless China and Russia are invited and play their parts,” he said, “there is a prospect of an even greater war. I do not think all the fault is on one side. I know Stalin was invited to the Casablanca conference, and it was even offered to change the venue if he wished; but I don’t think Chiang Kaishek was invited, though he was kept fully informed of deliberations; but unless the type of conditions we design for others is the same as we would except for ourselves, we cannot expect others to accept The four nations should get together now. You may say the Russians are the most sceptical and suspicious of all nations; but we 1 are most likely to get the best results if we go to them and lay our cards on the table. The world won’t stand a return of the pre-war state of things. If they returned there would be a revolution at once. The prospect of social reconstruction in Britain is better today than it has ever been.” Mr. Nash then dealt with the transfer of population, and said New Zealand should make it clear to some people in the North-west Pacific that it was not because of race or colour that we had not allowed them to settle here. “If we think,” added Mr. Nash, “that we can continue to hold ■this country on a population of one and three-quarter millions, then we are dreaming. There are resources in this little country sufficient to support a population of five or six milions if theyj are handled properly.”