MR. MASSEY'S VIEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1240, 22 July 1919, Page 3

MR. MASSEY'S VIEWS.

I Mr W. Y. M '■'-'■;'. ;« ••<■» article m thFinancier and lintltontsi:. dealt with a number of question* whirl*, whilr WformiabVe «o the people "f ••••• Homeland, possess peculiar Zealandrrs at Ihe present juncture. During Ihe war period development work in this Dominion, in common with other pari* or the world, ha* been at a standstill, and there is much leeI way I© be made up. Bui while development ha* h«-n retarded our national indebtedness has increased by leaps and bounds, and we are faced with burdens which we will have !•» carry for many year* to come. There need be no misgiving* as lo our ability to sustain the load, but Hip ship of State will require a strong hand al the helm lo steer it clear or rocks and. shoals. Mr Massey. whilst not ignoring the extent of our obligation, strikes an nplimisilic nole. and emphasises the fael that great as have been the dominion's efforts, she is yet rar removed from the xcnilh of her powers, and may look rorward with hope ami confidence to the rulure. He toreshadows efforts fo develop industries, the potentialities or which are immense, and especially refers lo the i'ronsand deposits on the West Coast, the value or which rew are able lo gauge. The problem *f treating these deposits has been suecessruliy solved. and the possibilities are that they w>il prove a rich source or wealth in the not distant rulure. The Prime Minister also draws attention to Ihe favourable position ,\ew Zealand occupies in regard to hydro-electrical energy, and indicates that Jor an estimated expenditure of n.000.000 a large portion or the people or ihe Dominion could be supplied with power for industrial and domestic purposes/thus lending to conserve our ample coal supplies. The advantages that would accrue lo Ihe whoje community by harnessing our rivers are generally reeognised. and Ihe desirability or proceeding Willi Ihe work with all possible speed is everywhere admitted. At Ihe present moment we are receiving an objectlesson as lo Ihe Tolly or delay. Were our rivers harnessed we should not now have our industries hampered and our railway services slopped owing lo paucity or coal supplies. A great factor in progress is efficient transit, and lo promote settlement a vigorous policy of railway construction, combined with roads and bridges, is imperative. Any Administration will have to seriously tackle this question, and it behoves our political leaders lo consider well th? advantages offered by a system or light railways in Ibis connection. Their installation would greatly facilitate the construction or permanent roads whilst aiding settlers and settlement in the process. The Prime Minister refers |o what has been accomplished in the way or repatriation with apparent satisfaction. Much has. no doubt, been done, but there is much difference ef opinio* as lo whether it has been done in the best way. and while there in ■ general wish to ascribe unto Hit authorities a very earnest desire to do the right thing by the men who have upheld the country's honour on the gory* fields of Asia and Kurope it cannot seriously I> • argued that merely placing them on a section constitutes repatriation in Ihe true sense or Ihe word. It is. or course impossible to please everybody: the malcontent is always in evidence in all walks or lire, but it eannol be gainsaid that a large number or growls emanate fmm our "repatriated" soldiers, which would be calculated to upset Mr Massey's equanimity vqu\4 he hear them. The men are. undoubtedly, settling down to civilian lire " with credit In themselves and the Dominion." For Ihe most pari they are anxious to forget Ihe nightmare through which they have passed and .>i''»'ii in the attractions or peaceful pursuits and avocations relier from the distractions of war. It is for Ihe Government to ensure that Ihey are. enrmtraged in that quest by the provision or reasonable facilities, or course, it iim.*t be admitted, in justice to the • 'rovernmenl. that it is impossible to do Che impossible, and lime must be given to develop Ihe plans and schemes, but there can he no doubt thai Ihe wheels or the Stale' chariot have dragged heavily and progress has. al limes, been painruly slow. Willi Mr Massey's statement regarding the housing problem, no exception can be laken. The Government has done good work in this direction, even during Ihe w.«r. in assisting, by State mortgages Ihe people to build: had il not been for that Ihe housing problem would have been far more acute Iban it at present is. The Government's own scheme for building houses for workers ha*, however, been held in abeyance, and this, perhaps, was regret lahle. as had it been kept in operation many who have been called upon lo pay Hie high rents ruling would have had Ihe satisfaction of knowing that Ihey were making the house their own. Taken altogether. .Mr Massey has by his article {given New Zealand a good advertisement. We do not Ihiuk he has indulged in much high-colouring II will, however, probably result in directing Ihe thoughts and aspirations or many would-be emigrants rroni Britain towards Zealandia's shores. Therefor:*. it is well dial our Prime Minisler im-

pressed upon them ihal our own soldiers will I ur lir.st consideration --that When lhe> are provided Tor and established once more in llicir own land. Iheii we will consider a welcome to our kinsmen rroni overseas.