KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE

Northland Age, Volume 14, Issue 33, 26 April 1917, Page 7

KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE

MEN MUST BE SENT Foodstuffs in Second Place “SPEAKING after very deliberate consideration and on information received, I want to say with regard to the national efficiency question,” stated Sir James Allen, Acting Prime Minister, to-day, “that the most urgent claim upon New Zealand at the present time is to keep up the number of men for the various reinforcements. It must be evident to every thinking man that it is to the advantage of the Mother Country and her Allies to exert as much pressure as they can during the summer in order to bring the war to a climax lhi s summer il possible. I use the word climax advisedly. From the point of view of ourselves and our Allies it is the most economical thing, with regard to men, money, food supplies and everything, to finish the war this summer if at all possible If we have to hang over another winter it will mean a heavier cost in money and men and everything else, so we must not slacken in our efforts. Next to the demand for men to keep up our reinforcements, and we are not asking for more men than our usual drafts, come foodstuffs. It is our duty to keep our produce up as far as wc are able, and from the point of view of those engaged in these industries, it is as well that we should finish the war this year if we can.” With regard to shipping space for products Sir James Allen said: “We have not much control over the shipping question In New Zealand. We are urging the Home authorities to supply as much shipping as they possibly can to get our products away, but it may be that we shall be more short of shipping during the year, partly owing to the submarine menace and partly to the fact that the Imperial Government may find it necessary to find food supplies from nearer their own shores. They have already done that in the case of two ships.”