EFFORT AND LEADERSHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23662, 22 May 1940, Page 8

EFFORT AND LEADERSHIP

The tone of disappointment—or', more than disappointment, downright dissatisfaction—with the lead given toward an intensified war effort in New Zealand is growing stronger daily. This country should find a potent lesson in Mr. Mackenzie King's statement of what is being done to speed up Canada's participation. The actual lines of it are discussed elsewhere in these columns, but what is equally worthy of notice is the clear categoric list of things which are to be done, and done quickly, to meet a deepening menace hanging over the Allies and every part of the world with identical interests. That is what Ne\v Zealand looks for, and looks in vain. Applying the principle to a different set of circumstances, the Auckland , Council of Primary Production showed 011 Monday that it was oppressed by a sense of complete futility. The members felt acutely that there was need for action, for increased production to meet newly developed needs in the United Kingdom. Yet they found themselves without power to initiate, without hope that recommendations they made would lead anywhere, and without definite knowledge of what Britain really required from New Zealand. Colonel Adams in particular was emphatic about what could be done to increase supplies. The difficulty was that no lead was given, that the willing were offered no goal to work to, and the unwilling were allowed to go their own way without even a remonstrance. This does not mean that the producers or anybody else should be dragooned ; given a clear lead the majority would respond eagerly, the rest would soon fall into line. Lack of leadership by a hesitant Government is almost wholly responsible for the general apathy.