NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23861, 11 January 1941, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

THIRD ACT OF WAR DRAMA The general scheme of the war drama is by nan- revealed, notes the NewsLetter. The first act lias displayed the mastery of the land by Germany and of the sea by Britain. The second will, no doubt-. Rive us further illustrations of these two features, but its main theme must be the acquisition of the mastery of the air. The united efforts of the Empire, aided by the industrial resources of the U.S.A., should give Britain a definite predominance in this field. The third net will set the problem, new in the history of war, can sea plus air power with limited land strength impose its will on numerically superior and as yet uneonquercd land forces? Probably the answer will depend upon whether Britain can produce a body of strategists able to develop a technique inspired by the offensive spirit of our naval captains and airmen.

: DELIGHT IN BOOKS All through the years I have never ; lacked a waiting list of hooks to he read, writes Margaret Williamson in the Christian Science Monitor. My appetite, too, was inexhaustible and ready impulse has led me straight to the book required at the moment. I may as well admit that I acquire more books than I can possibly digest. They wait their turn, and some never receive the attention that they deserve. Now and then one which has waited patiently for weeks is suddenly lifted to the level of the eyes—and 10, a great new world unfolds. Suppose they are never read at all? What does it matter? They take their proud places on my shelves —crisp and clean and enticing. Just having them there is an anticipation, a joy, an encouragement. Only to be able to stretch out a hand and stroke them. Only to handle them, feel their smoothness, weigh their potentialities. Yes, I j like them close about mo, heaped up I and waiting, ready when J call. j

SERVICE AND INCENTIVE i The British Minister of Labour, .Mr. Krnest Bevin, remarked in a recent ; speech that "we have been taught that i the only motive for energy, production, and enterprise is profit," adding, "if I profit can be the only motive, the ! natural corollary is economic disorder." I He went on "to give the new motive j for industry and for life." which was ; "social security." It would seem as if he thought this some new personal or party evangel, says the Sunday Times. But what are the facts? How many people now living have ever "been naught that the only motive for energy, production, and enterprise is profit"? How many can be left unaware of the claims of "social security," after all the thought and discussion and effort and public money that have been poured out on them during the past 30 odd years? Kveryone, surely, has long had his eyes opened, to the need for social security. Most people are also aware that, if one wants production on a scale sufficient for a high standard of living, one must leave open adequate incentives for the individual. These are not inconsistent propositions. The problem before reformers is not how to abandon one and embrace the other. It is how best to do simultaneous justice to both of them.