THE WAR HORIZON

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9630, 10 April 1917, Page 6

THE WAR HORIZON

THE END DRAWS NEAR IMPERIAL DEMANDS ON NEW ZEALAND. STATEMENT BY ACTING-PREMIER “Speaking after very deliberate con(ddcratiop and on information received, I want to say with regard to the national efficiency question,” stated the Hon. Sir James Allen (Acting-Premier and Minister for Defence) to a “Times” representative yesterday, “that tho moat urgent claim upon New Zealand at tho present time is to keep up the number of men for tho various reinforcements. It must be evidence to every thinking man (ho added) that if is to tho advantage of the Mother Country and her Allies to exert as much pressure as they can during this summer, in order to bring the war to u climax this summer if i>oasihlo. A use tho word climax advisedly’. Erora tho point of view of ourselves and our Allies, it is the most economical thing, both with regard to men, money, food supplies, ana everything to finish the war this summer if at ail possible. If wo have to drag over another winter it will mean heavier cost in money and men and everything else. “MUST NOT SLACKEN.”

“So we must not slacken in our efforts. Next to the demand for men to keep up our reinforcements, and wo are not asking for more than for our usual drafts —next to the demand for men, and a good second to it, are tho foodstuffs that wo can export for tho use of our men at the trout and for people at Homo. It is our bounden duty to keep our products upi as far as we are able to do it; and from the point of view of those* engaged in these industries, it is as well that we should finish tho war this year if wo can. It will be still harder for them if wo have to go on for another year. It is our obvious policy to try and finish this year,” THE SHIPPING PROBLEM. Questioned with regard to the problem of shipping space for our products, Sir James Allen said: “Wohave not got much control over tho shipping question in New Zealand, except that w© are urging the Home authorities to supply us with as much shipping as possible to get out products away. But it may be we shall ho more short of shipping during tho year, partly owing to the submarine menace and partly to tho fact that the Imperial Government may find it necessary to find food supplies from nearer their own shores, where transport is not so lengthy as to New Zealand. Indeed, they have already done this in the case of two ships.”