PEACE PROBLEMS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10355, 12 August 1919, Page 6

PEACE PROBLEMS

DISCUSSED BV PREMIER

NEED FOR INCREASED PRODUCTION.

The more immediate problems of tbe post-war period were referred to by tho Prime Minister yesterday at the laying of tho new State Fire Insurance Office foundation-stone.

We had got over tho war period, ho said, but hi? thought that all would .agree with him that tho problems of peace, with which we now had to deal and which had to be taken in hand without any delay, were just as important as those we had had to cope with during the war period. (Applause.) The building of which the Hon. Mr MacDonald had iusfc laid tho foundation-stone was only one of those whicli bad bad to stand over because of tho war. There were hundreds of school buildings which had to bo erected, and he hoped would be taken in .hand. We did not feel tho want of them so much in the -centres of population, but in many of the country districts the schools had been housed in tents. Tho matter would have to bo taken, in band, and he thought there would be no difficult- in regard-to finding the money for schools and other necessary public buildings. (Applause.)

But we had other difficulties to face, though not so sorioils/as those of other British countries. We had, got a splendid country, a productive country, and a splendid climate. Tho possibilities of production in the Dominion had been proved’ during the war period by the enormous quantities of produce which we had been able to send to the other side ol tho world—mostly for the Imperial Government, and for the use of our soldiers. But we could not stay where we were. We had undertaken enormous liabilities. Our war debt amounted to practically £100,000,000, which, with the pre-war debt, made a total of £200,000,000; and we had got to increase our production in every way possible if we were going to carry that Burden without serious inconvenience to our population. We could increase our production, he had no doubt; but we must face the position with the same energy and determination as wo had faced the difficulties of the war period. (Applause.) We had tho hy-dro-electric schemes to develop; and ho hoped that in the not far distant future they would he completed, to the great benefit of Wellington and other centres. (Applause.) We had also to complete our railways and road the country, and do all we could in connection with soldier-settlement. He was glad to recognise the splendid work in. that direction which his colleagues had done during his absence.

We had got to increase production, and keep down unnecessary expenditure. Those were the two things we had to do. He said “unnecessary expenditure,” because we could not increase production without increasing expenditure; and it was necessary to increase our exports by at least 60 per cent.’ He hoped that the shipping interests, , though most of the ships trading out hero wore owned by overseas capital, would rise to the occasion and supply us with the necessary ships to take our produce to the markets of the world. That was one of the most important items that We had to consider and arrange at tho present time; for we had seven millions’ worth of frozen meat in store, besides butter, cheese, flax, wool, etc. All of this we wanted to turn into money, which,' he claimed, would not remain in the pockets of the producers, hut would filter through to all sections of the community. (Applause.)