NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24630, 11 June 1941, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

TO THE EDITOR

"Sir,—lt has become increasingly apparent that the warveffort made by New; J2ealanders at home is*by no means >gi;eat enough. The following suggestions are made with the view that New Zealanders would welcome.' an opportunity to do more. The recent statement by Mr A. S. Elworthy indicates that the conscience of the finer type of racing man is not in an altogether happy condition, and, it is thought that there must be many such people in other -walks of life asking themselves the question, "Is what I am doing of any xeal value?" The nation is crying out for a lead to be given for "a more intensi effort. Mm suggestionsare:.,r(l) Ration everything—not to a degree of undue hardship, but to limit all excess and waste. (2) No. 1 carried out means a colossal curtailment of industry, so it is suggested that', all industries be examined in order that'' where curtailment takes place the workers could he diverted to essential, war; production, e.g., woollen mill operatives to the making of uniforms and service material. In this case, perhaps a mills could " undertake necessary home supplies, while the remainder could develop standardised lines such as the services require. ' (3) Much work/has been done to develop a high standard of sheep, horses,', and cattle. A commission could be set up to make sure that the best are retained and further developed. It may mean sacrificing the remainder, but surely it is better to do that than to sacrifice hurnan beings and civilisation. All workers losing work through such curtailment could work on essential war industry. (4) Conscripted men should be examined during training, the initial examination being not to choose the. fit, but, to throw out the obviously unfit. If fitimen benefit, surely; the partially unfit would also. Training of the partially unfit may take longer, but it would be worth while from all points of view. Finally, it would take too much of your space to enumerate all that-could be done, but it is suggested that an immediate examination be made of all our activities, in order- that every ounce of effort is diverted to war production. It is better to choose poverty than to have it thrust upon us.—l am, etc., Dunedin. June 10. Thomas Hill. [This letter has- been much reduced In length.—Ed. 0.D.T.l