POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24773, 25 November 1941, Page 11

POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —I note with interest a letter written by " One of the Women " published in Saturday's Dailjf Times. Evidently it is necessary to remind Mr C. V. Smith and his pampered and much-favoured Manufacturers' Association that the backbone of this country still is, and always will be, the hard-working, peaceful farmer. Why, it is only a few months ago, when heavy rain interfered with our supplies from the country, that our Dunedin "townies" were considering pegging out grass claims on the Ovalto keep them from starvation! New Zealand is, and always will be, a primary-producing country (with a certain amount of manufacturing), whose.duty it is to supply the Mother Country with as much produce and food as possible; and in return we must take her manufactured goods. We have read a lot about our great British statesmen who 'say, "Britain must maintain her export business or perish." But that is nothing to our local leaders as long as the little factories are flourishing and paying dividends. May I ask how Mr Smith would propose to keep and feed the millions in the Homeland if they are unable to export manufactured goods? —I am, etc., Another Mere Woman. [Abridged—Ed. O.D.T.]