TE AWAMUTU COURIER. Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, June 8th, 1936. THE MAKERS OF WAR.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3766, 8 June 1936, Page 4

TE AWAMUTU COURIER. Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, June 8th, 1936. THE MAKERS OF WAR.

THE distressing fatality at the Colonial Ammunition Company’s works in Auckland has given thought to something more than the immediate effects of disaster. There arises the thought about the making of munitions. In these days there is so much talk, followed by such extensive action, in the direction of securing public ownership of services which are delegated as public utilities rather than as industries in the processes of trade and exchange. Well might it be asked whether munitions should continue as a commodity of the market? In the public interest successive Governments here and in all parts of the world have considered necessary the stringent regulation of arms and munitions. A strict censorship is exercised and licensing and other devices have been employed to assure the degree of safety which Governments in their wisdom consider necessary and expedient. But again be it asked, would not public ownership of the source of supply place the measure of control where it could be most effectively exercised? True, it may be that New Zealand’s part in such a form of public activity would be relatively small; but as a gesture it would be infinitely great. In an international sense munitions are admittedly the real source of danger. The world countenances Peace Con-

ferences, and looks hopefully to those who guide the destinies of the nations to evolve a formula which will make wars impossible. But all the time commercial travellers for the munitions firms are busy selling the very implements that make wars possible. Only a year ago it was announced that British financiers had adjusted the Austrian debt in a manner that effected a considerable savnig in the interest bill, but there was attached a condition of singular interest. It was diplomatically arranged that the amount of the interest savings had to be expended in the purchase of munitions from the munition makers in Great Britain! This, surely, was international politics with a vengeance! Why munitions? Why not trade in peace-time commodities for the health and well-being of the Austrian people and for the general uplift of British trade? Does it suggest that what we call diplomacy amongst nations is conducted out of regard to the kindred welfare o’t the financier and the munition maker—that there is an unholy alliance between them? The evidence certainly points in that direction. It simply suggests that when Peace Conferences are in session to lull mankind into a false sense of security, commercial travellers are busy formulating plans for war. And it suggests further that if there should be one item removed from the market place to a higher plane of public ownership and control—then that one item is munitions.