The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1937 THE NATIONS’ PROBLEM OF PROBLEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20669, 6 March 1937, Page 8

The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1937 THE NATIONS’ PROBLEM OF PROBLEMS.

Because both countries are determined to set up a plan for further increases in their armed forces, under their self-sufficiency plans, to provide men for military and industrial purposes, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany are turning their attention to the existing rate of natural increase in population. In characteristically expressive language, the Fascist Grand Council makes the solemn declaration that the birth-rate problem, being the problem of life and its continuance, is really the problem of problems. “Without life,” adds the declaration, “there is no youth, no military power, no economic expansion, or no secure future for the Fatherland.'’ It is this knowledge that has prompted Fascist Italy to embark on a plan involving the offer of inducements that would result in an increase in birth-rate. it 4js this problem that should awaken New Zealand out of its lethargy. The plan did not produce satisfactory results either in Germany or Italy, and because Italy believes that the future of the Fascist State —and any other State for that matter —reposes in the strength of the country’s population, a most comprehensive scheme to encourage large families has been evolved. “Without life there is no youth,” says the Italian communique, and it might be said by way of endorsement that no nation that hopes to hold its place in the scheme of things can regard itself as stable, unless and until it ensures that the stream of youth flows on uninterruptedly with increasing vigour right through the years. Germany, on her part, has given serious consideration to the problem of the birth-rate, but none but Aryan blood is acceptable. It is now disclosed, however, that in spite of the larger families campaign last year, the birth-rate in Germany, represented only 19.2 per 1000 of the population; whereas in 1920, before the Nazi regime swept its totalitarian influence across tlie Third Reich, the birth-rate was 25.9 per 1000. It is not surprising that official Germany is disappointed and that severe measures are threatened against all who infringe the new criminal code. It may be pertinent to contrast the profound anxiety that is being displayed in Fascist countries like Germany and Italy with the easy complacency displayed by the people of New Zealand on the problem of the birth-rate. No one can peruse the seven-pointed programme that is designed to increase the birth-rate in Italy, without marvelling at the thoroughness of the Fascist regime. Moreover, Germany is moving on identical lines. In those countries where the birth-rate is 19.2 and 24.4 per 1000 respectively, the problem of the birth-rate is regarded as of paramount importance; a problem compelling supreme consideration to which almost everything else has been subordinated. But in New Zealand, where less than two million people occupy a territory equal to half the area of Germany in Europe with its 60,000,000 people; where there are fewer children born each year than there were twenty-five years ago and where immigration has practically ceased, very little attention is paid by the State or the people to the problem of the birth-rate, which as the Fascist Grand Council insists, is really the problem of problems because it involves the problem of life and its continuance. TIMARU CENTRAL RELIEF SOCIETY. With a record of six years of splendid community service well and faithfully discharged, the Timaru Central Relief Society ceased operations last night. Looking back down the difficult and baffling days of the economic depression when the blizzards seemed to threaten the very existence of orderly society, the sustained efforts of the public-spirited self-sacrificing men and women who associated themselves with the work of relief societies stands out in bright relief against a dark background of hardships and anxiety. In passing it can be said that the courage and courtesy displayed by the less fortunate members of the community who were forced to seek relief and the gratitude they expressed in no small measure compensated the citizens who devoted their services to the administration of relief work. As far as this district is concerned, one of the most successful organisations established for the distribution of relief was the Timaru Cehtral Relief Society. For six years a splendid body of public-spirited citizens with the full burden of the town’s needy on their shoulders, by their sympathy, devotion ahd business ability, faced up to the task of directing the community’s efforts to relieve distress. That their efforts were successful is revealed not only in the cold financial statements issued from time to time, disclosing the handling of the very large sum of £54,473, but in general expressions of gratitude voiced by thousands of men and women who were given relief in their hours of extremity. The members of the Central Relief Society have decided that their splendid organisation has completed the work for which it was established, namely, to co-ordinate relief measures in Timaru, not only to obviate overlapping but to provide all sections of the community with a central organisation through which the citizens could assist less fortunate members of the community. The work of the Society over a period of six years, in which large sums of money and immense quantities of goods were handled, has been faithfully and efficiently performed, and the Society ceases operations with a splendid record of community service to its credit, and entitled to the heartiest thanks alike of the citizens whom they served, as well as of those who were assisted in some measure to bear the heavy burden of the difficulties associated with the days of the depression. HOUSING FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND EDUCATION. Although the men who serve the country in high and perilous places in the administration of national affairs do not look for commendation because democracy is notoriously ungrateful, it is interesting to note t'he expressions of praise that have been voiced by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce after their visit to the Public Works camps on the South Island main trunk line. Appreciation is expressed of the efforts of the Minister of Public Works and his officers and staff to make the lot of the camp population as comfortable as possible. Doubtless the Minister will not be slow to respond to the friendly comment and well-deserved commendation for the care displayed in safeguarding the welfare of the workers engaged on railway construction, ft may be a far cry from public works to education, but all who are conversant with the conditions imposed on some of the teachers in the out-of-the-way schools will hope that the iflnister of Public Works will not confine his efforts to providing comfortable housing for camp population, but that he will have a look at some of the facilities (?) provided for the housing of primary school teachers stationed at some of the schools in more remote districts.