THE Wairarapa Age FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1936. A TIME OF OPPORTUNITY.

Wairarapa Age, 19 June 1936, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1936. A TIME OF OPPORTUNITY.

It is agreed very generally that a steady, if not rapid expansion of manufacturing industries is demanded on the broadest grounds in this country in the interests of all sections of the population. Wisely guided, this expansion will not only enable the Dominion to carry a greater population and to lighten its national debt and other costs per head of population, but will provide in the only lasting fashion that now seems possible for the future prosperity and security of the primary industries on which we are now so largely dependent. Our secondary industries have attained already a fairly considerable development and in a number of branches of manufacture are making extremely promising headway. There is no doubt, however, that in the right conditions the scale of these industries and the numbers of people to whom they afford employment can be multiplied as time goes on. In looking to progress and expan-

sion on these lines, nothing is more important than that careful thought should be given to the question of siting and locating industries to the greatest possible advantage. Allowing growth and development of various kinds to proceed haphazard has to date cost us dear. In the course of a century of settlement, we have largely destroyed the most valuable forest estate, with which any country (in relation to its size) was ever en-

dowed, utilising only a small part of thp mass of wealth which the virgin forest contained. In many areas our Terming development has also been carried out without regard to wise economy—the destruction of forests which would have protected and safeguarded the farming lands they once commanded being but a single item in the count. We have hardly made a beginning on the intelligent planning of our towns and "regional plannig” is a phrase of which New Zealand has yet to grasp the meaning. On account of our neglect of method in the past, our debt and other costs, in the spheres of both nationad and local government, are enormously greater than they need ever have been.

With these examples of unwisdom and its cost before our eyes, everyone should now be able to agree that the extension of manufacturing industries, which normally will be the next great forward step in the development of the Dominion, must be guided by an exercise of ordinary common sense. It would be a sad sequel to our past failures in this respect if we were to neglect the opportunity that now appears of planning industrial development so that it may confer maximum benefits on the Dominion and its people. One great error and danger to be avoided is that of needlessly massing manufacturing industries in restricted areas. People of limited vision and foresight are apt to lay too much stress on factors of deep-water berthage, or easy access to seaports. There are other considerations just as important, or more important, to take into account — among them those of vulnerability to air or other attack and of a due regard for social amenities and of the working and living standards of the people. If we are even to keep abreast of modern progress in countries of older development, the additional manufacturing establishments we need must be distributed widely through the Countryside. It would be no more than keeping pace with recent developments r in the United States, for example, if I

manufacturing industries were in some instances directly associated with and co-ordinated with farming and other primary industries. We shall develop no Black Country if the additional manufacturing establishments the Dominion needs are well distributed through areas like the Wairarapa, the Manawatu and the Waikato and similar areas in the South Island. Should we permit manufacturing development to be concentrated in limited areas, we would repeat in this country grievous mistakes and evils which countries of older development are now endeavouring at great cost to overcome. RATHER TOO CLEVER.

Although it is given as something that “is understood,” a report that France may shortly give up her mandates over Syria and Lebanon, “with whom she will sign treaties enabling noth to become independent States and League members, ” wears a distinct air of probability. The rest of the arrangement suggested is that a formal alliance will exist between the proposed new States and France, who win guarantee the protection of all minorities. French troops', it is added, win remain in occupation, but will be quartered in circumscribed areas. This is a proposal which France might have put forward at any time with a view to obtaining a more secure control over the territories in question than she has at present as a League mandatory. It is- rather likely that the proposal is being put forward now because it seems possible that some question of revising League mandates may be raised. The facts in a nutshell evidently are that if Syria anf l Lebanon were admitted to League membership in the conditions France is said to contemplate, France would still have an effective control over Syria and Lebanon and no one would be in a position to challenge her control. Much, of course, would depend on whether the League was prepared to sanction the arrangement suggested. If France wakes any actual move on the lines indicated, reason will appear for doubting whether the .establishment in power of a Government of the Left has made any appreciable difference to French foreign policy and aims.