WAR’S DEMANDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 47, 25 February 1941, Page 6

WAR’S DEMANDS

NEED FOR SACRIFICE MR. NASH’S WARNING FUTURE IMPORTS Stating that he agreed with the President of the British Board of Trade, who had declared: .“It is going to be a much more uncomfortable war than it has been,’’ the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) warned the public of New Zealand in a statement issued last night that “temporary discomfort must be accepted as an effective part of the war effort.'* Mr. Nash dealt in detail with action being taken that will probably curtail future supplies from oveaseas. "There still is a great deal of complaint in New Zealand a'oout the restriction of import trade,” said Mr. Nash. “I know the feelings of New Zealand importers and British exporters a'oout trade restrictions, and I sympathise with them in the decrease of business. War, however, makes abnormal demands, involving much sacrifice, and in view of plain facts, we must ali conform to changed conditions. “I have just received from London detailed reports on the British Government's latest order concerning a further curtailment of home trade." said Mr. Nash. "It is a war measure restricting by value the sales of a wide range of consumer goods during the period December 1 last year to May 30 this year. The main purpose of the order is to facilitate the transter of economic resources of many kinds from non-essential to essential work, to set a definite limit to civilian purchases, and to lead community purchasing power into national sav ings for war purposes. “Some Must Suffer." "No scheme of the kind anywhere can be perfect. Anomalies are inevitable. Some individuals must suffer in its practice. The aim, however. is national in purpose and effect, as an economic means of helpmg to win the war against aggression. “I agreed with the President of the British Board of Trade, Mr. Oliver Lyttelton, who said in London on November 15 last: 'lt is going to be a much more uncomfortable war than it has been, but if people realise that that discomfort is a direct contribution to the war, I am confident that they will be glad to do without; and it will be necessary to do without more than luxuries.’ "There is the whole strength of the will to win the war,” added Mr. Nash. ■Temporary discomfort must be accepted as an effective part of the war effort. Our first duty as a Government, and the first duty of the people as a whole, is to provide armed forces and equip them with the weapons and munitions of victory. If we realise that we are all fighting for our lives, then nothing else than the means of victory matters anything at all. No Luxuries. "The British Government's policy, as set out in the Home Trade Order, asks consumers to do without luxuries and some of the things which in Britain's high standard of life have come lo be regarded as near necessities. Here in New Zealand our standards are even higher. If we are determined to play a full part in winning the war, then it is obvious we can afford to make relatively greater sacrifices in doing without luxuries and ’ ,ome of the things regarded as near necessities. *ll is conceded in the United King- ■ dom that the Government's Limitation of Supplies Order is a step in the I right direction. Materials required > for war purposes are to be withheld from manufacturers, with a consequent curtailment of supplies of finished goods for consumers. For instance, the people will not be allowed any more aluminium pots and paiis. All knitted silk clothing, including stockings, and other knitted apparel, have been reduced by half of the previous supplies. Pottery and glassware, linoleums and carpets have also been reduced by half. Mattresses containing metal springs or coils have been reduced by a quarter, all others reduced by two-thirds. ‘Toilet requisites, fancy household goods, sports goods, toys, machinery, and plant, have been reduced by a quarter, and gloves by one-t».ird of previous supplies. These do not represent the ful schedule of restrictions. but they indicate the trend. Value, Not Volume. "Restriction is on the basis of value, and not volume, and lor that reason, it is possible that one effect it will have will be an increase in cheaper standard lines. The whole aim of the scheme is to enable British home trade to make a contribution to the war effort by releasing raw materials, plant, and workers for direct production of munitions. "It seems to me that British people doing without these Hungs will not do much good unless we in New Zealand also curtail our demands on the British manufacturers concerned. We are all fighting tor our lives, our freedom, and our high standards of life, and therefore we must all make common sacrifices. “Actually we are doing a great deal to help Great Britain by curtailing imports of certain things, thus helping in the general plan of enabling a diversion of British effort from less essential goods to munitions," Mr. Nash concluded. "It simply means taking workers from one factory to another in order to secure the best possible war effort. That is the plan in New Zealand, and if the people realise that temporary discomfort is a direct contribution to the war. and a quicker victory, then the ineans will justify the end.”