The Waikato Times FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1941 POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21358, 28 February 1941, Page 4

The Waikato Times FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1941 POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION

If the war ended next week, how many nations would have an economic peace plan ready to put into operation immediately ? The war is not likely to end next week, but the urgency of the ne.ed for preparation is only a matter of degree. It cannot be denied that the need exists. Mr W. H. Nankervis, president of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, has made an appeal for an immediate start with planning for reconstruction, and it is to be hoped that the appeal will be heard by those in authority. Mr Nankervis admits what is obviously true, that New Zealand or any other Empire country cannot yet be committed to any fixed course of action because nobody yet knows how long the war will last or what its ultimate effects may be, but there certainly is a great deal of preliminary work that might be undertaken.

The future is not so hopelessly indefinite as some people are inclined to believe. The basis of the whole plan of post-war reconstruction must be victory for Britain and her allies. With that basis accepted it is possible to make some progress in crystallising the aims and aspirations of the democratic peoples. Certainly many blanks will have to be left to be filled in when the ravages of the war can be estimated, but it should be possible to fabricate in outline at least provisional plans for discussion and acceptance or rejection by the people. Much time might thus be saved and much misery avoided when the war ends. Unless there is some definite plan there is nothing more certain than that at the end of the war there will be chaos in some degree. Britain has appointed a reconstruction committee which is constantly studying what it expects will be post-war problems. And what Britain decides will probably have a profound influence upon the rest of the Empire and upon the world at large. New Zealand will have a niche to fill in the new world, and it is desirable that she should take a share of the responsibilities and the privileges of framing the new order. United action is imperative. Britain is planning an Empire order in which New Zealand is interested, and the Dominion owes the duty to its people that their interests should be adequately safeguarded. Co-operation in planning will facilitate cooperation in execution of the new order.

Before the war ends it will be necessary for the Empire to call a conference representing all its parts, probably before the world conference that is bound to follow. New Zealand must have a case to present to the Empire conference, and it is not too soon to begin now on the preparation of that case. Economic problems v/ill perhaps be most important. The war itself will probably settle the most serious of the political issues. Immediately the war ends there will be the task of redistributing supplies, which during the conflict will become divided into areas of gluts and extreme scarcity. Markets which have been thrown into confusion by the war will have to be straightened out. There will be financial problems of the greatest complexity. Millions of men will have to be transferred from the army to civil occupations, and industry will have to be transferred from a war to a peace basis. There is no lack of problems to solve.