MOST URGENT CLAIM.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 84, 11 April 1917, Page 5

MOST URGENT CLAIM.

MEN BEFORE FOODSTUFFS

DEFENCE MINISTER ON THE

DOMINION'S • DUTY

"Speaking after very,' deliberate . consideration, and on information received, I want to say With regard to the national efficiency question," stated' Sir. James. Alien in Wellington on Monday, "that the most urgent claim upon New Zealand at the pre-. sent time is to keep up the number of men for the v'ai-ious .reinforce-/ | '/merits. ■, It. "must be evident to/ every !■ thinking man that it is to 'the advanI taee of ■ the 'Mother Country arid her Allies/to exert1 as" niuch pressure as j they can 'during this summer in order to bring the war to a climax this summer if. possible. 1 use the word climax advisedly. ' From the point of 'view.'Of ourselves/and our Allies it is the;most ecbnqmical thing Svith regard to .lireii; money, food, supplies,' Jtind everything-to finish*the war this summer if at a 11, possible. If we have to i drag over another winter it ;wsF,,meaH4Jieav-y^ cost' irtr mdney, arid;. '^ inert- an^i^Wi^lftiQ^el^ej; ■■'so;:we/!mtt^t, Y^ib>p»i^gnf4i)rto^vc^ca^/. v.^ ;■•'>;■■/ :'>'^:;' j /^ -. uj^xfc ■"•s&:{ thS^deMa^d^-tbt/itte^to^ ;;kidep up, our ReinforcementsV--and: we We 'riot.apkihV; ior more- than' .our; usual .drafts—co mfc " foodstuffs, ;and" what we pan expovi- for the use of our niciv 'at the front and for the, beople at Home. Tt is our duty to keep our products up as far as' we are able to do. it, ai\d[ Jrom the point of' view ; of those engaged in these industries it is" as well chat we should finish this year if Ave-ican." : Questionld with regard to the matter >of shipping ispaee for prorluets. Sir .lames Allen said: "We/. have mot got' much, control'over the^ shipping' question in New Zealand, except that we are urging the Home' authorities to sunoly us with as niuclv shipping as possibly can be got to get products away, but it may be < that we shall' be more short, of shipping during the year, partly owing to the submarine ■■ menace and partly to the fact that the Imperial Government ;may find It necessary' to find food supplies from nearer their own shores: indeed, they have alreadyi done that in the case; of, two ships."