WAR SUPPLIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 224, 20 September 1940, Page 8

WAR SUPPLIES.

EMPIRE COUNTRIES. DELHI CONFERENCE. CHOICE OF N.Z. DELEGATES. WELLINGTON, this day. It was announced to-day by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, that New Zealand, will be represented at the economic conference of Empire countries to be held at Delhi at the end of October by Major-General Sir John Duigan, Chief of the General Staff, Mr. F. R. Picot, Director of the .Internal Marketing Department, Mr. J. R. Middleton, Assistant Secretary of Supply, Major H. Erridge, Commanding Officer of tfce New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, "and Mr. B. Taylor, Assistant to the Chief Investigating Officer of the Treasury Department.

The conference will be concerned principally with war supply matters, and its object ie to ensure that the best possible use is made of all existing and potential resources of ' eastern Empire countries for the prosecution of the war. The increase in the production of war materials, and the extension of the supply organisation of the Imperial Forces in the East are, therefore, the two principal topics for discussion.

"With the Interruption of Mediterranean communications," said the Prime Minister, "it ie essential that Empire countries this side of Suez should develop and co-ordinate to the fullest possible extent their economic and military resources, and the Xew Zealand Government believes that, in addition to immense benefits which will accrue t*> the war effort of the Empire as a whole, the proposed arrangements will be of considerable value to the defence of this country as well."