PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 167, 31 May 1940, Page 5

PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLES

WAR EFFORT OUTLINED ADDRESS BY GOVERNORGENERAL PROPOSED LEGISLATION "(By Telegraph—Wellington) "The exigencies of the international situation and the critical stage that has been reached in the conduct of hostilities with Germany, have rendered it desirable, in the opinion of m y advisers, to assemble Parliament at a date ea,rlier than was otherwise contemplated," said His Excellency the Govern nor-General, Viscount Galway, In his address to Parliament yesterday. -'My ministers have spared no efforts to effect to the undertaking made by them on the outbreak of Avar that this Dominion would co-operate in the common cause to the full extent of its resources. "The tAVO cruisers of the New "Zealand Naval Forces Avere at once placed under the operational control of the British Admiralty and the gallant conduct in the battle of the Plate of H.M.S. Achilles, manned largely by NeAV Zealandcrs, has been a source of justifiable pride to us all. Preparations were forthwith made to expand Avith the utmost rapidity the organisation of the Royal Ncav Zealand Air Force and seven neAV training establishments have now been provided." Cost of Air Force Training. "When the proposed arrangements are completely in operation this Dominion will be able to supply personnel for the Royal Air Force at the rate of some three thousand annually. The magnitude of this undertaking is sufficiently Indicated by the financial commitment involved approximately £22,000,000 spread over a period of three years. Quite apart from this scheme and from the expansion of the. Royal New Zealand Air Force there are in addition over six hundred NeAV Zealanders iioav serving in the Royal Air Force some of< whom have already achieved distinction. "As one of their first steps my Ministers decided to offer ai division of all arms with auxiliary troops for serA r ice oA r erseas and proceeded as speedily as possible to make the necessary arrangements for the accommodation and instruction of the large number of men involved" Fortunate in Commander. The Dominion had been fortunate in obtaining the services of that distinguished soldier Major Geneial B. C. Fi'eyberg, V.G., G. 8., C.M.G., D.S.O. to command the forces in the field and the Government Avas confident that under his leadership the NeAV Zealand division could be relied upon to maintain the great traditions of the NeA\* Zealand Expeditionary Force of 1914-18, continued His Excellency. The Government had decided to Taisc all forces on a voluntaiy basis and the response had been most creditable. For the army alone ' 41,600 men haVe enlisted for service OArerseas and -when account is tak<en of enlistments for the Air Force and for the Navy more than 53,000 individual and voluntary offers of service abroad been received of Avhieh more than 32,000 have up to the present been accepted. The \ to the Government's call fob volunteers had enabled them to comply Avith suggestions maide by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, that further subsidiary units, in addition to the • division, should be formed, said His Excellency. Increased Production. "The assistance that this Dominion can render is not confined tc the provision of men for the fighting serA r ices," continued the Govev nor-General. "A very importanl function of a country such as this is the supply of foodstuffs and rav materials and my Ministers hav< accordingly arranged for the pur chase oJ all the meat, butter, cheesi wool and other primary products

all of which have been placed at the disposal of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom." The Government had taken steps to encourage production to the fullest extent, said Viscount Galway. and in order to meet the situation created by the withdrawal of men to the lighting services it has been arranged for the preparation of a national register of man power. Organisation of Supply. The Government had established a substantial organisation to deal with questions of .supply including the raw materials and other commodities neccssary for the industries of the Dominion, as well as many of the requirements of the armed forces. Steps have been taken also to control the consumption of petrol with the object of eliminating wasteful expenditure of a com modity vitally necessary in time of war and at the same time conserving foreign exchange which is essential to facilitate the purchase of materials required for the Allied cause. His Excellency referred to the provision made for controlling the collection and expenditure of patriotic funds. The organisation established for this purpose was performing a most useful function in ensuring the efficient and economic administration of the large sums so generously subscribed by the public. Notwithstanding the outbreak of war the Centennial celebrations were carried out with enthusiasm, said the Governor-General. A Avar expenses account had been established to which is credited the special war taxation. It was pleasing to note that a substantial amount had also been received from tho public in the form of donations or loans free of interest. The War Situation. "The war, which for a lengthy period was comparatively passive, has taken a most active, and indeed, critical form," said His Excellency. "As had always been expected this long prepared assault has proved to be a weighty one and .an entirely new situation has arisen. My Ministers have already made arrangements to increase the efficiency of the Territorial Force as rapidly as possible and have also made provision for the arming and equipping of Class II of the National Reserve." ■3"My advisers are confident that they are acting in consonance with the wishes of the people of this Dominion when they reaffirm their determination to prosecute this struggle against force and evil until the final victory is attained. "It is for this reason that my I Ministers propose to lay before you i during this session a measure on the lines of that adopted in the United Kingdom" continued the Governor-General. "This places ai the disposal of the State for the duration of the Avar all the resources of the Dominion, in persons and in property." Effective Measures. His Excellency referred then to the formation of a War Council, .which Avas io be formed in order that every section of the community could have representation in the conduct of the Dominion's war effort. "My advisers trust that in this Avay, by bringing into a common pool all the resources, all the knoAvledge and all the poAver of the community, they Avill be taking the most effective measures in their power to obtain the maximum of efficiency and co-operation and to hasten the end of the conflict into which Ave have been forced in defence of all Ave honour and hold dear. "At this testing hour of trial, 1 pray God to watch over your deliberations and to guide them ir wisdom and justice."