NEWZEALAND'S EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2630, 27 November 1915, Page 6

NEWZEALAND'S EFFORT

COMPARISON WITH AUSTRALIA

MR. MASSEY QUOTES FIGURES

Tho Prime Minister mado furtlior reference yesterday to New Zealand's effort in training and equipping an Expeditionary Force and to Australia's professed intention of supplying 50,000 more men.

"I am reminded this morning by The Dominion," said Mr. Massey, "that my figures of November 3,. which I quoted in my interview yesterday, are not up to date, and others aro given of six days later on the authority of tho Defence Minister of the Commonwealth. I accept the latter, of course. "Tliey show that on November 9 Australia had sent away 100,900 officers and mean —a really good record. Now Zealand had on the same date sent away 28,000 officers and men. On a population. basis Australia to equal New Zealand's contribution would havo required to have sent 140,000. It should do remembered also that we said good-bye to another 3000 of our boys a few days later. To put the comparison in another form: during tho fifteen months of war Australia had sent away an average of 6733 per month. New Zealand, on the other liaiid, for the same'period had sent away an.average of 1867 ner month. On the 5 to 1 population basis Australia would have required to liavo sent 9335 per month to equal New Zealand's rate, and these figures do not include

the 3000 comprised in our last reinforcements before .referred to.

"I am not taking into account the proposals of the Australian Government for future reinforcements, because until we obtain the residts of our war census it is impossible to say definitely what New Zealand mil be ablo to do, 'and on that point-, of course, no comparison is possible. ■ "It is quite evident, however, that hoth 1 countries are determined to. do their_ full duty to the Empire both now and in the future; both.countries have done well, and I am confident they will work together as important parts'of the same Empire for very many centuries to come."