WAR EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 190, 8 May 1940, Page 10

WAR EFFORT

What New Zealand Is Doing ARMING OF SHIPS Address By Prime Minister (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 7. Aspects of New Zealand’s war effort were reviewed by the Prime Minister tonight. He discussed the Dominion’s contributions to the Empire’s cause at sea, on land and in the air. After referring to the part played by the Achilles in the engagement with tlie German pocket-battleship Admiral Graf Spee, Mr. Fraser said 23 merchant ships had been defensively armed at Devonport naval base. Ships that had been armed in New Zealand had sailed with gun crews drawn from the New Zealand Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

“Merchant vessels are being equipped in New Zealand with anti-magnetic mine devices,” the Prime Minister continued. "Six hundred men of the Naval Reserve have been called up to provide personnel in various types of vessels, and others have been sent overseas for service with such units as the Admiralty has decided. A number of New Zealand yachtsmen has also been recruited for auxiliary services.”

Mr. Fraser traced the reorganization of the Air Force since tlie Labour Government came into office, and said that since the war began nearly 4000 men, comprising pilots and ground staff, had been recruited and there wore 6000 others, who had volunteered, many of whom were still awaiting medical inspection and interview before they could be accepted. “When the Empire air scheme is in full operation, we will require every month 144 mon for elementary training as pilots, 42 as observers and 72 as air gunners,” Mr. Fraser continued. “As soon as expansion of training facilities has been completed, we will be fully training 900 men a year in New Zealand, leaving a remainder of 520 pilots, 54G observers and 936 air gunners to complete their training in Canada after partial training in New Zealand.

•‘Tlie Government decided to maintain tbe voluntary system of enlistment and highly satisfactory response lias been received.” he said, when discussing land forces. “To date 34.900 enlistments have been made. Of these 24.-' 958 have been passed as fit and 2653 as temporarily unfit. Of fit personnel 1860 have been held back for reserved occupations, 15,636 have' been dispatched to camp and 6720 are available for posting to the special force.”