NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 37, 7 November 1942, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

On Russia's national day last year Mr. Stalin delivered an address in Moscow —then the avowed goal of the Nazis’ drive —in which he said that the Russians would never give in and that against their rock-like defence the Nazi armies would smash themselves. The year that has passed has been the most momentous in the history of the Soviet Union, but the return of the National Day finds that Mr. Stalin’s prediction has proved correct. The Russians are still defending doggedly. This great-hearted resistance from Hie very first boded no good to Hitler's ambitious plans, and while the year has seen the enemy occupy more territory, smash the defences of Sebastopol and reach the foothills of the Caucasus, he has failed to break Russian resistance. The will to resist, it would seem clear, was never stronger. What this has meant to the Allied cause has been frankly admitted by its leaders. Russia has met the full brunt of Hitler’s military power and terrorist tactics, and during the past year has played a notable part in assisting to uphold in’Europe the cause of the United Nations. *’* * *

One of the trade developments during the war lias been the dehydration of butter and meat, in both of which the Dominion is directly concerned. The experimental stage has passed and the British Ministry of Food is sending a mission to Australia and New Zealand to discuss the establishment. of plants for the purpose of extending operations. Evidently food supplies in this form are favoured for, among other things, they can be easily stored and quickly transported, and it is the policy of the food authorities in Britain to have reserves established at places throughout the country. In Australia it has been stated that there would be no difficulty in keeping dehydration works in operation in many country districts, and the establishment of fairly small works well distributed is favoured. : s it. would do away with any problems in the transportation of the stock, in the Dominion the supply of ewe mutton and other grades of motif deemed suitable for dehydration is not large, so that the best policy to adopt will have to be carefully considered. These processed supplies will relieve pressure on shipping, and especially on refrigerated space. However, the basic issue is whether this development is to be regarded as a wartime necessity onlv or is to become an established part of the meat and dairy produce industries. New Zealand has entered into certain contracts in these matters, and a review by the Minister of Agriculture of the progress made and the results achieved would be of interest to many besides the primary producers.