The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1939. N.Z.'S PART IN THE WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20052, 26 September 1939, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1939. N.Z.'S PART IN THE WAR

It is unfortunate that some misunderstanding should have arisen regarding the despatch of New Zealand forces overseas, but it would be infinitely more regrettable if by any

mischance tire impression were created that there was any difference of opinion between the Dominion and the Motherland. In a broadcast from London it was announced that New Zealand, had offered a fully-equipped division for service in any part of the world, and, not unnaturally, this was interpreted as a new decision on the part of the Government. In fact, the position remains unchanged, for, as Mr. Fraser explained, the London report is only a condensation of a statement made by him some time previously and was probably revived to accompany the announcement of Australia’s decision to despatch an expeditionary force. It is common knowledge that New Zealand has already taken definite steps to equip a force for service "at home or overseas,” and it may be taken for granted that such a force will ultimately be built up to divisional strength. Whether the force will be used for service overseas, however, must depend on a variety of factors. The essential thing is that it should be trained and equipped so as to be prepared for activity in whatever sphere it can be of greatest value and plans directed towards this end are already well advanced.

There is nothing really inconsistent in the announcement broadcast from London and the explanatory statement made by the acting-Prime Minister. The London report is to the effect that New Zealand has offered a division for service in any part of the world, and the natural inference was that such service would be overseas. Mr. Fraser’s statement is that preparations are being made which will enable a division to be made available in due course, either here or abroad, as circumstances require. The need for caution in discussing this question should be apparent. In the first place, New Zealand is not in a position to. “offer a fully-equipped division,” for the simple reason that she has not got one, and Mr. Fraser’s explanation that the necessary preparations are being made is a much more correct statement of the case, because to build up an efficient force of 20,000 men, and. in particular, to have it adequately equipped and officered, is no small task for a country whose peacetime defence force has been on an extremely modest scale. With every justification, however, Mr. Fraser could have added that the Government has tackled its task with the utmost energy, so much so that by next week the nucleus ol’ the force will actually be in training. From this necessarily small beginning the Dominion will build up to whatever strength may be required of it. As to the ultimate destination of the force, that must be governed by circumstances. As the London Times has pointed out, the first duty of the Dominions—and it specially mentions Australia and New Zealand—is to make certain that they will not be attacked before denuding themselves of trained defenders. To this, The Times adds, with every reason, that "it is safe to forecast that wherever the decisive conflict is fought the Dominions will play the same distinguished part as they did a quarter of a century ago.” The first responsibility of New Zealand, then, is to ensure its own defences, and, when that has been done, the desirability or necessity of sending a force overseas can be considered. Decision on this point will largely turn upon the advice tendered to the Dominion by the British authorities, because it has already been made clear that every step so far taken has been in strict accordance with the recommendations of the Home Government. This, after all, is only natural, because, where there is unanimity of purpose there must also be unified control ancl action. The attitude of New Zealand is summed up in Mr. Fraser’s statement that “all our resources are at the disposal of the United Kingdom,” and there can be no question that this unequivocal declaration of policy has the whole-hearted endorsement of the people of the Dominion. In the meantime, it is sufficient to know that New Zealand has taken steps to provide its contribution of military strength when and where it will be most needed. There can never be any doubt that the Dominion will play its part to the full, and that being so the question of where its part will be played can be disregarded. It is important, however, to realise that New Zealand”s contribution towards the war will not by any means be confined to military forces. Of equal, if not greater, value will be the provision of essential supplies which must be made available in ever-increasing quantities regardless of the destination of our own troops. The war economy of Britain and France necessarily involves a serious dislocation of their normal production and there will inevitably be some curtailment of supplies from foreign countries. This gap is one which must he bridged by more intensive production on the part of the Dominions, and New Zealand, which already provides more than half Britain’s imports of mutton and lamb and is the largest supplier of

dairy produce, can make a valuable contribution in this direction, Here, too, the Government has lost no time in planning a national effort, and it goes without saying that in this sphere, also, it will receive the wholehearted co-operation of the community.