ON WAR BASIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20108, 30 November 1939, Page 2

ON WAR BASIS

SOUTH AFRICA PREPARES MEETING ANY EMERGENCY

MUCH MILITARY ACTIVITY

JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 20,

The first six weeks of war, so fains the Union of South Africa is concerned, has been spent in efforts to prepare the country thoroughly for nny emergency which may arise.

Although there is no indication at present that South Africans will be asked to volunteer for service oversea, the Government having made it clear that they will be required for defence purposes in South Africa, there is much military activity. Both the Permanent Force and the Active Citizen Force units are being rapidly brought up to full strength, and in this respect the response has been admirable. The Government has announced the country’s military needs from time to time, and there has, so far, been .no difficulty in supplying those needs.

From the economic aspect, the “standstill’’ period in business which was observed immediately after the declaration of war. has now almost ended. Commerce is rapidly settling down to the new conditions, and there is a general feeling that very shortly the country will begin to experience a period of considerable commercial and industrial activity.

Food Prices Regulated

Food prices are in process of being regulated, and the National Supplies Control Board has already pegged prices at a certain level to allow of time in which to make more careful tartfangements for the prevention of profiteering. So far, no glaring examples of exploitation have come before the notice of the public, and the increases in the price of essential commodities have . so. far been comparatively trivial.

The farmers, particularly maize and wool producers, expect to sell as much as they can produce. The wool market is particularly active following on the British Government’s offer to purchase all wool which has not been sold in the open market.

Support for Smuts

On the political side, support for the attitude taken up by the Prime Minister, General Smuts, is growing in volume throughout the country. Both English and Afrikaans-speaking sections have rallied to his side, while there is evidence that General Hertzog's neutrality group has not found it easy to come to a definite understanding with the Nationalist Party, owing to its extremist programme.

General Smuts has been immensely busy with reconstructing the administration of the country on a war basis, and has found little time for making political speeches. He has not, at the time of writing, replied to the many fierce criticisms made against him in the Afrikaans press, which has lately centred on the appointment of a Government Information Officer who broadcasts daily. This is regarded by the fritics as wrongful use of the radio by the Government for propaganda purposes.

The political front seems outwardly peaceful, but there are signs that the Government may expect some violent attacks after the opening of Parliament next January,