Future Commitments

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1942, Page 2

Future Commitments

The indieation given by Mr. Coates of the War Gabinet's policy concerning the future use of the armed forces of the Dominion tells of decisions reached which are of vast importance to the public as a whole. Mr. Coates' statement is to be welcomed because it provides a basis upon which the nation can adjust itself to the times ahead. Mental adjustment is not the least important factor in the new concept of war that is brought before the people of the Dominion, and opportunities to bring this about have not hitherto been taken. Stretched to the e'xtremes that it has been, the systematic policy of Parliament sitting in secret session has deprived the public of its.right to hear issues of the war and its conduct discussed. Responsibility for criticism born of ignoftnce, or apathy arising from lack of knowledge, cannot, therefore, be laid at the doors of the people. But now that some indieation of what lies ahead has been given and the public has something tangible upon which to seize, a clearer understanding of the war and its real meaning to New Zealand will result. sk *

Although in his capacity as Minister oi Armed Forces and of coordination between Allied forces some points in Mr. Coates' statement come properly within the purview of those offices, there are other points in it which might well have come from the Prime Minister. Mr. Coates stated that Parliament had supported some vital decisions arrivOd at by the War Cabinei, and having been arrived at it would have been the correet procedure to announce them publicly from the floor of the House. The weight of the most important pronouncements would thereby have been impressed upon the minds of the people, and the dignity and prestige of Parliament would have been elevated. But Mr. Coates has been chosen to break the ice, and although the method is not the best that could have been devised, the statement does not thereby lose any of . its significance or value.

8 « « With one important decision there will be little disagreement. Mr. Coates said that Parliament has endorsed the War Cabinet's decision to provide reinforcements for New Zealand troops wherever they may be employed and, if deemed essential, to supply New Zealand forces for any other theatre of war in which they may 'be required. This is an eminently practical decision and one that could not have been made differently. When British forces are sent to areas in all parts of the world, and when United States armies are stationed in some dozen different sectors of the world — many far removed from the United States — it would obviously be difficult for the Dominion Government to hold reservations about the disposition of its troops. There will be the fullest endorsement of the argument that it is desirable to go after and fight the enemy rather than to wait for him on New Zealand shores. In any case, this is a principle which has received the full support of the Dominion by the dispatch and continued reinforcement of the New Zealand Division in the Middle East. * * * But exactly how far pursuance of This policy is likely to reach into the life of the Dominion may come as a surprise to many persons. Mr. Coates disclosed that Parliament has supported the War Cabinet's decision to call up all men fit to bear arms, and that it is the present intention to pr&ceed with the regular balloting oi men in all age groups up to 45 years. The views of the people's representatives upon this far-reach-ing proposal are not available, but it must be assumed that the War Cabinet convinced them that the maximum possible military effort from New Zealand is imperative, and that they are, therefore, prepared to undertake it at colosSal dislocation to the life of ihe Dominion. How far reaching this is likely to be can be gathered by a few figures from the Year Book. As they are classified in that publication figures cannot be exactly applied to the age groups in the proposal, but an approximate idea can be obtained. The grand total of males, excluding Maoris, in the Dominion on April 1, 1941, was 765,131. Of these, 209,400 were under 16 years of age. In the 20-45 years age groups there were 274,000. Adding, say 20,000 from ihe 18-20 group it will be seen that approximately 294,000 would be in the military age groups. From 45-65 there were 167,900 males and above 65, 58,600. * * * The strain that might be imposed by the new proposal can readily be appreciated from knowledge that of some 497,000 persons in a fairly widely estimated employment group of men between 16 and 65, only 200,000 would be outside the call for military service — that is to say, youths between 16 and 18, and men above 45 and not over 65. At the same time, as Mr. Coates said, New Zealand is a country that must safeguard its producing interests because they are part of its war effort and, in the present circumstar.ces, must arrange within the country for provision of manufactured articles. It is obvious, therefore, that the military age group cannot be completely denuded of men. The problem, as Mr. Coates indicated, is how to maintain a reasonable balance so that both the armed forces and industry can continue to function at maximum efficiency. Clearly, part o" the answer must be found in very

much greater utilisation of womanpower than has been the case up to the present. The imperative need, now that the ice has been broken by Mr. Coates, is for the real picture of war to be impressed upon every citizen. If the War Cabinet is to receive total and willing backing to its proposals it must spare nr> pains to convince every person in the Dominion that what it is asking is not too much; that it is not more than the Dominion's fair burden; that sacrifice will be evenly spread. It must also demonstrate that full use of the energy of New Zealand is the keynote oi its policy.