IN THE COMMON CAUSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 September 1939, Page 9

IN THE COMMON CAUSE

NEW ZEALAND’S WAR EFFORT Acting-Prime Minister Outlines Proposals EVERY SUGGESTION BY BRITISH GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED MILITARY AND ECONOMIC ACTION (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “I wish to inform the House and the country that his Majesty’s Government in New Zealand has, since the outbreak of war, been in consultation with his Majesty’s Government, in the United Kingdom as to the. means and methods by which this Dominion can best assist in the common cause,” the ActingPrime Minister (Mr Fraser) stated in the House of Representatives yesterday. “At our request we have received from the British Government a detailed and most helpful appreciation of the position indicating the measures which in its opinion it would be most, appropriate for this Dominion to take lor this purpose. / “I wish to state now, as explicitly as possible, that every single suggestion that has been made by the British Government has been accepted and agreed to by the New Zealand Government and is being put into operation, as rapidly as possible. Indeed, many of.them had already been anticipated and put in hand before the receipt of the British Government’s suggestions. “We are at present engaged in recruiting a force which, after training, is intended for service either here or abroad in any part of the world as circumstances may require. The first section of these troops will go into camp about the end of this month and after, a period of training they will be followed by further bodies of men, according to a regular and prearranged plan.

CO-OPERATION WITH BRITAIN. “The House will not expect me to indicate in detail: the intentions of the Government with’ respect to this force, but it will, I think, be proper to say that there is no intention, nor is it the desire of the British Government, that this force should be dispatched overseas immediately. It will not, of course, be dispatched till its training is adequate for the task on which it will be employed, nor till safe means of transport are assured: At the same time the force will as soon as possible be made and held ready' to meet the situation as it develops and as may be agreed upon between the British and the New Zealand Governments.

“It is not possible to indicate the naval measui'es that have been adopted except to call attention to the fact that the operational control of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy has already .been transferred to the Admiralty. “So'far as the Air Force is concerned, apart from the measures necessary for the protection of the Dominion, our principal object in the meantime is the training of pilots, observers, and air gunners for the Royal Air Force as quickly and in as large numbers as possible, utilising the maximum facilities available in accordance with a' plan already approved by both the British and New Zealand Governments. “The House and the country may rely upon it that it is the intention of the New Zealand Government to do everything in its power to ensure that the steps taken by New Zealand are worthy of the Dominion and I would emphasise that in all respects the action taken or to be taken by us has been and will be fully co-ordinated with the wishes and the actions of his Majesty’s Governments in the United Kingdom and in the other Dominions. ORGANISING MAN-POWER. “It will readily be realised that for the purposes of a conflict such as that in which we are now engaged it will be necessary to organise the Whole of the man-power of the country to the best advantage, not only for military purposes but in order to enable this Dominion to continue to play its part as an important source of foodstuffs and primary products,” Mr Fraser said. “Clearly the maintenance of the farms of New Zealand will be as essential to the Allied cause as the provision of fighting forces. I “Many serious problems are involved in this connection, and though a considerable amount of attention has already been directed to the question of organising the necessary labour required, it is clear that a great deal of further investigation may be called for, and the preliminary steps in this direction are now in hand. There can be no doubt that in many cases men who are engaged in essential industries will be rendering greater service to their country, to the British Commonwealth and to the Allied cause by remaining at their work rather than by undertaking military service at the moment, and, while the Government is anxious to obtain the greatest possible number of recruits for the armed forces, it must at all times exercise due care to ensure that this does not cripple the production of the Dominion, which may be so essential to victory. “I am sure that those volunteers who are told that their services are more valuable in their ordinary work will realise the position, and as soon as practicable the Government will take

steps to see that in such cases the man concerned is< given an authoritative decision to that effect which will be adequate evidence to the whole country that his duty lies in his ordinary job. Service in farm industries can offer opportunities for service to those not eligible for enlistment. USE OF ALL RESOURCES. “The question of supplying the United Kingdom with even a wider range of commodities than is.sent there from the Dominion at preserit is under consideration. “It is the intention of the Government, as it is of Parliament and the people of New Zealand, that the whole resources of the country will be thoroughly mobilised, efficiently organised, and effectively directed to assist to the utmost the British Commonwealth of Nations in the struggle for democracy and freedom against dictatorship and tyranny. “I feel sure that the people of New Zealand realise that in addition to the ties of blood, friendship, political and economic co-operation, and democratic principles and ideals which bind the nations of the British Commonwealth so closely together there are other overwhelming reasons which call for our greatest efforts at this time of national and international danger. “New Zealand as a nation is indissolubly bound up with the United Kingdom and the other units of the Commonwealth. We stand or fall together, dwarfed or upright of full stature, bond or free, in war or peace, in defeat or victory. . Defeat might mean the collapse of the British Commonwealth and the domination of our land and our people by a foreign Power or Powers. The ruthless treatment of Czechoslovakian, of Austrian and of other unfortunate minority peoples conveys a startling warning to us all. OUR FUTURE AT STAKE. “The fact that we are so far from the actual existing fields of war operations should not engender a sense of false security and immunity. Let there be no mistake. The future of New Zealand is at stake, equally with that of r Great Britain and the other democracies. The question for all of us to decide, by the effectiveness of our efforts, and so far as those efforts, necessarily and naturally, circumscribed in extent by our resources and population, can contribute toward the ultimate decision, is whether this country, along with the Motherland, is to collapse in ruins, crushing all we hold dear in life, or in association with the British Commonwealth maintain, safeguard and promote our progressive democratic, political, social and economic institutions, ensuring to the people continued liberty, security and happiness. z “That is the question New Zealand has answered with a clarion call to all her citizens. That call has been responded to and will continue to be responded to, not with blare of trumpets but with a devotion and determination that springs straight from the heart of the people. To the men, Maori and pakeha, who have responded so promptly and have already joined up, the Government, in the name of Parliament and the country, tenders its special thanks. v “The victory for freedom, righteousness and all that is decent in civilisation, which is assured and to which New Zealand will contribute to the limits of her resources, will be a victory for all men.” ,