BRITAIN’S PART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1940, Page 4

BRITAIN’S PART

OUTPOST OF WORLD CIVILISATION . VALUE OF EMPIRE SUPPORT. SUPPLY MINISTER REPORTS GOOD PROGRESS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 27. The Minister of Supply, Mr Herbert Morrison, broadcasting, declared: “We are all conscious today that Britain is not either morally or materially just a small island off the west of Europe. On the contrary, she is an outpost of civilisation the world over. She is a strong point that will hold on and hold out in view of the jaws of the enemy, while the rest of the civilised world mobilises its resources for victory.” This conception of Britain as an outpost was a practical fact. Britain was drawing increasingly upon worldwide resources. For instance, Canada had shell filling and explosive plants and a fine Bren gun factory now in production. Aircraft factories were delivering to the United Kingdom Hurricane fighters and other machines, and were now at work on the execution of ever-increasing British orders Canada was seeing to it that available war plant should work absolutely to full capacity on two or three shifts daily. There were also Canada’s stocks of weapons and munitions, which Britain had been able to draw upon. The vast Canadian resources of copper, nickel, zinc, aluminium, timber’ and wood pulp were well known. South Africa was doing much to meet her heavy responsibilities to her own armed forces, some of them now so actively and gallantly engaged with the Italians, but she was also able to make some direct contribution to Britain's own requirements at home, in addition to such metals as copper and chrome ore produced in Rhodesia. Indian State-owned factories were being rapidly enlarged and were working intensively not only to equip those forces for which India herself was responsible, but also to make a valuable addition to stores in Britain. Mr Morrison also outlined the resources of New Zealand and Australia and the contributions Britain was receiving from them. He added that ships were being built and miscellaneous war supplies were coming from the colonial empire, while great quantities of war supplies were being released by the United States. “When you cast your minds back over the review of war supplies from the Empire and the United States that I have given you, do not think of it only as a stream of particular commodities,” he said. “Think of it also as hundreds of thousands of men and women speaking our language, sharing our ideals of life and working for us day and night; working for themselves in the same act. They are strengthening their own countries now and in the future through that same sweat, toil and devotion that is helping us. We can surely draw much camfprt from these facts.” Mr Morrison said: “The tremendous speedup in the output of munitions and weapons is the greatest single factor in Britain’s military revival. Flanders losses could not be replaced in a week or two. I am continually anxious not to give the impression that salvation is just around the corner, or that we are amply equipped for total war within a short period. If you are mindful of that warning I can safely say that progress is good and will be better.”