FIRST YEAR OF WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1940, Page 9

FIRST YEAR OF WAR

NEW ZEALAND’S EFFORT

DEFENCE MINISTER'S SURVEY. RESULTS WORTH WHILE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN. September 2. “I think New Zealand can look with pride on its first year's contribution to the Empire’s war effort, and I have every confidence in our ability to do our part till the victory shall have been achieved,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in an interview on the eve of the first anniversary of the Dominion’s entry into the war with Nazi Germany.

New Zealand's response so far had been magnificent, the Minister said, and the young men of today, as well as all those people in the community who were backing them up, had shown a spirit no less valiant than their forebears had shown 25 years ago. Elaborate arrangements made two or three years in advance in case they should be required had enabled the Government to step off immediately on the outbreak of war, Mr Jones said, and consequently it was now able to look back on a year of intense action, and of supremely gratifying results. More than 23,000 soldiers had now been sent overseas or were in training, nearly 13,000 fit men were waiting to go into camp, and enlistments up to the closing of the voluntary system had totalled more than 65,000. In addition more than 15,000 men had offered their services for the Air Force, and some 500 men had already gone overseas gs well as 400 who had left before the war. Moreover, the Dominion had entered into an arrangement to supply an ever-increasing number of pilots, gunners and observers under the Empire air scheme, of which such important results were being expected in the ultimate achievement of victory.

The Minister also reviewed steps taken for home defence, the expansion of the territorial forces, and the formation of other units designed on both local and national lines, and he contrasted all this with the position at the outbreak of war. It had meant much hard work and long hours for members of Cabinet, some of whom were now associated with representatives of the Opposition in the War Cabinet, but he thought the results had been worth while.

“Twelve months ago we gave a solemn pledge to assist Great Britain,” the Minister added. “We have done our best, with the co-operation of the people of New Zealand, to redeem that pledge, and will continue our efforts to that end to the utmost of our ability, and with all the resources at our command.”