KEY MEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1941, Page 6

KEY MEN

NOT FOR FRONT LINE GREATER SERVICE AT HOME, ADDRESS BY GENERAL SMUTS. 11 “Although lam an old fire-eater, I am not at the front. 1 consider 1 am doing a greater service to the ccAintry ' by remaining behind with, the men and i women who are doing their bit on the 0 Home Front. My job is here facing the 3 'people who are fighting us day and i night in their attempts to thwart the war effort." t These. remarks were made by the 3 Prime Minister of South Africa. Gent era! J. C. Smuts, when, in opening a f monster War Market conducted 1 Prince George Park. Boksbttrg, by ~ the t employees of the E.R.P.M. (Pty.), Ltci.. he stressed the vital importance of i “key” and essential men remaining in . normal occupation. i "No greater disservice can bo done to the war effort than for skilled men, en- > trusted with work of an essential nature, to throw tip their jobs to go to i the front. Their job is hero,” he said. "I am well aware that I hero are many thousands of mon who are only i too keen to go and take their stand ’ beside our young heroes in the desert. They feel thgy are not doing their bit by staying behind. Bui we do not want every man away with the army at the front. We want a much, larger army at the back'. “Those who are being retained in essential work are doing their duty by the country. "We cannot spare them. I will not les them go. Any of these men found at the front will run the very grave risk of’ being pulled out by the scruff of the neck and being brought bad-:." Referring to his recent tour of the north. General Smuts said that ho used to think that fighting conditions in the (Transvaal during the Boor War were terrible. He realised now, however, that the Transvaal campaign was a "joy ride" compared with conditions on the Kenya-Abyssinia front. There, in desert regions of low altitude, the heat was intense, and rain scarce. When it did ■ rain, the country was deluged. Despite these hardships and discom-

forts. South African troops were in splendid spirits. In the maintenance of their excellent morale the women of South Africa were playing no mean part. The gifts and comforts they sent to the men in the North kept the spirits of the troops al high lex-el. "1 admire the hard work the women are doing," General Smuts went on. "1 judge them by what my wife is do.ng. I don’t know when she sleeps. My house has become a house of gifts and comforts. 1 dare say it is much the same in tens of thousands ol homes throughout South Africa." Dealing with the vital importance of various war funds in the struggle. General Smuts said there was an impression abroad that the Government was not doing its share. The Government, he could assure b.| audience, was doin'; as much ns any other Government. There w.i: a. great j deal, novcrthele s. I'rtl. had Io lie ; •to supplement this chert. ‘•'rhe Ciovernor-Generai’s Ni'.i ionol War Fund. lor insltme. . i• w in . an in-, valuable service in looking a"..-r ; •’-! diers’ dependants :md some oid vct< ■ - ans." lie said. "This sort of thm-i is most necesmry in ioi.'.l warfare.’ General and Mrs time's w.me given : , rousing reception on ll.cir arrived at t;> ?• War Market.