PACIFIC DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 October 1941, Page 4

PACIFIC DEFENCE

HON. W. NASH’S MISSION TO AUSTRALIA CONSIDERATION OF JOINT INTERESTS. DANGERS NOT YET FULLY REALISED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, October 22. The New Zealand Finance Minister, Mr Nash, had a long conference this afternoon with Air Chief Marshal Sir R. Brooke-Popham, British Comman-der-in-Chief in the Far East. The New Zealand Finance Minister left tonight for Melbourne. “I come here,” Mr Nash said, “to see how our two countries can jointly and individually further our war interests and help to maintain and strengthen the British Commonwealth of Nations. My talks with the Australian Cabinet and Air Chief Marshal Brooke-Popham concern Empire defence and air transport in the Pacific. . “I want to find out how best the Pan-American Clipper service can be extended in the point interest of Australia and New Zealand.” Mr Nash gave it as his opinion that the peoples bordering on the Pacific had not fully realised the dangers confronting them, and that until they'did there was little hope of getting a 100 per cent war effort. He was welcomed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister of Information, Senator W. P. Ashley, who 'promised that the Australian Government v/ould do its utmost to ensure that Mr, Nash’s mission was successful. Mr Nash will confer with the War Cabinet in Melbourne tomorrow. WAR COUNCIL MEETING MR NASH GOING LATER . TO CANBERRA. MELBOURNE, October 23. Plans for joint' action by Australia and New Zealand, in concert with the other democratic Powers in the Pacific were discussed today by the War Council, with Mr Nash attending. This morning Mr Nash conferred with the Minister of Air, Mr Drakeford, when among the subjects discussed was an extension of the clipper service to Sydney. The War Council discussed generally the international situation, with special reference to the Pacific. After the meeting Mi’ Nash had no specific statement to make beyond saying that general discussions had been initiated on various objects of his mission, including supplies for New Zealand and Australia. He also met Senator Keane, Minister of Customs, and had a discussion on meat supplies as between Aus'tralia, New Zealand and Britain. Mr Nash is to remain in Melbourne over the weekend, and he will later proceed to Canberra for further conferences with Ministers.