N.Z. ARMED FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1942, Page 2

N.Z. ARMED FORCES

THEIR FUTURE USE WAR CABINET’S POLICY. ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR. COATES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An indication of the War Cabinet s policy concerning the future use of the annecl forces of the Dominion was given by the Minister of Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, Mr J. G. Coates, in an interview last night. This was Mr Coates’s first public utterance since he assumed the new portfolios following the formation of the War Administration. , Mr Coates also referred to the question of the country’s manpower requirements generally. “Parliament has supported the War Cabinet's decision to call up all men in the Dominion fit and able to bear arms.; said Mr Coates. “That has already been initiated, and I think the people of New Zealand are entitled to be told that it. is the present intention to proceed with the regular balloting of men in all age groups up to 45 years. “This will include men who can be released from their present non-military duties. The call up will- be in a series of ages, and the effect will be to create a pool of manpower which can be called upon as required from time to lime, whether for armed forces or for industry. By this means we will know the number of physically fit men in the country capable of bearing arms.” In reply to a question Mr Coates said that Parliament has also endorsed the War Cabinet’s decision to provide reinforcements and requirements for our troops wherever they may be employed and, if deemed essential, to supply New Zealand forces for any other theatre of war in which our country's forces may be required. NEW THEATRES OF WAR. ‘lt may well be,” Mr Coates continued, “that future developments will show it to be wise and desirable 1 that our troops should be employed in new theatres of war on the grounds that the safety of our own country and that of our Allies could best be served by going after and fighting the enemy rather than by awaiting him on our own shores. It should not be/hard to visualise the havoc and destruction that would follow if New Zealand became a battle front. “Subject to consideration by War Cabinet, Strategical considerations must of necessity determine any mission in which our troops are called upon to take their part and, in any case, our effort -will be aligned with that of our Allies in whatever theatre they may be engaged. “Proper consideration will, of course, also be given to necessary reserves and especially to the protection of our own country. From what I have said it should be clear that there is need for the maximum possible mobilisation and direction of manpower for the armed services, consistent, of course, with the country’s agricultural and industrial requirements.” MANPOWER POSITION. Referring to the manpower position of the Dominion generally, Mr Coates said that, as was not to be otherwise expected after three years of war, a difficult position had developed. On the one hand, the fighting services were asking for a continuous manpower addition and, on the other, the essential needs of the primary and manufacturing industries had to be safeguarded. Unless this was done New Zealand’s war effort must obviously be impaired. “Because New Zealand is a great producing country she is called upon to supply not only this, but other countries, and particularly the Mother Country,” said Mr Coates. “In present circumstances, moreover, she must arrange within the country for provision of manufactured articles, not only for our citizens but for the armed forces.”