Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1943. STRIKING DIRECTLY AT JAPAN.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 January 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1943. STRIKING DIRECTLY AT JAPAN.

r pi-lOSE people in the Pacific Dominions and elsewhere who are most anxious to see larger forces and a more ample fighting equipment brought to bear against the Japanese probably will find little to admire in the terms and tone in which this question is dealt with in a rather sudden outcry by the London Sunday papers. It is self-evident that a heavy tas < remains to be undertaken in decisively defeating the Japanese, but good grounds appear for believing that at least a consider - able element of hysterical exaggerations enters into the assertion that: “The evil truth is that Australia and New Zealand are harshly menaced.” A more accurate generalisation covering the position reached probably would be that United Sta es and Australian forces, with some help from New Zealanders, have made a definite, though limited contribution to ultima ,e victory over 7 Japan.

In all that he has attempted in recent months our enemy in the Pacific has suffered heavy and disproportionate losses of ships, aircraft and men. Ju. areas of concentrated fighting like Guadalcanal and Papua he has suffered crushing defeats. In operations of wider range, Allied naval and air forces have very appreciably cut down Japanese fighting strength and largely irreplaceable merchant shipping.

The desirability of launching powerful attacks as soon as possible upon Japan in her homeland, as an alternative to the slow, difficult and costly process of digging her forces, step by step, out of the island and other territories they have invaded, stands out obviously. Presumably, however, the limits thus far imposed on Allied operations against Japan are due, not to any failure to realise that “the Pacific has become as close and immediate a concern as ever was the Atlantic,” but simply to the fact that the resources needed for larger and bolder operations have not thus far been available. It may be hoped that the time has been closely approached when the United Nations will be able to strike far heavier blows against Japan than have yet been practicable. Many possibilities are open from this standpoint—amongst them those of naval and air action on a greatly increased scale and of the reopening of effective contact with China, through Burma and perhaps through neighbouring territories as well. Amongst other things, the re-establishment of Allied control oyer the Mediterranean, in which good and promising progress is now being made, should have a very material effect on the position in the Pacific. INTERNAL MARKETING. CRITICISM by a veteran member of the Labour Party, Mr Arthur Cook, M.L.C., of the Government’s price control administration and of the operations of the Internal Marketing Division, have drawn prompt replies from the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) and from two officers of the Internal Marketing Division. These officers propose a full public inquiry into the operations of the Division. In the outcome there probably may be a great deal of discussion and controversy, but a more promising approach to a practical treatment of the questions involved would be made by the establishment of a fully representative and active consumers’ league, organised to deal on their essential merits .with questions of the production and supply of commodities and the prices at which they are offered, when available, to the public. Experience over an extended period has shown that, even ; pointed criticism of Ministers and Departments dealing with the production and supply of commodities yields little in the way of useful results. Satisfactory results could be obtained, however, by.a consumers’ league, organised throughout the Dominion and adequately supported, particularly by housewives. Having once established the facts with which it was concerned, a. league of this kind would be in a position to dictate to Ministers and Departments. A consumers’ league need have no concern with party polities. Its aim would be simply to establish economic fair play. Until there is a fully effective organisation of consumers it seems likely that criticism of price control and internal marketing administration will continue to be largely a waste of time.