Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1943. OUR WAR RESPONSIBILITIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1943. OUR WAR RESPONSIBILITIES.

JN opening the debate on manpower in the House of Representatives, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland) said that the statistical report issued to members beforehand only made confusion worse confounded. Unfortunately it seems rather likely that the total effect of the debate may be to leave a state of confusion in the public mind with regard to present and prospective calls upon our manpower.

Considerable differences' of opinion have been disclosed over what is being done and what it is thought out to be done in maintaining fighting forces overseas. At present the Dominion has its Division in the Middle East and another large force in the Pacific, together with a large and expanding air force and its naval forces. The opinion expressed by a number of members that an unduly heavy total call was thus being made on the manpower of the Dominion was contested by several Ministers, but it is noteworthy that Mr Coates, who certainly is second to none of his colleagues in the War Cabinet in his advocacy of an all-out war effort, contended no more than that the country could maintain the Middle East force and the Pacific force for the next twelve months, and at the same time maintain essential production.

This raises the question of what is to happen if the war, as it very well may, lasts not only for another twelve months but for several years longer. Is New Zealand being committed to a war effort which would have to be contracted after another twelve months of hostilities? As to this, available information at the moment is incomplete, but a notably frank admission was made by the Minister of Supply (Sir Sullivan). “Speaking for myself,” he said as he is reported, “I agree that the manpower situation cannot continue as it is for very long. If it became necessary we might have to ask the Imperial and United States authorities what they think should be done.”

Again the Prime Minister (Sir Fraser) when he was asked in the House yesterday whether we could keep up the pace if the war continued for two or three years, replied: “No we cannot. That is the whole point.”

On grounds that are obvious, it might be thought preferable that the Dominion should determine for itself the scale of a war effort which it might with reasonable confidence consider itself capable of continuing unmodified, if need be, at least for several years to come. The weight of opinion among Ministers appears to be, in effect, that for the sake of its prestige, the Dominion is bound to expand its military effort on the greatest scale that is practicable. National prestige would hardly be maintained, however, if with the war still in full blast it became necessary to cut down the strength of our forces overseas.

All overwhelming proportion of the people of this country undoubtedly favour the greatest war effort of which as a community we are capable and it is unlikely that the resolution implied in that attitude will be weakened by any disturbance of industry or resultant hardship inflicted on the civil population. The prior claims to consideration of the men on the fighting fronts are recognised very clearly by their kinsfolk and friends who have stayed at home. One of the most vital obligations we owe to the members of our fighting forces, however, is to make it as certain as is humanly possible that they shall] be reinforced adequately and promptly up to the last moment of their participation in the war, whenever that moment may be destined to fall. It seems possible that from this standpoint the policy to which the Dominion is meantime being committed leaves something to be desired.