FUTURE USE OF TROOPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 203, 29 August 1942, Page 4

FUTURE USE OF TROOPS

NEW WAR THEATRES? ALL MEN CP TO 45 TO BE CALLED CP. Wellington, Aug. 28. An indication of the War Cabinet’s policy concerning the future use of the armed forces of the Dominion was given by the Minister of Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, Mr. Coates, in an interview last night. This was Mr. Coates’ 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 Zaland 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-mili-tary 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 time, whether for armed forces or for industry. Ey 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. “It may well be.” Mr. Coates continued. “that future developments will show it to he wise and desirable 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 lighting 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 had to fight in this Dominion, or, in other words, if New Zealand became a battlefront. “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 necesary 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.” Difficult Position Arises. 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 askins' 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. “The problem confronting the country was how to maintain a reasonable balance so that both the armed forces and industry could continue to function at. maximum efficiency. Complete achievement could not.' be obtained by hav,<g a large khaki commitment if the essential industries, both of the land and the factories on which the armed forces in our own area depended for essential supply, were denuded of manpower. If that occurred supply could not be maintained. In addition to her own military needs New Zealand has certain obligations concerning supply which necessarily affected the industrial manpower position. “With these matters in mind it will readily be seen that there must be careful calculations as to our capacity to meet all requirements. In addition, it must be remembered that wartime conditions demand resilence and sudden alterations to a preconceived picture of our best course. Nevertheless, the basis upon which we are designing the future policy is in course of preparation, and a great deal of work has already been done in that direction.”