THE DOMINIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20993, 21 December 1939, Page 7

THE DOMINIONS

UNITED WAR EFFORT MR FRASER’S ASSURANCE SUPPORT OF LABOUR

(United Pres* Assn.—Elec. fel. CopyrirM) (Received Dec. 21, 11.15 a.m.) MELBOURNE. Dec. 21 Methods to ensure complete cooperation between Australia and New Zealand will be discussed at a meeting of the Australian War Cabinet at Melbourne to-morrow. As a preliminary to the meeting the Federal Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, conferred briefly yesterday with the Hon. P. Fraser, who left later for Sydney. In addition to political discussion* between Mr Menzies and Mr Fraser military co-ordination was discussed by the chief of the Australian General Staff and the commander of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, MajorGeneral Freyberg. It is understood that the discussions between Mr Menzies and Mr Fraser included co-operation in the provision of essential defence supplies, particularly training aircraft from Australia and munitions. Mr Fraser said after the conference that the Labour leaders, both in Britain and France, were solidly supporting the Allies in their effort to eradicate Nazism for ever. “I found 100 per cent agreement with the attitude of British Labour, expressed by the Parliamentary Party, in the country and by the Trade Union Congress.” War Against Nazism

Mr Fraser said: “While Labour is completely supporting the war against Nazism it reserves the right of criticism and will stand by the published war aims. Although the workers in France have had their hours lengthened and their wages decreased under the Daladier Government they also feel that their immediate task is to crush Nazism.” Mr Fraser said he believed that the close co-operation already attained in the defence activities of Australia and New Zealand would be extended to economic and business affairs. New Zealand is actively engaged in carrying out its war effort. In addition to participating in the Empire air scheme the Dominion is sending 650 pilots and 650 air crews and technical personnel to the Royal Air Force each year. Trans-Tasman Air Service Mr Fraser declined to comment on discussions regarding the trans-Tas-man air service. Later Mr Menzies said the matter was one for the full Federal Cabinet, which would discuss the position in January.

SERVICEMEN’S JOBS MUST BE PRESERVED AUSTRALIAN REGULATIONS (United Presa Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlrbt) (Received Dec. 21, 11.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, Dec. 21 Stringent regulations to safeguard the employment of persons engaged in military service during the war have been issued by the Federal Government. The regulations apply both to members of the militia who are undergoing extended training and to persons who volunteer for overseas service. The men must get their civil jobj back after service, and must receive any wage or salary increase to which they would have been entitled had they not enlisted. An employer cannot dismiss an employee without reasonable cause within six months after reinstatement.

ATTACKS BY BOMBER

26 SINCE SUNDAY CLAIMS BY GERMANY (United Pres* Assn —EW*e. TH CopyrirM/ LONDON, Dec. 20 A German bomber flying over the North Sheltands attacaed six unarmed trawlers. One reached an island with two men dead and two wounded. The trawler Astros returned safely after some bombs had missed her. The trawler Ocean View was slightly damaged, but no member ol the crew was hurt. The total number of vessels attacked by air since last Sunday is 26. The Berlin official news agency enlarges on the claims made in earlier German communiques with reference to the attacks on merchant and fishing vessels. It says that two patrol vessels and two other ships were sunk, and three other war vessels, among them two steamers of 2500 tons, showed heavy lists. Torpedoed and Sunk The City of Kobe was sunk in the North Sea, it is believed by a torpedo. Five British and 13 Indian members of the crew landed on the East Coast. Ten British and 42 Indians are missing. The survivors revealed that German planes unsuccessfully bombed and machine-gunned the vessel at the week-end. The survivors from the Danish steamer Jytte, which is believed to have been sunk in the North Sea, landed on the north-east coast. One was admitted to hospital.

HEAVY DETONATIONS

ON THE DANISH BORDER (United Pres* Assn—Flee Tei. copyright' ESBJERG, Dec. 19 Heavy detonations were heard o;i the Danish border near Sylt at 6 KO. It is believed a British raid it in progress.