BRITAIN WELL PREPARED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 7

BRITAIN WELL PREPARED

TASK OF WORLD OFFENSIVE

WILL NOT STOP AT DEFENCE ONLY

MINISTER’S OPTIMISM READY FOR SUDDEN CALt

(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 19, 11 a.m.) LONDON, August 18 “ I can assure you that those responsible for equipping Britain’s forces are not stopping at the thought of defence,” said Mr H. Morrison, in a speech in London. “The ground plan of our future production activity is drawn on the assumption that our task will be a world offensive when the moment comes. Once the immediate peril of these next few days or weeks is passed we shall all be able to look forward to the steadily mounting tally of armed might and striking power. “ Three months ago the position was serious, indeed grave. Not only were we called upon with alarming suddenness to face the consequences of years of small-scale planning and small-scale thinking, but we had lost in Flanders a great part of the equipment which we had built up. Britain at that moment was in great peril. “ My mind is filled with thankfulness as the transformation that has taken place between that time and the present. I do not say that everything is perfect today. We started far behind scratch and we have not yet made up the arrears and the position is not yet fully satisfactory, but we have put into the hands of our army weapons sufficient to enable it to perform its immediate task successfully, even if the call should come tonight. “ Some part of this has been accomplished through the help of our American friends, who drew freely upon their reserves of weapons and ammunition that we might be able to fill certain immediate dangerous gaps. But a great part was due to the outstanding achievement of British industry and British workers.”

A Better Britain Mr Morrison surveyed the raw materials position, showing the extent of the Government undertaking

control in order to ensure adequate supplies, proper apportionment and fair prices. In the case of many metals and wool the Ministry had bought the whole or nearly the whole of the output of entire countries. Referring particularly to planned economy, represented by raw material control, Mr Morrison said: “We must not get into the way of thinking that all forms of war organisation are temporary or mere necessary evils. Many represented real advances. “We all want to see a better Britain emerge from the fires of war. “We want to see inequalities toned down or removed, unfair privileges abolished, the threat of avoidable hardship and insecurity taken away, and opportunities given to all for a fuller, freer and more creative existence.”