SOUTH AFRICA SETS HOUSE IN ORDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 247, 19 October 1939, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICA SETS HOUSE IN ORDER.

NATIONAL SURVEY.

Manpower Must Be Speedily

Organised. PLEA TO U.S. TO LIFT BAN. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10.30 a.m.) PRETORIA, October 18. A nation-wide survey of South Africa's industrial and mineral resources, with a view to meeting home and Aliied needs, was announced by General Smuts, Prime Minister, in the first speech since he assumed office. Addressing a special convention of the Federated Chamber of Industries, General Smuts said that things were working out much better than they had thought before the war broke out. The Union's difficulties would have l>een increased a hundredfold had Parliament not adopted the "dual choice of interest and duty." It was easy to realise what the Union's position would have been without the protection of the British Navy. South Africa had to make up for lost time and neglected duty and organise her manpower to meet emergencies.

General Smuts described the cash-and-carry claTise in the United States Congress amendment to the Neutrality Act as a danger, because United States assistance might be most important for the supply of machinery necessary to the Union's industrial development.

"If American ships cannot carry American goods to South Africa let alone to Australia, New Zealand and Canada," he said, "Americans will suffer as well as the Dominions."

He said he had made representations to the United States Government expressing the hope that the Neutrality Bill would be so framed as to remove this danger.

The Prime Minister appealed to employers not to discharge men. The Government would form armies, making great demands on manpower, and for this reason employers should in the meantime retain their staffs.

"This war will shake the world's foundations," he continued. "You can see how warily the democratic Powers are acting in their attacks against Germany. You can sense the feeling of fate behind it all. You can realise that the Powers are afraid, in a way, to come to grips because they know that no one can foresee the result."