OUR WAR EFFORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 179, 8 May 1940, Page 5

OUR WAR EFFORT.

EFFECT OF EMPIRE AIR SCHEME, REVIEW BY THE PREMIER. AUCKLAND, May 7. Aspects of New Zealand’s war effort were reviewed by the Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) to-night. He discussed the Dominion’s contributions to the Empire’s cause at sea, on land, and in the air. Mr Fraser said 23 merchant ships had been defensively armed at the Devonport naval base. Ships that had been armed in New Zealand had sailed with gun crews drawn from the New Zealand Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. “Merchant vessels are being equipped in New Zealand with anti-magnetic mine devices,” the Prime Minister continued. “One merchantman is being converted into an auxiliary cruiser. “Six hundred men of the Naval Reserve have been called up to provide personnel in various types of vessels, and others have been sent overseas for service with such units as the Admiralty has decided. Some New Zealand yachtsmen have also been recruited for auxiliary services.’’ « Mr Fraser traced the reorganisation of the Air Force since the Labour Government came into office, and said that since the war began nearly 4000 men, comprising pilots and ground staff, had been recruited, and there were 6000 others who had volunteered, many of whom were still awaiting medical inspection and interview before they could be accepted. “When the Empire air scheme is in full operation we will require every month 144 men for elementary training as pilots, 42 as observers, and 72 as air gunners,” Mr Fraser continued. “As soon as the expansion of training facilities has been completed, we will be fully training 900 men a year in New Zealand, leaving the remainder, 520 pilots, 546 observers, and 936 air gunners to complete. their training in Canada after partial training in New Zealand. “The Government decided to maintain the voluntary system of enlistment, and a highly satisfactory response has been received,” he said, when discussing the land forces. “To date 34,900 enlistments have been made. Of these 24,958 have been passed as lit, and 2653 as temporarily unfit Of the fit personnel, 1860 have boon held back for reserved occupations; 15,636 have been dispatched to camp, and 6720 are available for posting to the special force.”