OUR WAR EFFORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 25, 9 November 1940, Page 2

OUR WAR EFFORT

THE AIR TRAINING SCHEME. TRIBUTE TO NURSES. (Per Press Association). WUNEDIN, November 8. A review of the manner in which New Zealand is fulfilling its obligations under the- Empire air training scheme was given by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) in a speech before the concert by the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band in the Town Hall tonight. Mr Jones said the fact that the Dominion now had 5700 men in. training for the Air Force would give the public an idea of the important contribution the country was making to the Empire’s mighty air effort. There were more than 'IOOO New Zealand airmen serving in Great Britain at present, he continued, and of these 45 had been decorated by his Majesty the King for distinguished service. Next year New Zealand would have 10,000 men in training, and would send overseas no fewer than 4500 pilots and aircraftsmen, some of whom would go direct to Great Britain, while others would be sent to Canada for further training. “New Zeaand’s war effort has been a splendid one,” Mr Jones said. “Many of our men are overseas, waiting to play their part in various fields of activity. The invasion of Great Britain may never come, but if it does our forces are there to assist the Mother Country.

“Om: Navy has already achieved, deeds of which the country is proud. The Achilles won glory in the Battle of the River Plate, and the Leander. the story of whose fine work I hope will be told, it also doing her part gallantly.’’ Mr Jones concluded by paying a tribute to the fine work of New Zealand nurses, 106 of whom were overseas with the Expeditionary Force. Everything possible was being done for the health and welfare of the troops, and, thanks to their devotion, the wastage of men through sickness was much lower than had been anticipated.