AGREED TO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 218, 15 September 1939, Page 9

AGREED TO.

ALL SUGGESTIONS.

BRITAIN AND N.Z.

FORCES NOW TRAINING.

HO IMMEDIATE DISPATCH.

Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, thia day.

The acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, •aid that since the outbreak of the War th« Government had been in consultation with the Government in the United Klhgdotn as to means and methods by which this Dominion can beet assist in the common cause. "At our request we have received from the British Government detailed and most helpful appreciation of the position, indicating the measures which, in their opinion, ■Would be most appropriate for the Dominion to take," he said. "J2very •ingle suggestion that has been made by the British Government has been accepted and agreed to by the New Zealand Government and is being put into apcrution as rapidly as possible. Indeed, many of them had already been anticipated and put in hand before the receipt «f the British Government's suggestions. We are at present engaged in recruiting • force which, after training, is intended for service either here or abroad, in any part of the world, as the circumstances may require. The first section of these troops will go Into cainp about tile end «f thla month and after a period of training they will be followed by further bodies of men, according to A regular and prearranged plan. Ho immediate Dispatch. "The House will not expect me to indicate in detail the intentions of the Government with respect to this force, but it Will be proper to say that there is no liitelitioii Jior is it tile desire of the British Government that this force should be dispatched overseas immediately. It will npt, of course, be disptttehed until its training is adequate for the task , oil which It will be employed, nor until safe means of transport are assured* At the same time the force will as soon as possible be made and held ready to meet the situation as it develops and as may be agreed Upon between the British and New Zealand tloVeriilhciita. "It is not possible to indicate the naval measures, that have beeii adopted, #xce-pt to call attention to the fact that operational control otf the >'ew Zealand Division of the Royal Navy lias already been transferred to the Admiralty. "As far a# the Air Force is concerned, apart from measures necessary for the protection of the Dominion, our prim clpal object Irt tile meantime is the training of pilots, observers and air gunners for the Royal Air Force as quickly and in as large numbers as possible, utilising the maximum facilities available in accordance with the plan already approved by both the Britsh and the New Zealand Governments. The House and the country hiay rely upon it that it is the intention of the New Zealand Government to do everything in its po\Ver to ensure that the steps taken by New Zealand are worthy of the Dominion. I would emphasise that in all 'respects the action taken or to be takm by us has been and will be fully co-ordinated with the wishes and actions of the Governments of the United Kingdom and the other Dominions.

"It will b# realised feadiJv that for She purposes of a eoilfllct mich as that £n wliit'll we are now engaged it St"111 I>e iieccMMitiv to ofgfntise the Whole manpower of the country to the best advantage, not only for military purposes,

but to enable this Dominion to continue to play its part as an important source of foodstuffs and primary products. Clearly the maintenance of" the farms of New Zealand will be as essential to the Allied cause as the provision of lighting forces. Many Problems. "Many serious nre involved in this connection and though a considerable amount of attention has already been directed to the question of organising the necessary labour required it is clear that a great deal of further investigation may be called for. The preliminary steps in this direction are now in hand.

"There can be no doubt that in many cases men who are engaged in essential industries will be rendering greater service to their country and to the British Commonwealth and to the Allied cause by remaining at their work rather than by undertaking military service. At the moment, and while the Government is anxlotls to obtain the greatest possible number of recruits for the armed forces, they must at all times exercise due care to ensure that this does not cripple the production of the Dominion, which may be so essential to victory.

"I am sure that those volunteers who are told that their services are more Valuable in their ordinary work will Realise tile position, and as soon as practicable the Government will take steps to see that in such cases the iintli concerned is given an* authoritative decision to that effect, which will be adequate evidence to the whole country that his duty lies in his ordinary job.

"Service in the farming industries can offer opportunities to those not eligible for enlistment."

"The question of supplying the United Kingdom with an even wider range of commodities than is sent there from the Dominion at present is under consideration. It is the intention of the Government, as it is of Parliament, and the people of N'exv Zealand, that the whole resources of the country should be thoroughly mobilised, efficiently organised and effectively directed to assist to the utmost the British Commonwealth of Nations in the struggle for democracy and freedom against dictatorship and tyranny. In this connection the Minister of Finance has a supplementary statement to make, i feci stire that the people of New Zealand realise that in addition to the ties of blood and friendship, political and economic co-operation, the democratic principles atid ideals which bind the nations of the British Commonwealth so closely together, there are other, overwhcliniiig - reasons which call for our greatest efforts. Stand or Fall Together. "At this time of national and international danger) New Zealand as a nation is indissolubly bound up with the United Kingdom and the other units of the Commonwealth. We stand of fall together, dwarfed of tipilght, bond or free, in war or peace, in defeat ot victory. Defeat might mean the collapse of the British Commonwealth and the domination of our land and ou# people by a foreign Power or Powers.The rtithlesfc treatment of the Czechoslovakia!!, of the AustHan and of other unfortunate minority peoples convey a startling warning to us all; The fact that we are ao far from the actual listing fields of war operations should not engender a sense of false security and immunity. Let there be no mistake. The future of New Zealand is at stake equally with that of Great Britain and the other democracies.

"The question for all of us to decide by the effectiveness of our efforts, and so far as those efforts, necessarily and naturally circulrtscribed in the exent by our resources and population, can contribute ttrtvards the ultimate decision, is whether this country along wltli the Motherland Is to collapse in ruinsj cHishing all we hold dear in life, or in association with the British Commonwealth maintain., safeguard and promote Out progressive, democratic, political, social and economic institutions, ensuring toj their people continued liberty, security and happiness. J