MR FRASER INSPIRED BY TOUR OF BRIIAIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 192, 15 August 1941, Page 7

MR FRASER INSPIRED BY TOUR OF BRIIAIN

AMAZING WAR EFFORT

Stronger In Determination

Than Ever

LuitPd l'rcs? Association—Copyright

Rec. 10.30 a.m

LONDON, Aug. 14

Mr. P. Fraser, in a special inter- \ iew with the Associated Press, pave his impressions of his tour of the provinces and Scotland. He expressed the highest praise for the manner in which all sections of the British community from unslulled workers to executives are contributing to the war effort. "I am certain the people of Britain are stronger in their determination than ever before that tne struggle must be continued u.itil Hitlerism is overthrown," he declared. "Far from being weakened b - the terrible air attacks made upon them and their shipping, they are rapidly surmounting the difficulties and are prepared to face and defeat any fresh attacks the Nazis may devise, whether by bombing or straight-out invasion.""

Mr. Fraser saw manv factories engaged in all manner of war production ranging over the whole gamut from small arms, fuses, shells, guns, aircraft and tanks to merchant vessels and warships. "Mv chief impression was that work "is verv well organised, reflecting high credit on all concerned, is efficientlv carried out. and as far as I was able to judge the workers are intelligent and enthusiastic. There is complete co-operation between the workers the foremen and the executives, all of whom are anxious to share in the effort.

Work of Girls and Boys

"I was particularly interested to notice the number of young girls and boys working in munition factories who. a few months ago. had no knowledge of machines or tools. To-day they thoroughly understand the nature of their tasks. To see the girls, who were previously* domestic servants and shopworkers now handling complicated machines, made one realise that the country is reaping a splendid dividend from its expenditure on compulsory education.

"Quite frankly I was most moved by the intelligent grasp these workers had of their jobs and the intelligent manner in which they answered questions. In my opinion, the charges of absenteeism have been greatly exaggerated to a degree likely to obscure the real and great achievement which has taken place. When you realise that Britain started practically from scratch two years ago. and to-day is one vast arsenal, it isn't a bad effort.

"I spoke not only to hundreds of individual workers in factories, but also got an intimate insight Into the work in the shipyards and on docks, where again I found a uniformly efficient state of affairs. In one shipbuilding centre I addressed 1300 workers, who acclaimed my remarks upon the war effort. I also addressed crowded meetings in other places, and everywhere found the utmost enthusiasm in the war effort and the keenest interest in what I had to tell them about NewZealand. whose efforts were thoroughly appreciated—not only in the actual field of war, but also in primary production. Admiration for N.Z. Airmen "On many occasions I was told ol the admiration for New Zealand's airmen and the Expeditionary Force. I visited practically every centre where New Zealand airmen are stationed—bomber crews, fighters and training schools. These men are in wonderful fettle. They will leave an indelible impression upon this generation because a finer, nobler or more courageous band of men never lived.

"I was present at one station when some of our boys returned from raids over Germany. Alas, some did not return, and it was a terrible thought that men who the day before were in the prime of life are now no longer amongst us —men whose fine spirit, great ideals and high intelligence should be devoted to tasks of peace for the benefit of their country, but they died doing their duty and those who returned unflinchingly faced the task still ahead with spirits undaunted, heads unbowed and determination unshaken. They had lost some of their comrades, but they were resolutely going on with the job of extirpating Hitlerism from the world.

"In talks with the men I heard some minor grievances—small matters calling for adjustment, and I was able to promise that these would be rectified. Armies Praised "I saw another aspect of the British war effort, namely, work on farms where a greater area of land is being cultivated than ever before. 1 was most impressed by the Women's Land Army. The farmers to whom I talked, displayed great interest in New Zealand's changeover from butter manufacture to cheese.

"All I have seen has been an inspiration to me and 1 will be able to tell an inspiring story to the people of New Zealand, hot only of the magnificent war effort, but of the fortitude and cheerful bearing of the people in blitzed areas. The manner in which they endured untold hardships is a shining example to the people of the rest of the Empire."