FIGHTING MEN AND PRODUCTION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 119, 22 May 1945, Page 4

FIGHTING MEN AND PRODUCTION

•THE New Zealand Division is the biggest single division in any. of the Allied armies, as well as being the best equipped in transport and fire-power. Its deeds call for no recounting, but while the Government is making up its mind as to its future, is it necessary to maintain it at its present strength by further demands upon the bottom-of-the-barrel manpower still in the country? Similarly our Air Force is a very strong unit, in relation to its operations. It is not fighting in the combat zone, but is assisting in the mopping-up task behind the battlefront. A useful task, certainly, but is there need for the heavy establishment behind the few squadrons which are in the air? New Zealanders do not know, but those who have talked to N the airmen and ground staff who have come back have not much doubt that the bases in the Pacific are heavily overstaffed. Nothing to disprove this belief by way of figures has come from headquarters. And meanwhile the Dairy Board is pointing out to the acting-Prime Minister the urgent need for stopping the call-up of men from, dairy farms, declaring that if this goes on there will be a reduction, instead of an increase, in the dairy production next year. The figures of the strength of our division and of our air forces would give no information to the enemy of which he is not already in possession, but they would prove whether or not the present call-up of men is justifiable. For "security'* reasons they will not be given, but at least the public is entitled to know how far and how fast it is to travel in attempting the double job of maintaining forces on two fronts and increasing its production at home.