DOMINION’S WAR EFFORT

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23742, 14 September 1942, Page 4

DOMINION’S WAR EFFORT

FURTHER SACRIFICES NECESSARY STATEMENT BY HON. D. G. SULLIVAN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept 13. “It appears to be true that overseas the name of New Zealand is an inspiration,” said the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) when discussing the Dominion’s war effort. “I believe the good opinion held in Australia, Britain, and the United States is justifiable because for a country of its size and resources New Zealand’s achievements are extraordinarily good.” Mr Sullivan said there could be no criticism of the men in the services, and there had been a wonderful amount of inspiring example and real sacrifice among the civilian population. There had also been at times resistance and refusal to co-operate. The war had shortened supplies and cut some out altogether. Most of the civilians had accepted the situation in a fine spirit. Others had fiercely rebelled, but even some of these were serving magnificently in other directions. Sometimes officials had' not done things in the wisest way, but that was inevitable in the mushroom growth of the war organisation. Resistance and refusal to co-operate had weakened the war effort to some extent by delaying the full fruition of it Oh the whole splendid work had been done by the public services. Mr Sullivan added that another necessary war effort —the stabilisation of wages and prices—was meeting with stiff resistance. Most people agreed with the principle but resisted its specific application to themselves at the point where they had to give U P something to achieve it. Without stabilisation the Country would be faced with disaster. The longer the war lasted the more people would have to sacrifice, but the more readily the sacrifices were accepted to-day the shorter the war would me and the more certain people would be of retaining their freedom. , . ' Mr Sullivan also referred to the mighty job that had been done in mobilising, training, rationing, and equipping the fighting forces, and said that the production in New Zealand of munitions, equipment, and foodstuffs for war purposes had reached record levels. A thorough survey of manpower was under way, based .on a two-year programme of essential pro*duction and the needs of the armed services and civilian defence. “I would say to every New Zealander, and this is a matter of me and death to the country, that there must be no relaxing and no slacking in the war effort,” continued Mr Sullivan. "It is madness to say that the danger has passed so far as New Zealand is concerned. It is inevitable that a great showdown in the Pacific must come. The Japanese will make a mighty effort to recover everything they have lost in recent defeats, and if they win New Zealand may be for it, and New Zealanders may have to fight for their country.”