“REASON FOR DISQUIET”

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23848, 18 January 1943, Page 4

“REASON FOR DISQUIET”

Manpower And The War

HON. W. E. BARNARD’S VIEWS

“It is no use winning the war on foreign fields to lose it on the home front for lack of foresight. We owe a duty to the men fighting overseas to maintain the economic structure of the Dominion," said the Hon. W. E. Barnard, Speaker of the House of Representatives, in a public address at Waimate when he dealt with New Zealand’s position in relation to the war. Mr Barnard said there was reason for disquiet in the manpower situation. The number of fighting men possible to be maintained on the field was closely related to the economic basis of the country, the success of the fighting forces being dependent upon the supply of materials: and this fact was only now becoming recognised by the New Zealand War Cabinet. The consequences of failure to determine what number of men could be put in the field and still maintain the ecpnomic basis had been pointed put in the past by Mr J. A. Lee and himself, said the speaker. New Zealand had gone too far in her commitments. With i total of nearly 200,000 men called up or in the forces, four out of every nine males were on military service, leaving five to maintain the resources of the' country: and at the same time New Zealand was being called upon to produce more than in times of peace to supply Britain, the Allies and home needs. Mr Barnard contended that in view of the present situation in the Pacific, men could be given six months’ training and returned to civil life, subject to periodical refresher courses. , , , . . Mr Barnard was applauded when he suggested that the New Zealand Division should not be sent to fight in Europe after North Africa had been cleared of the enemy, but should be brought back to the home front. The speaker deplored the position of youths of 18, many straight from school, who were kept in camp and were learning nothing. He criticised the silence imposed upon events concerning the war, although he admitted that censorship was necessary—about certain matters, and said that too milch was being done in secret session. In a war for civilisation, men should not be appointed to positions whose only qualification was loyalty to the Government Party; the situation demanded the very best to be found, said Mr Barnard. He added; “The things for which we stand are eternally right, and Pam confident that we shall win.”