COAL AND WAR

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 8

COAL AND WAR

LORD MONTGOMERY’S EMPHASIS

IMPORTANCE OF BULLER FIELD From Oui Own Reporter WESTPORT, July 24. “Somebody ordered to stay at home in dock, mine, or factory has as full a part in the war as somebody who goes off to kill Germans; in some esses more,” said Field-Marshal Montgomery in his address at the civic reception at Westport to-day. The day when a nation went to war. sent away its ; armed forces, and in its own country led its own peaceful life was past. “Modern war is what you can call total war,” he said. “It affects every phase of national life. First of all, you have the war or production in the factories mines, and lumber camps. Then you have the war fought by the ship-

ping people and railwaymen, who move things ''“‘out. Then you have the war of civil defence, in which A.R.P., fire brigades, and others are engaged, and then you have people to fight on land, on the sea, and in the air. Careful Use of Manpower “There is no doubt that all these together go to constitute a national war effort by a nation. They cannot do that without a single one of them. A nation that goes to war has to Work out very care : ully how to use its manpower and womanpower, because they are all wanted. “I suppose in an area like Westport, where you have great coal mines, it might well be that the men are wanted there.” Coal was vital in peace and war, saiu Lord Montgomery. He knew that in Britain they had made the great mistake of moving men out of the mines, and the country was paying sadly for that. The Mayor of Westoort (Mr J. M. Robertson) had told him that although men were sent away during the war from the Buller district, coal production went up. not fJcwn. That was a very fine contribution by that part of the world to the nation, and he congratulated Westport on its part in the war effort. District’s Coalfields The great coalfields in the district would be available again for the nation’s defence, if its defence was called for again, said Mr F. Connew, chairman of the Buller County Council Coal was of the greatest importance in national defence and economy. Development of the coal fields ended after the 1914-18 war. when the Pacific Fleet was called from Westpo - * because oil fuel was introduced to ships. “But again in -this war there was a shortage of coal.” said Mr Connew. “Let us not be caught again.” The Mayor said he was proud of the response the district had made to the war effort

When Field-Marshal Montgomery arrived at the Carter’s Beach airport, he asked Mr C. F. Schadick. Bultor County Engineer, to ooint out to him Denniston, high on its distant hill.