NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 178, 24 April 1942, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Little surprise will be caused by the announcement that, for the purposes of the United Nations’ war strategy in the Pacific, New Zealand is to become the centrepiece of a separate "South Pacific Area.” This was an inference to be taken from the earlier reported exclusion of this country from the scope of General MacArthur’s direct command. Furthermore, it is not unexpected that the South Pacific Area should be placed under United States naval command. Taken as a whole its problems, in distinction from those of the South-west (Australian) Command, are primarily naval, in conjunction with the air services. And as the United States Navy is prosecuting tiie war at sea in the Pacific, and the United States forces will be playing an increasingly large part in Pacific air operations, it follows that such a command is logically desirable. It would appear, however, that the principal preoccupation of tills Command, at least for the present, will be on the northern oeean-and-island fringes of tiie area—our front line. A Washington message emphasizes this point. Thus New Zealand is a mam base and core of the area, and in the absence of further explanation it may be supposed that tiie direct command of, and responsibility for, the military organization and strengthening of tin's base will remain unchanged, except for the establishment (already effected) of close liaison with General MacArthur's headquarters. This by no means suggests that New Zealand wilt lie without very real and substantial material and other assistance in her preparation as an Area fortress. On the contrary the completion of tiie Command plans undoubtedly marks the beginning of great cooperative and interlocking developments in the realm of war supplies. What the new arrangement docs apparently mean is that a high and individual responsibility will continue to rest upon our General Officer Commanding, bis staff, and our military organization as a whole. These authorities will require the fullest, undivided support of the country—an accelerated effort —iu order that, side-by-side with the Command in Australia, and under tiie direction of Area Comuiand, they may swing tiie national weight into a combined Pacific offensive.

The collection of ergot has fallen far short of requirements. Great Britain alone could take 50 tons from the Dominion, but as a result of the collection this season will probably get one ton. That apparently was not due to lack of effort or enthusiasm on the part of the men, women and children who voluntarily undertook tho work, but to the fact that the conditions were not suitable for the development of the fungus. Many of tiie collectors had first of all to be shown ergot and given general information as to where best to search for it. They will be better equipped for the work next summer and if the conditions are at all suitable the Dominion output should show a marked increase. The response to the appeal demonstrated how willing many people and children were to do anj thing in their power to help the cause, and with the experience gained they will be in a position to do more next season.

There is something in the contention tiiat the wages at present being paid to waterside workers should not alone be singled out for public attention. But this should not lie looked upon as an argument in favour of withholding such information, to which the people—who ultimately meet the cost of cargo-handling in Wellington, and in every other port-are very justly entitled. It is simply and properly an argument for greater frankness concerning all emergency wages bills paid to servants of tiie public cither directly or indirectly out of the people’s purses. Mr. J. O. Johnson’s remarks at Wednesday’s meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board were unwittingly a protest against the methods of reticence which have crept into (lie handling of public matters, particularly in relation to conditions of pay and employment on essential wartime work, .this secretin eness, rather than preventing tiie “heartburning” spoken of by Mr. Johnson, tends to breed rumour and distrust, and actually to cause public heartburnings. What is required is not less publicity, but more all-round publicity. To place the facts on record iu every sphere of public activity, so that subsequent debate may be based upon fact, and not Tumour and surmise, is the healthy and democratic thing to do.