HON. PETER FRASER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1939, Page 4

HON. PETER FRASER

ACTIVITIES AT HOM&

THE UNITED WAR EFFORT

TASMAN AIR SERVICE

(By Air Mail—From "The Post's" \ London Representative.) j LONDON, November 7. ' In addition to the discussions with' the British Government and Minister! from the other 'Dominions,* the Hon. Peter Fraser has' also had conversations with the Dominions Office and ! the Air Ministry regarding the start of the trans-Tasman; air service. Australia, too,'has been represented atf these talks. . ■• '"■'.'■ " j Mr. Fraser made strong repfesenta' tions on the advisability of the service starting as soon as possible, and i pointed out its importance in relation jto defence. No statementis being \nade for the time being. ' : '■. There have been-discussioris w|th Mr, W. S. Morrison, Minister'of Food. Mr. Fraser indicated'-that -there wer« other commodities, ;in addition to thoset now being supplied, that were desired from New: Zealand by the -United Kingdom Government, every effort would be made to meet the request. Mr. Fraser has also had a short con* versation with Mr. Montagu Norman* Governor of the Bank of England, upon whom he made' a formal call. , With other dominion delegates, Mr. Fraser has paid visits, to military and naval centres in Britain. -He was not with the group of Dominion representatives who "listened in" to an* H.A.F. pilot attacking a U-boat during the weekend. At that . particular moment he was with a group' inspecting another station. ' SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE. In an interview, Mr. Fraser said that he is much impressed by Britain's plans and preparations for the war, and by the quiet, temperate spirit and cheerful determination of the British, people. "The general co-operation of thai people in an effort so essentially communal as the black-out is ofjei manifestation of tiae British spirit,"he said. "London after dark' is rip- longer the city I used to know; it" reminds me of some uhlighted country village-cither in Britain or New Zealand^ and at night it is an adventure to w&tk dowii the Embankment or through ""^itehall and the Strand. Everywhere>tite sensa of optimistic co-operation is. striking. "The conferences of British &iid Dominioii Ministers - during jthe week have been extremely valuable, especially oit the questions Of;isupply,' jdefeiice, and war preparations.' In a layman's view the preliminary work has been-carried out most thoroughly and efficiently. Both* the personnel>of the- higher commands and the outline of the war programme inspire the deepest confidence. "Indeed, so far as a student of history, perhaps on a limited scale, can judge, I feel that the efficiency of tha British forces and of the higher commands can never: have .been greater! than they are today.?, ' . NEW ZEALAND'S RESOURCES. "Part of my mission is ,to find ou* how best the resources of New Zealand can be used in the struggle for, democracy and self-determination of the people against the ruthless and ever-widening aggression of Germany. -with th^e Ministries of : and>.suppl?/,§Jlput New Zealand!^Butter^^lieesievf"rne^t, ■wool, and 3 ■number^iof-^ther/^coinniodities are approaehlhg'c^pletiQn.'^New Zealand is prepared to ijiike %& maximum contribution to .the 'of the Allies; this, conceivably, woul^' involve the transfer of men and.machinery from the public works and activities now being undertaken,. to land, production. w'The 'two 'iijipbrtarit matters to be decided-are the" nature of the commodities desired-and their shipping and transport. New Zealand will then direct lis full effort to assist."