TOTAL EFFORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 124, 21 November 1942, Page 8

TOTAL EFFORT

NEW ZEALAND AT WAR

MR. FRASER'S SURVEY

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. "A total war effort demands the fullest response, not only on the ! fighting fronts,'but in the sphere ; of essential industry and production. It is this that the War Cabinet and the Government are bent on achieving and successfully achieving," said the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) in dealing with recent aspects of the Dominion's war effort in a statement in Auckland today. \ ' "The demands of both the civil and military sections of our fight against the Axis receive constant consideration, and War Cabinet's policy is dictated by the trend of events," said Mr. Fraser. . "We must be in a position to meet all demands. We cannot afford .reproach as a nation that we were too late in mobilising full manpower to fulfil our obligations. Where there is a choice it is better to be too soon than too late. •. - . "Industries are undoubtedly affected by our progressive mobilisation^ but it must be remembered that the men engaged in essential work or who might suffer undue hardship have the right to appeal, while men 41 and over will not go overseas. '. "ALARMIST STATEMENTS." "There is a great deal of loose thinking behind the somewhat alarmist statements which have appeared recently drawing attention to the alleged effect on certain undertakings if the remaining personnel liable for service are called up. It must be remembered that the ballots for the higher age groups produce fewer men for the Army, because of the increasing proportion of men unfit far military service or are held back as the result of appeals. "The proportion actually entering camp is now 25 per cent, and by the time the 41-45 group is dealt with this will fall to 20 per cent. Industry loses men who are drafted into the Army, but it is clear that in the higher groups the loss to industry is proportionately smaller. Those who do not pass into camps come under the direction of man-power officers, and are not lost to industry. In some cases they are directed into more essential work; in. others they have the assurance that they can stay there. With a mobilised Army within our own borders the release of men to meet the seasonal requirements of our primary " industries is vital to the maintenance of supplies for the Allied forces, for our own people, and of oruinrETA ET ET E people, and for our own industries. NOT TOO MANY CALLED UP. "We should count ourselves fortunate that we can effect this release, but the borrowing of men; from the Army for essential seasonal farm work does not mean that too many men are being called up for the Army. In fact the ballot of the 41-45 age group was made necessary, by this, transfer from the ranks to primary, industries, because bur defending forces must be maintained at.a safe level while this is being done. The War Cabinet has not overlooked, the need to keep to the minimum the men withdrawn from industry, and has for long followed the policy of reducing the number ti-ansferred.to the Army by enrolling women in the forces. As a result of the .recruiting effort now in,progress many thousand women have ; entered the armed forces to do work formerly done by men. • The number will progressively increase. ROLE OF THE YOUNG MEN. "The War Cabinet regrets that the exigencies of war demand the entry into the armed forces of young men of 18 years, but it is from -this, group, and this only, that some of the most vital services draw, their personnel. -The -ever-growing? demands* must be met for air crews/and scientific work in the armed forces also demands high qualifications. We all know, or should know, what the leaders of the ; United Nations have told us, that the splendid achievements of. the Allies in recent weelcs do not justify any relaxation of effort; rather do they bid us to do more under the stimulus of these successes. I know ■ that this country wants to do nothing less than its utmost- to ensure the coming of victory. . ■ FULFILLING THE PLEDGE. "I feel sure that those who, by reason of age or domestic circumstances, have been called up last will adjust their lives and, businesses to the more onerous conditions which the demands of,war impose.'. Hardship and sacrifice have been borne in the dark days. Tftey will be borne cheerfully in the brighter days ahead. And we will say, when victory comes, that New Zealand has achieved what it pledged—its uttermost strength to the . cause of. man. kind's liberty. What sacrifices are required of us in New Zealand are small compared with those so courageously faced and endured by the brave and incomparable men of our Expeditionary 'Force in the Middle East, and by our airmen and men_of the Navy in all the theatres of war."