PAN-AMERICAN DEFENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 23865, 21 April 1941, Page 6

PAN-AMERICAN DEFENCE.

Fok years past the United States Administrations have industriously sought to encourage the Pan-American movement. When Mr Hoover was President he directed efforts to the fulfilment of that aim, and on Mr Roosevelt acceding to office he ■ lost no opportunity, by visits to Latin America and the initiating of conferences, to pave the way to Pan-Ameri-can partnership in matters of general concern. The republics of South America, though cordial and sympathetic to tile advances from Washington, were hesitant about committing themselves to any fast agreement, fearing that the influence of the United States as the dominant partner might be detrimental to their immediate interest as self-governing States. The outbreak of the present war brought home to the southern republics a realisation of the dangers that confront them. They are honeycombed with Axis intrigues, the presence in most of them of large numbers of Germans and Italians providing opportunities for the underground work that is going on. Colonel Knox, the Secretary of the United States Navy, among other statesmen, has shattered the dream of American immunity from events across the Atlantic. If the Axis Powers dominated Ahirope, he said, the chances of conquest in Asia would automatically

increase, and they would also take control of Africa. Pointing out that there was only a distance of 1,600 miles between Africa and South America at their nearest point, ho remarked that crossing the Atlantic to attack would be easier than crossing the English Channel, because the latter is strongly defended from the shore, whereas the coast of Latin America is almost defenceless.

Military missions have gone from Washington to capitals of various Latin-American States, and extensive plans for economic co-oipcrntion arc already in hand. The Vice-President of the United States, Mr H. A. Wallace, I is as definite as Mr Roosevelt himself in his attitude to Europe's dictators. This is of more than passing interest, for in the event of the death of a President the Vice-President automatically succeeds to the post for the remainder of the term. Mr ’Wallace before the last election was Secretary for Agriculture. He proved himself to he a vigorous administrator and a strong supporter of President Roosevelt’s foreign policy. In an address which was a plea for increased economic co-operation among the nations of the Americas, Mr 'Wallace said that in the last outposts of liberty on the edge of Europe and far across the world in the interior of China brave men were fighting desperately to turn back the tide of conquest. “Wo hope that, with the help of materials from the Western Hemisphere, those bravo peoples may yet hold their own. If England and China can defend themselves we may not have to fight on our own shores in a last stand of free men on earth. But we must not ho content to hope that others will win security for us without effort on our own part.” What was in Mr Wallace’s mind was made dear. It was the need of giving all possible aid to the Allies, and as a measure of prudence to prepare an inner lino of defence for tho American continent —a fortress of strength in case of dire need. The Nazis’ long-range plan is to create a new Germany in South America and to get control of Mexico. Mr Wallace, in his radio address, with words impressive and logical, brought homo to the peoples of all the Americas the grave dangers with which they were faced and the urgency of united measures to guard against them.

The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, accompanied by Lady Newall, inspected the Tanpo Homo Guard on Saturday. Later, as the result of a wish Sir Cyril had expressed, the viceregal party met the children attending the Taupo School. Quickly overcoming the children’s shyness, Sir Cyril, in a short address, told them that they were very fortunate in being born and being able to live in such a lovely country as New Zealand, and said he hoped that they would appreciate this fact. In return for such privilege they should try to show their appreciation by clean living, clean thinking, and clean behaviour, thus becoming good citizens.

Noumea planters are delighted at the guarantee by the Commonwealth Government to purchase all the New Caledonian unsold coffee crop, with the offer of unrestricted import licenses. A reply is awaited to a further request asking for the fixation of a reasonable price. In spite of “ fifth column” posters alleging financial ruin, the confidence in the present regime is demonstrated in the latest New Caledonian Post Office Savings Bank figures, showing that deposits increased from 23,126,660 francs to 23,963,894 francs during March. This is considered a reliable barometer, covering 17,000 depositors in a white and native population of 60,000. “ Admittedly the black shag does eat some trout,” says Captain E. V. Sanderson in a presidential message to the Forest and Bird Protection Society. “ Reports, however, reach this society that bounty is being paid at times on species of shags which do not even frequent fresh water. The question now arises: Are secretaries and ‘rangers of all or most acclimatisation societies able to identify the feet of the various species of shags upon which bounty is paid P Nino out of fifteen species existing in New Zealand are 1 * absolutely protected by law, but the administration of the Act in the field is entrusted to acclimatisation societies.”

The presidents of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and of the Canterbury Society of Fine Arts, Mr G. G. G. Watson and Dr J. Guthrie respectively, are both agreed that an official war artist to accompany the New Zealand forces overseas should be appointed immediately. Australia, it is pointed out, already has two, but representations to the New Zealand Government have so far been ignored (.says the Auckland ‘ Herald ’). Mr A. A. Deans, a young New Zealand artist from Canterbury who left with the First Echelon, is suggested as a very suitable person to appoint. His work is favourably known, and lie has already done some excellent pictures at the front in his spare time. In the last war New Zealand had two official artists with the troops. Mr H. D. Aclund, of Christchurch, has received further and later news of his daughter, Miss Rhillijpa Acland, who was a passenger on a vessel which was shelled by an enemy raider in November last. This nows lias been obtained through the lied Cross Bureau in Sydney. A cable message to Mr Acland from a relative there, which was received yesterday, states: “ Answering my inquiry, the Red Cross Bureau has just telephoned a cablegram from London saying that the emptain and all the crew and passengers of the vessel arc safe in a prison camp in France.” In three months it may be impossible to buy a now car in Now Zealand. This prediction was made by the manager of one of the largest motor firms in Wellington. Large cars had disappeared from the new-car market many months ago, ho pointed out, and there were only a few hundred light ears of all makes left. That they will be the last new ears put on the roads for some months at least is shown by the fact that the Government has not given permission to import any cars during this year. Even if the restriction on the importation of cars is relaxed in 1942 it may not be possible by then to procure them from the manufacturing countries because of the war. Territorials who have been on manoeuvres in Canterbury since April 9 arrived back in Dunedin by trains today. The Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, came by special train which reached here at 3.5 p.m., and the 3rd Field Regiment of Artillery and the 3rd Signals Company arrived by the ordinary express at 5.1 p.m. The Southland Regiment passed through Dunedin on their way south by special train'at 3.53 p.m.

During March the Benevolent Committee of the Otago Hospital Board dealt with 30 casual cases for relief involving the expenditure of £46 Os 6d. Tho Hospital Committee of the Otago Hospital Board recommends that alterations bo made to the Prince Edward Children’s Convalescent Home at Kew in order to provide school accommodation and that the architects call tenders for the work. With the view of preventing overcrowding at the Dunedin Hospital, authority lias been granted by the Hospital Committee of the Hospital Board for the circularising of all medical practitioners.

When Alexander Miller appeared in the Police Court this morning to defend an application which was being made against him for maintenance and separation orders he was obviously under the influence of liquor, and counsel for the applicant (Mr C. L. Calvert) intimated that, in consequence of the defendant’s condition, he was riot prepared to go on with the matter. In reply to the magistrate (Mr H. W. Bundle! Miller asserted that ho had had only one “ handle ” this morning. Mr H. W. Wilson (conciliator in maintenance cases) then informed the Bench that Miller had threatened him in the precincts of the court, and on Miller assuming a defiant attitude in reply, the Magistrate ordered , him to be placed under arrest on a charge of contempt of court. The man was then arrested and taken to tho cells; later he was convicted and discharged on the contempt charge, having given an undertaking that he would'cause no further trouble to the conciliator.

The Bay of Islands big fish records show that from January 1 to March 31 this year 95 marlins and sharks were caught on the fishing ground by devotees of the sport. Of this number 54 were marlins, the largest being a black iharlin of 9331 b brought in by Mr N. Jones, of Auckland. A mako shark weighing 4991 b was caught by Mr I. Carruthers, of Wellington, and a 6001 b reremai shark by Mr B. Cassidy, of Auckland. The largest striped marlin, weighing 3781 b, was taken by Mr V. Cornaga, of Melbourne. A Union Jack flag brought by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in the Southern Cross in 1928 from Australia to New Zealand has been presented to the lloyal New Zealand Air Force at Wigram, tho gift of Lady Wigrara. For the past 13 years the ilag has been in charge of Miss F. Wilson, of Christchurch, and of the Union Jack Club, whose chairman, Dr J. Leslie Will, described its'history at the presentation. Brought to Wigram in 1928 and later raffled by the Sydney Hospital, the flag was won by a Christchurch doctor and left in charge of the matron of The Limes Hospital (Miss Wilson) until handed over to the Union Jack Club for safe custody. A ‘ Gazette ’ notice proclaims Hungary to be an enemy country for the purposes of the Enemy Property Emergency Regulations and the Enemy Trading Emergency Regulations. “ There are too many babies being born in taxis,” said Mrs S. E. Blako in opposing at the meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board the proposal that the board establish a. maternity hospital at .Kilbirnie. Previous speakers had protested that it was too far to take enceinte women from some parts of tho board’s district to Kilbirnie. Mrs Blako told of a baby being born during its mother’s journey from Eastbourne to Wellington. The taxi in which she was riding had to be stopped at Pctone, Mrs Blake said. The woman was taken into a house in Petone, where she boro a child. The journey was resumed, and when she arrived in Wellington another child was born. She was the mother of twins.

That tin; female is. not always the weaker of the species was demonstrated to the male members of a deer-stalking party at Easier. A woman accompanied the party in a strenuous trip in the Mount Aspiring district, and showed even more stamina than the men. Three heads, including a 20pointcr. were secured by the party, which comprised Mr and Mrs W. Murray. of Invercargill, Mr G. 11. Herron, of Makarewa. and his 16-year-old son Colin, of Balfour. The party went into the Wanaka hack country on Friday, and returned in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The male members of the party agreed that Mrs Murray was the fittest of the quartet after each day’s severe climb. Mr Murray secured the two best heads, but unfortunately the 20-pointer was damaged over a bluff. On his first doer-stalking trip Colin Herron shot an 11-pointer.