Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1947. J. Force Requirements

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 February 1947, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1947. J. Force Requirements

’J’HE Government has announced its intention of recruiting a third force to relieve the second force of occupation in Japan. In a statement on the subject, the Prime Minister, Air. Fraser, said that in joining in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force with the Governments of the United Kingdom, India and Australia, New Zealand was attempting to do her share in securing the victory- that the force of arms won over Japan. There will be general agreement with the Prime Minister that as it was necessary to win the war, so it is necessary to win the peace. There will not, however, be the same measure of agreement with him in his inability to give an indication of what New Zealand’s long-term policy is to’ be. Admittedly this is a point on which New Zealandjnust be largely bound by decisions of the United States Government, but it is unfortunate that she should have to review her commitments every 18 months or so. The Dominion is shouldering some of the responsibilities which Britain is unable to accept—and, indeed, should not be asked to accept —in the Pacific. With definite crises looming in India, Palestine and Egypt, with her army of occupation in Germany, and at the same time suffering from a. serious shortage of man-power, it is obvious that Britain must welcome any relief that can be given. The New Zealand Government has, however, given no indication, apart from its expression of the general desire to assist, of what discussions there have been with the United Kingdom on the subject. Nor has it stated how long the occupation of Japan is to continue. It has disclosed only its immediate intention of recruiting a relief contingent to replace the volunteers who are due for repatriation this year. The term of service is to he for a maximum of 18 months. Man-power Problem The Prime Minister says he is fully aware of the great difficulty in finding the man-power required to meet the urgent needs of industry. At the same time he points out that those men now in J Force will return to industry. The Prime Minister, however, overlooks the fact that some considerable time will elapse before these workers can be absorbed by industry again, and that in the meantime the disruption caused by the withdrawal of workers at present engaged must inevitably affect output. Many essential works are already being held up because of bottlenecks in production. It is worth noting in this respect that the December survey of the National Employment Department disclosed that there were 23,500 vacancies in industry and only 140 semiemployable applicants for these 23.500. positions. The Government should frankly give the people all the facts and all its plans. It should tell them how those plans fit in with the national security programme, and how the social programme will be dovetailed with the national security priority. It will be recalled that it was only with difficulty that recruits were obtained last year under the voluntary system to relieve the original brigade group in Japan. It would not. he surprising if even greater difficulty were experienced this year. Britain relies on conscription for the discharge of her post-war military commitments, and there is no reason why some form of selected service should not be introduced here. It would at least ensure that there would be no serious disruption of industry. It is a matter which should be considered on a plane above party prejudice. New Zealand has undertaken grave international obligations and it is a national duty to see that they are fully discharged. If conscription was considered a firm basis on which to help to win the war, it is difficult to see how there can be any argument against its use as a means of assisting in the winning of the peace. The task is equally important.