NOW IN BRITAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21064, 8 April 1943, Page 3

NOW IN BRITAIN

N.Z. DEFENCE MINISTER DOMINION’S WAR EFFORT EXPANSION OF FORCES (By ’iVlegrapli—Press Assn. — Copyl'it'.lil.) (British Ollicial Wireless.) RUGBY, April G. The New Zealand Minister of Defence, Mr. F. Jones, has arrived with his secretary, Mr. F. Sherwood. He flew to England and went immediately to New Zealand House, where he talked with the High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, and then went to the Savoy Hotel for a rest after his long flight. Mr. Jones said his main mission was to see the New Zealand forces in whatever theatre of war they might be serving and to establish any contacts calculated to assist himself as Minister of Defence.

Speaking of the Pacific war Mr. Jones said the Japanese had suffered enormous losses, but as a fighter he was a tough nut and it could not be said yet that everything was safe in the Pacific.

The Japanese Zero fighter had not lived up to the high reputation it gained early in the war. “It is possible that this is due to the loss of well-trained personnel,” he said. He was most impressed with the rapidity ancl extent of the work done by the Americans at various air bases and was hopeful the United States would be able to provide the aircraft necessary for New Zealand to engage in offensive as well as defensive operations. Like Australia, New Zealand had always placed the highest value upon aircraft as the besl and quickest way to deal with attempts at invasion. They had been confirmed in that view by the successful operations in and around New Guinea ancl the Solomons.

Development of Air Force

The Royal New Zealand Air Force had grown rapidly from about 100 personnel in 1936 to the position today when 10,000 were serving overseas and 25,000 in training at home. New Zealand owed much to the advice of the Royal Air Force officers during the two critical years before the war.

Compared with the last war. New Zealand was in a different position as now she had to maintain a standing army for defence as well as to join in the fighting overseas. Mr. Jones revealed that New Zealand had 20,000 troops in various Kingdom and United Nations to win taken part in the fighting. The New Zealand Navy had grown from 700 men before the war to 7000, of whom 2000 were serving with the Royal Navy. Mr. Jones said that New Zealand has over 160,000 men in the lighting forces, or about one-tenth of her population. Despite this great withdrawal of workers New Zealand could show notable advances in industry. This had been possible because of New Zealanders’ full realisation of the vital necessity to help the United Kingdom and United Nations to win the war. Longer hours were being worked. Women and the wives of men in the forces had entered industry of all sorts and many old people, including pensioners, had been ready lo give up benefits to go back to work. To save shipping New Zealand had undertaken the play her full part in feeding the American forces in the south Pacific. The output of munitions was five times what it was before the war. New Zealand was now making much of her own smallarms ammunition, mortars, handgrenades ancl Bren-gun carriers, but still had to rely upon abroad for guns. Of the 77,000 engaged in the manufacturing industry. 58 per cent were working for the armed forces, Government or certain export contracts.