N.Z. WAR EFFORT

Grey River Argus, 17 March 1942, Page 3

N.Z. WAR EFFORT

MEETING AT RUNANGA. A successful public meeting, to assist in the furtherance of New Zealand’s war effort, was held m the Miners’ Hall, Runanga. on Sunday. The meeting was addressed by various speakers, including Mr. JO'Brien, M.P., and Mr. A. H. McKane, who outlined the war situation and appealed for greater efforts oy the people. Mr. O'Brien, after viewing the incidents that led up to the present war. and the propaganda, such as predictions of economic downfalls, that lulled the people of New Zealand into false security, went on to deal with the practically complete conquering of the Malayan Archipelago. He said that it seemed the Japanese were pushing on to Ceylon and India, with the hope of taking Madagascar and thus controlling the Indian Ocean. Speaking of India, he stated the policy pursued in India was responsible for the gravest discontent. Most of the statesmen sent out to that country were members of the British aristocracy, such as Lord Linlithgow and the Duke of lndia’s population of 370 million had for years been dominated by the British occupation Here the people had been denied Dominion status and here patriots, some twenty odd thousand, were dealt with last year, .while our statesmen pandered to the native princes and maharajahs to help them rule the country. Ghandi, whom Mr. Churchill alluded to as a naked faker was the leader of 300 million Indians. Nehru, one of the best educated men in the world, had been gaoled eight times and was only lately released. Mrs. Pandit, Nehru’s sister, who was a Cabinet Minister, was gaoled several times. Chandra Bose was gaoled eleven times, and mysteriously disappeared last year. After all this there was talk of sending Sir Stafford Cripps to obtain the goodwill of the Indian people—right at the time when Japan was knocking at the door. These were some of the mistakes macle and it was a bit late to try and rectify them at the prescnr time. He had come there to discus with them what we were up against in New Zealand and whai we can do to prevent a calamity. II was stated that the Japs may pass by Australia -and come straight to New Zealand. The question was whether our manpower was adequate to defend our shores., Mr O’Brien here analysed the total amount-of manpower available, and stated there was sullicient armament to put up a definite defence. He held that no more men should bo sent from New Zealand, and that the country should cut' out luxury production and useless professions and trades. He urged his hearers to get rid of their complacency, and indicated that the time was short, and they had to take sufficient action to organise New Zealand’s War Effort immediately or it would be too late.

“I came here this afternoon to appeal to the people of Runanga. not because I do not think you are doing your cart, but because the people of New Zealand regard the war complacently,” said Mr.. McKane. “This is not new to me. With regard to its war effort, New Zealand has done very little except sending men overseas” “This country has done more than any other country to increase production. We are producing clothing, boots and food for the people overseas, a truly great war effort for a country like this. We are down to the stage when it is man for man and woman for woman. The J a P has shown that he domes to the’ prace where we least expect him. Are we as a people, doing the right thing by ourselves? I say we are too complacent and have relied upon the industrial producers at Home. The people should join the Home Guard, and take an interest in our own affairs. “At the mock Invasion last Saturday, there were only 82 in the Home Guard and 1,200 in the E.P.S. to pick up the pieces' Before a man can become a soldier he must train.

“If the Japanese come here every man, woman and child must do his bit. I have heard people say: If the Japs come here the best thing to do is give them a civic reception.’ That is not tne right view to take. If anyone has any ideas, put them up to the Government in a manner that will, inspire the Government to use them.

“How people have attempted to make air-raid shelters. I believe you have made a track into the bush. That is only a target for the enemy, with so many people running in the same direction.” Mr. J. F. Pattinson made a fine contribution to the speeches of the day when he said he had been a life-long pacifist, but now an animal had got loose, and he would be compelled to draw the sword to deal with the animal in such a way that the sword would be sheathed for all time.

Mr. F. Oaklev moved,, and Mr. Morris seconded, a motion of thanks to the speakers. Mr. O’Brien replied on behalf of the speakers The audience were invited to attend the war effort meeting in the Town Hall on March 25th

Grey Committee

DISCUSSION BY TECHNICAL SCHOOL BOARD.

The recently formed War Effort Committee came in for some discussion at the monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of the GreymoJln Technical High School, when a circular was received from the committee asking the board to appoint delegates to its conference in the Town Hall next Monday evening. “Don’t the existing Government organisations cover this?” a'sked Mi' A. At. Adams when the objects of the committee had been read. Mr T. Pratt said that the idea was to secure the maximum war effort. A number of people thought that the maximum effort was not being exerted, and it was only by coming together and discussing matters that this could be done. It was proposed at this conference to elect a permanent War Effort Committee—the present one was only a provisional one —and the committee would organise public meet'ngs and mass rallies where people could express their views. As many as possible should go along to the conference and participate in it. It would have a tremendous effect. He moved that the board should appoint delegates, The Harbour Board and the Hospital Board had done so. The chairman (Mr T. E. Coates) said that the board had every sympathy with the movement, but he considered that it was a little outside the board’s provinceMr A. H. McKane said that he differed from this view. It was within everybody’s province. Mr Coates: Individually. “No, collectively,” said Mr McKane. He added that when he attended the first meeting he realised what it was

likely to bring about if people were aroused to their responsibilities. More than 200 organisations in the Greymouth district had received notices. They had been sent to all churches and all sporting bodies. If two or three hundred people attended the meeting next week and went into the matter it would bring about a greater war effort. The heads of the E.P.S. were very sincere and had everything worked out on paper. But when it came to practice it broke down. During the recent trial numbers of wardens had failed to turn up. They had gone off to the races, ft was time people woke up. He had heard many people say that if the Japs came the best thing to do would be to give them a civic reception. This kind of thing ought to be stopped. Such people were fifth columnists. If the board did not appoint delegates others would not do so. Similar movements had been started in others places—Oamaru and Dunedin. People should realise that many things would have to go by the board sooner or later, and they might as well go by the board now. Mr J. B. Kent said that the object was to consolidate and crystallise the activities of various sections, twhich were now at sixes or sevens, with consequent waste of energy. Mr Adams: Are you going to say that the Government bodies are not doing their job? Mr E. B. E. Taylor: Definitely. Mr Adams: Are you going to say that the E.P.S. and the Home Guard are not doing their job? I agree with the objects of the movement, but there are some things in connection with it that do not inspire confidence. Mr Adams went on to say that that the lattiude was that “if you don’t join you are not, loyal. He considered that the thing to do was, if they thought that other bodies were not working properly to get m touch with them and ginger them up. Mr McKane said that most of the members of the committee were prominent in the E.P.S. The ooject was not to goad anybody but to assist. He did not know what Mr Adams meant by suggesting that there was something undesirable about the committee. Maybe it was because the Trades Council and the L.R.C. .wok it up But if the conference wished it could take the power clean out ot the ; r hands. If it was decided that the thing was no use it could go overboard. If the conference could get two or three hundred people it could get every section of the community, and if they reported back to their own bodies they could rouse up people to respond. No one' section of the community wanted any kudos. At present there was not 100 per cent, efficiency, and there should be when it came to beating the enemy. There was no ulterior motive other than the war effort. The aim was not. to criticise the various bodies and ths Government, but to help. Co-opera-tion was needed. . It was decided to appoint Mrs C. H. Lindsay and Mr E. B. E. Taylor as delegates.

Alleged Incitement to Strike

A MAYOR’S OVERSIGHT.

P.A. WELLINGTON. March 16. Police inquiries were ordered on Saturday afternoon into a siatemeni alieged to have been made by a Union organiser, to factory workers in Manawatu. The matter was brought under the notice of the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), by the Mayor of Palmerston North. Mr. Mansford, who sent a telegram asking that an inquiry be made. The statement alleged was as follows • “Hullo you slaves! Still working for four'or live pounds a week? 1 can get you ten pounds a week in Wellington for half the work. Why don’t you strike?” Mr. Mansford contended, in his telegram, that sucii a statement was most serious and was likely to have grave results “I received Mr. Mansford’s telegram about 1 p.m. on . Saturday,” said Mr. Fraser to-day, “and I immediately got in touch with him, on the telephone, and told him that the matter of the alleged statement by a Trade Union Secretary would immediately be taken up by the Police. The Commissioner of Police issued instructions, and immediately detectives visited the cheese factory in question, and carried out inquiries on Saturday afternoon Unfortunately, Mr. Mansford had not informed me that he had handed, or had intended to hand, his telegram to the press on Saturday afternoon. He also overlooked the obvious desirability of informing the press of my prompt verbal answer to him, and of the instant instructions issued to the police. Mr. Mansford assured me, to-day, that he proposed to remedv this oversight.” WAIKATO “AWAKENERS.” P.A. HAMILTON, March 16. The “Awake New Zealand” Campaign, inaugurated in Hamilton recently, is meeting with a ready response throughout the Waikato and surrounding districts, and donations are steadily pouring in, the total to date being £2,250. The objects of the organisation are stated to be: “To awaken the spiritual consciousness of the people, to rouse the public and Government to the urgent necessity of a total war effort, involving among other things every able-bodied man being trained to fight, and all factories and workshops of the country being used to the fullest capacity in producing arms, ammunition, ' and I equipment required; to urge on the people the need for immediate individual action, without waiting for Government compulsion, as the success of the defence effort made by the Government must rest finally on the offensive spirit of the people themselves; and to obtain for Home Guards units such equipment as the resources of the district can supply.”