MR FRASER’S MEETING

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1942, Page 5

MR FRASER’S MEETING

With General MacArthur

ADDRESS TO N.Z. UNIT IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, July 22. The close relationship existing between Australia and New Zealand is emphasised by Mr. Fraser: “Our troops are fighting shoulder to soulder in Egypt, as they fought in Greec and Crete.” Commenting on the supply position. Mr. Fraser said New Zealand needed supplies from Australia, just as Australia needed supplies from elsewhere. New Zealand is short of many commodities particularly steel and rubber. Arrangements to be made about these would be very important to New Zealand. Mr. Fraser told reporters cnat New Zealand’s manpower problems were acute, particularly from the production angle. The Dominion had plenty of dairy produce and meat, -but the vegetable position was serious.

Mr. Fraser and Brigadier Hurlev yesterday had confidential discussions with the Australian Minister of External Affairs (Dr. Evatt). No announcement has been made of the party’s itinerary. (Rec. 21.40) SYDNEY, July 22. Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, N.Z. Prime Mfnistier, to-day met Mr. Curtin, General MacArthur, General Hurley, Admiral Learv and other officers of the services. Later Mr. Fraser spent an hour with General MacArthur. They discussed at length the war situation in the Pacific, and in the world generally. Later in the morning Mr. Fraser attended an informal reception at the rooms of the New Zealand war unit, where he met a number of New Zealand returned sold’ers, most of whom had been prisoners of war in Italy. Mr. Fraser told them that the exploits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Greece, Crete and Libya' had been most favourably commented upon by General MacArthur and by High Australian Officers. He also said that Mr. Churchill, in a recent speech in the House of Commons, had singled out New Zealanders for special mention. Mr. Churchill had sent to New Zealand a verbatim copy of his sneech. He told the men that their deeds had won them a part of jNew Zealand, and the Government I would see that it would be given to them. „ Mr. Fraser spoke to each officer and man individually, and sought information regarding places that he visited during h's trip to Egypt, and the men he had met. He sa’d that all would be pleased to to know that General Freyberg had so far recovered from his wound that to-day he was attending a conference of 1 commanding officers in Egypt. Genleral Smuts had offered to fly Genleral Frevberg and Lady Freyberg to South - Africa, where the General could recuperate but General Freyberg preferred to remain near his division. , , , , Mr. Fraser said that he had been greatly impressed by General MacArthur’s extraordinary knowledge and wide ■ grasp of the world situation, and also by his dynamic personal:'ts’ SYDNEY, July 18. Australia had to be prepared foxseveral years of war and for great struggles which lay ahead in the South-west Pacific asi well as in other parts of the world. This statement has been made by the Minister of the Army (Mr F. M. Forde), who said that the army in Australia might have to fight off an i attempted invasion. It could not be imagined that the Japanese would be content merely to hold the territorities thev had already conquered. Drives further south were likely. The army .in Australia was now the strongest ever assembled in the southern hemisphere, but more fighters. bombers, tanks, guns and ships were needed. Mr Forde said that the position m Egypt was causing great concern, and that the war was going against Russia. Important discussions affecting the future plans in the South-west Pacific have taken place between the Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin) and General MacArthur. No official statement was made, but it is understood that one matter discussed was the likelihood of Japan’s southern bases being attacked from Australia. Official quarters have shown an increasing tendency to anticipate Japanese moves bv an early offensive on enemy-occupied territory ‘ close to Australia.

Apart from giving the Allied forces here better jumping off places for the greater offensive which must eventually come, it is believed that a determined show of force by a direct attack against limited objectives in the Pacific theatre might heln to discourage Japan from attacking Russia’s eastern frontiers.

RISE IN COST OF LIVING CANBERRA, Julv 22. The cost of living in Australia has risen 17.9 since the outbreak. Percentage increases in capital cities are: Sydney 17.5, Melbourne 18.7, Brisbane 17.8, Adelaide 18.6, Perth 16.5, Hobart 18. The cost of living has risen rapidly in the oast 12 months, because at June 30, 1941, it was up only 9.2 on pre-war figures. Clothing is up 53.7 per cent.; food 11.4: rents, 9 per cent; miscellaneous items, including tobacco and household articles 14.4 per cent.