DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS

DUNEDIN. March 23.

“Lest any) should think that in th e hours of New Zealand's danger Britain ignored the Dominion’s peril.” said Sir Harrv Batterbee. High Commissioner for Britain in New Zealand, in an address to-day, “it can now oe made public that at this time last year Mr. Churchill informed the Prime Minister of New Zealand that thei assumption by our allies of tb. e charge of operations in the Paeihc would not be regarded by the British Government as in any wav absolving Britain from her determination and duty to come to the aid of New Zea : land to the best of her ability and that if New Zealand was actually invaded in force the British Government would do its utmost to diveit British troops and British ships to her succour.”

N.Z. TROOPS' NEWSPAPER.

WELLINGTON, March 24.

The first issue of “Kiwi,” the name given to the New Zealand tioops own newnaoer in the Pacific area, was published on March 10. It comprised four pages of world, New Zealand, and local news, also comment on world events and messages from tbe Prime Minister and others expessing good wishes for the success of the paper and the Kiwi Force in the Pacific. The printing plant for the paper was purchased by the National Patriotic Fund Board and shipped from New Zealand. The Army Education and. Welfare Service is responsible for the production. The paper is entirely hand-set ana has been established in the face oi some difficulty. Most of the fittings and furniture of the printing and editorial offices had to be made from packing cases. Much of the machinery was damaged in transit; a good deal of small type was lost, and the rest was so thoroughly pied that all hanas. from the O.C down, 'had to spend days of monotonous sorting. Local items in the first issue include a description of the first show given m the open air by a mobile cinema presented by the R.S.A Fi ms for this nlant are being provided through tne Patriotic Fund Board, which is also all maintenance costs-