EMPIRE SUPPORT
ALL RACES IN BURMA GIFTS TO WAR FUND THE ROAD TO CHINA The whole-hearted support which all races in Burma were giving to the Empire's war effort was referred to yesterday by Sir Ernest Roberts, Chief Justice of the High Court in Burma, who arrived by the Monterey from Sydney on a short holiday visit to New Zealand.
Sir Ernest said the war donations fund had been supported not only by Europeans but also by the Burmese and by Indians. Contributions had also been made by the native rulers of the Shan States bordering China. The total received Was very large.
Arrangements were being made to ensure a form of conscription among Europeans and to enable the Burmese themselves to serve, said Sir Ernest. A new Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve had been formed and there was to be a Burma squadron in the Royal Air Force.
Owing to his position, Sir Ernest said he was unable to comment upon the temporary closing of the Burma Road to China following negotiations with Japan. It was, of interest to note, however, that during the three months covered by the agreement, which concluded next month, little traffic could use the road in any case, as it was the rainy season. .The road into China began from the railhead at Lachio, 636 miles from Rangoon, and skirted ravines and gorges on a mountainous course into the heart of Yunnan, in China. The building of a railway .through this territory would be extremely costly, but the road had been constructed in about 18 months, tens of thousands of coolies being employed to rush the work through. Work had been completed about two years ago and Sir Ernest said that in April of last year ho had seen not only British, French and Russian military supplies being transported through to China, but also equipment from Germany and Italy. Sir Ernest was appointed to the post of Chief .Justice from the English Bar about four years ago. Between 1024 and 1929 he was a Conservative member of the House of Commons for Flintshire.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23769, 24 September 1940, Page 9
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348EMPIRE SUPPORT New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23769, 24 September 1940, Page 9
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