NEEDS IN PACIFIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24535, 18 March 1943, Page 4

NEEDS IN PACIFIC

.REQUESTS TO DOMINION ' COMBAT FORCE ISSUE I (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday < The opinion that the difficulties in regard to manpower would decrease during the coming year was expressed by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. ; D. G. Sullivan, during the manpower debate in the House of Representatives 1 to-day. He said that by the end of the year there would be a net increase in manpower and womanpower available for industry. Mr. Sullivan said there had been no effective criticism of the policy of the 1 Government, or of the War Cabinet. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G, Holland, had made some vague generalities, but he had not suggested any alternative policy that could have been followed. Decision Regarding Division At a recent session, the Minister continued, it was revealed that there had been certain correspondence between the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. P. Eraser, and Mr. Churchill exploring the question of the return of the division in the Middle East. On that occasion the House made it perfectly clear that it wanted the division to remain in the Middle East. The Government and the War Cabinet accepted the decision of the House and acted accordingly. Mr. Sullivan said he could not speak for the Prime Minister, but he assumed that if the House decided that New Zealand should take no part in regard to a combat force in the Pacific the Government and the War Cabinet would have no alternative but to abide by that decision. If would be an impossible attitude for New Zealand to suggest that it should not fight in the Pacific. Mr. Holland: I never suggested such a thing. Mr. Sullivan: There has been nothing from the Opposition to indicate what it considered should be this country's attitude in regard to the Pacific. Role of Pacific Force Mr. W. A. Bodkin (OppositionCentral Otago): When did you decide to enlarge the force? Mr. J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour — Grey Lynn): We have lost the power of government, in this House. The Minister said that New Zealand, was asked by the commander of the South Pacific" area, in accordance with, an arrangement previously _ made, to lent! assistance at certain points in the Pacific. Then there was a further request regarding the necessity for conversion from garrison to combat troops. He would not like it to be thought that a request by the American authorities for military assistance in the Pacific was tantamount to a command, Mr. Sullivan said. The facts were that New Zealand forces could not be used outside the Dominion except with the consent of the Government. When requests were received they were considered by the War Cabinet after all the facts were submitted and sometimes after members of the War Cabinet and representatives of the fighting forces had had consultations with the Americans in the Pacific. A decision was then finally made on the basis tll'at the struggle in the Pacific was New Zealand's as much as that of her Allies. A Suggestion Denied The requests so far made had been so compelling that Mr. Sullivan did not think that any four or five members of the House, haviug had the facts put before them, would have arrived at any : other decision than that reached 'by the War Cabinet from time to time. "Would it be the wish of Parliament and the country that we should rely entirely on our Allies to light the war in rthe Pacific for us?" asked Mr. Sullivan. Opposition Members: There has • never been any suggestion of that. Government Interjectors: Oh, yes, there has to-day. Continuing, Mr. Sullivan said that ,if New Zealand took no part in the Pacific its position would be untenable at the peace table. Air. W. S. Goosman (Opposition— Waikato): The Pacific and Africa are one battle. * Air. Sullivan: It is one battle, but is it possible for any member of the 'House to convince himself that we should not send men into the Pacific? Mr. F. L. Frost (Government —New Plymouth): If Japan had come in first we would not have had a division in North Africa. Mr Goosman: That is a good argument. Mr. Sullivan replied that if Parliament said it was not New Zealand's job to help defend the Pacific, but was the job of her Allies, the House was ! entitled to say so, but he was satisfied 1 that it was not the wish either of Parliament or of the people or New Zealand to desert the Pacific, which was the nearest theatre of war to the Dominion's shores. Mr. Sullivan's Admission "Speaking for myself, I agree that , the manpower situation cannot con- , tinue as it is for very long," said Mr. I Sullivan. "If it became necessary we , might have to ask the British and ' United States authorities what they think should be done." Mr Lee: Is it not time to tell them what we think should he done? The Minister said that the Government had told the British and United States Governments all the time what it thought should be done. "1 want to remove any impression in the most definite manner possible that we simply do what we are told," added Mr. Sullivan. "When we deal ; with the British and American Govern- ) ments we put our case to them and 1 thev put theirs to us. Nothing is treated lightly or casually and there i is nothing like a suggestion that they have only to command and we to . obev."

DOMINION LAW SOCIETY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Now Zealand Law Society, at it annual meeting to-dnv, elected Mr, H K. O'Learv. K.C., of Wellington, presi dent, and Sir. A. H. Johnstone, K.C. of Auckland, vice-president.