160,000 RECRUITED

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

160,000 RECRUITED

REDUCTION ADVOCATED BUILDING UP PRODUCTION (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The opinion that New Zealand should reduce its commitments in the Pacific and bring some of the men serving there back to New Zealand was expressed by Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford) during the manpower debate in the House of Representatives to-day. He said he was satisfied that the war would last a considerable time yet and might even last for years. "We have in this country rushed our fences and mobilised our resources on the basis'of a four-year war," said Mr. Poison. "We have already taken all the manpower we can usefully absorb and the war is not nearly over. We have recruited over 160,000 fighting men and that is a terrible impost for a country of this size to carry." Mr. Poison said that production was declining rapidly and should be built up. This was vitally important. A large number of men in the army would be better employed in industry. It would be all to the good if there could be a citizens' array whieh_ could be mobilised at a moment's notice, but he thought the Home Guard should he welded into this army. STATEMENT DENIED POSITION IN TWELVE MONTHS HON. A. HAMILTON'S VIEWS (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday "I think one of the greatest things about New Zealand's war effort is that we got in in time," said the Minister in charge of War Expenditure, the Hon. A. Hamilton, in the manpower debate in the House to-night. "The supreme effort we made when Japan entered the war is likely to have had a powerful influence on the coursp of the war in the Pacific." Mr. Hamilton denied a statement by Mr. J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour— Grey Lynn*) to the effect that the Dominion would be at the end of its manpower tether in 12 months. The House should offer an alternative to the present proposals if it were dissatisfied. but. lie had heard none offered. The House seemed to be agreed that the Middle East Division should remain where it was. A Government Member: For tho meantime. Mr. Hamilton: Everything is In the meantime. The criticism seems to centre in the Pacific force. Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition— Stratford): Not so much about the Pacific force, but that we are sending too many men overseas. Continuing. Mr. Hamilton said New Zealand's contribution in the Pacific had helped this country to readjust its manpower distribution within the Dominion. New Zealand could do what was proposed in the plans before the House and he thought also maintain ifr> production. PAPAKURA BURGLARIES Burglars were active in Papakura in the early hours of yesterday morning. Mr. X. Clew's bairdressing and tobacconist shop was broken into, but the thieves were disappointed, as there were 110 tobacco stocks on the premises. An entry was also gained into the garage of Mimro Motors in Broadway, where about two gallons of petrol was taken from a car. The till, which was empty, was broken open.