DOMINION FORCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24539, 23 March 1943, Page 4

DOMINION FORCES

ACTIVITIES IN WAE UNITS IN THE PACIFIC (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, March 20 In the course of a press confeience at Cairo, the New Zealand Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, referred to the co-operation existing between Australia and New Zealand. "We have always had a tie with Australia and it was developed and strengthened during the last war, he said. "The name 'Anzac' will live for ail time,, The closest relationship and the greatest co-operation exists between the countries as well as between their soldiers." "The New Zealanders have done very valuable work in the South Pacific, Mr. Jones said. "Those in New Caledonia are doing garrison work and the training they are getting will certainly prepare them for the time when they will go into the forward areas. Certain Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons took part in the battle in the Solomons area and had done a splendid job. Part of the Navy "So far as the New Zealand Navy is concerned, of oidy two cruisers and three corvettes, two corvettes took part in the sinking of one of the largest Japanese submarines quite recently. The part played by the Achilles in the battle of the River Plate is well known. Then you must consider the work of the convoys and of the thousands of troops sent from Zealand, and from other countries. The New Zealand cruisers played their part in this great work alongside the ships ot the Australian Navv. "On the way to Cairo," said Mr. Jones, "I spent some time in the United States and met many prominent leaders there and everywhere I heard very favourable comments on our forces and the part we are playing in the war effort. "The full production of the country has been maintained," said Mr. Jones. "Americans going into the South Pacific require vast quantities of foodstuffs and have placed large contracts with the New Zealand Government. Our production at home has saved shipping enormously. We have tried everywhere to improve the conditions of the fighting forces and the Government is also attacking the job of rehabilitation." No Immigration Plan In reply to a question about increasing the population after the war by immigration, Mr. Jones said: "We have not considered the question of immigration after hostilities. When one considers the New Zealanders married since they have been in Britain and the number'of engagements and marriages since the Americans came to New Zealand, I do not think there will be much of a problem to worry about. Some of these certainly will want to stay in New Zealand after the war or come to New Zealand to live." To a finaj question regarding the Maoris, Mr. Jones said he was very pleased mention had been made of this fine race of people, which was treated in the same way as the pakehas. They had certainly justified their inclusion in the fighting forces of New Zealand. LABOUR FROM ARMY GARNERING WHEAT CROPS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday Details of the scheme to provide from the army tractor drivers and teamsters for the" cultivation of wheat crops were announced to-dav by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in speaking to a meeting of Wheat Committee representatives. Appealing for a maximum response from wheatgrowers, Mr. Sullivan said that it had' been emphasised that the lack of suitable labour was the principal difficulty and he had given the matter much thought. The scheme for harvest labour had worked quite satisfactorily and he could assure committee members that the farmers need have no anxiety about garnering next season's grain. Labour for cultivation presented a different problem, lie said, but he had in the morning discussed the scheme with representatives of the army and the National Service Department and lie was sure that arrangements now made for labour for cultivation would work just as satisfactorily as those for the harvest. "Under the scheme arrived at between us this morning," the Minister said, "the army and the National Service Department have definitely assured me that all the farmer has now to do is to apply to the district manpower officer, either direct or through any member of the Primary Production Council district committee and tractor drivers and teamsters will be promptly found from the armed forces by the National Service Department and directed to wheatgrowing. Wheatgrowers will definitely be given priority." WHITE MILLING OATS ACTION BY GOVERNMENT (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday The Government's intention to absorb all surplus white milling oats was also announced to-day by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. Millers have not yet filled their requirements and it is uncertain what these might be, because military orders for the year are not finalised. The Minister said: "The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, has agreed that his department will accept surplus oats. How these will be taken over will be notified to farmers as early as possible." COCOA LEFT TO ROT SAMOA'S LABOUR SHORTAGE (0.C.) APIA, March 2 In order to overcome labour shortage the management of the New Zealand Reparation Estates has secured a number of Nine Islanders to work 011 the plantations but, so far, the supply of workers is not equal to the demand. It is understood that labour for plantations is available from another source but transport is the difficulty. Local labour cannot be induced to take up field work. Several coolies have been prosecuted and sentenced to short terms of imprisonment for deserting their legal employment. There lias been a splendid cocoa crop but a large quantity had to rot on the trees as it could not be harvested. In no single instance is a planter getting his quota of coolie labour and often only one man is available where four or live could be employed. Considering the present market price for Samoa cocoa the loss of production amounts to a considerable sum. HOSPITAL COSTS Advice that the Government could not, in face of commitments for war purposes, undertake to increase the contribution of Government funds toward the cost of hospital and associated services was received by the Aucklahd Hospital Board last night from the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon P. Eraser. However, the Government had agreed to meet full costs of treatment of patients from the armed services.