SISTER DOMINION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24759, 6 December 1943, Page 2

SISTER DOMINION

INTEREST IN PACIFIC FEELING IN CANADA MUTUAL All) SUPPLIES "Tremendous interest is taken by the Canadian people in New Zealand," state Mr. A. R. Ford, leader of the Canadian Press Delegation which arrived in New Zealand on Saturday. "The interest started during the last war, in which Canadians and New Zealanders fought side by side. They got along well together then and are doing so again. "Thousands of New Zealand airmen have been training in Canada and they have made a most favourable impression. Everybody likes the New ZeaJariders,'' added Mr. Ford, who said there had been a great many New Zealanders stationed near his home city, London (Ontario). Future Pacific Activities "For these reasons and the fact that we are really a Pacific l'ower, the Canadians are keenly interested in the war against Japan,'' he continued. "It is our war as well as yours." The despatch of Canadian troops to the Pacific war had already been advocated in the Canadian Parliament. Although Canada was committed to the European war at present, it had lost troops at Hongkong and had participated with the Americans in the expedition _to the i Aleutian Islands. Hard lighting had been expected in the Aleutians, but the Japanese got out. Mr. Ford expressed the view that before the war was over Canadians would be fighting side by side with the New Zenlanders and Australians in the Pacific. Fie would like to see Canadian troops coming to New Zealand, even if at first it was only a small force, to . demonstrate thp Canadians' recognition of fhe bonds uniting the sister Dominions. Conditions After War "After the war, the nations of the Pacific will have to get their feet under the same table and work their problems," Mr. Ford said. "We will have to study ways and means of raising the standard of living of the Asiatic peoples. There should bo vast economic possibilities in the Pacific." Popular feeling in Canada was overwhelmingly in favour of remaining part of t lie British Commonwealth of Nations, he said. This opinion was shared by the other delegates, who said the French Canadians were strongly in support of the Commonwealth. Discussing lend-lease, the delegates "aid tliev preferred thu term used by Canada—"mutual aid." Canada would provide help when and where it was needed. "There is no dollar sign on mutual aid." said Mr. B. T Richardson. a member of the delegation. It reciprocity was not practicable, then it (would be a gift. Mutual aid was already ! operating in the Pacific, Canada, in addition to its supplies to Britain and North Africa, having sent much equipnient to the South-east Asia command. ! Mr. Richardson said he did not know | what arrangements had been made with 1 New Zealand for mutual aid. but the i official attitude in Canada was to give where there was a need to bo filled. HUGE WHEAT SURPLUS CANADIAN FOOD SUPPLIES In order to increase Britain's supplies of meat and dairy produce, Canada's [ wheat acreage had been reduced by 11,000,000 acres and yet, in 1942, there I had been a record harvest, stated Mr. [H. T. Richardson, a member of the Canadian Press Delegation which arrived in Auckland on Saturday. Before the war the maximum area in grain had reached 28.000,000 acres and it was i now 17,000,000. It was estimated that l the present wheat surplus amounted to about 1,000.000,000 bushels. I There had been a great increase jn j the production of pigs, which had been I extended to the western provinces, such :is Alberta and Saskatchewan, where I formerly wheat was the basic product. ; These changes had created difficult ; problems, but those were part of the | war effort. CHEWING GUM VICTIM CAUSE OF BOY'S DEATH CORONER ISSUES WARNING (0.C.) HAMILTON, Sunday A rider that parents and teachers should warn children of the danger of playing games requiring violent exertion while holding anything in the mouth was added to the verdict of accidental death returned at the inquest, held by Mr. S. L. Paternon, S.M., coroner, into the death of Patrick Joseph Dillon, aged 11, the son of Mr. S. M. Dillon, of Tristram Street, Hamilton. Evidence was given that while the deceased was playing a game at St. Columba's Convent School, Frankton, on November 26, a piece of chewing gum obstructed the windpipe anu caused asphyxiation. FALL FROM A TRAM LITTLE GIRL INJURED A girl. Pauline Mutu, aged 4, daughj t-er of Mrs. B. Mutu, of Hastie Avenue, S Mangere, suffered concussion when she : fell from a tramcar near Mangere | Bridge, in Onehunga, last night. She was admitted to the Auckland Hospital, her condition last night being serious. ACCIDENTALLY SHOT MEMBER OF SHOOTING PARTY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sunday A member of a shooting party in the bush at the back of Wainui-o-Mata was accidentally shot this morning. His name has not been ascertained and details of the accident are not yet known. A message was received this afternoon by the police that the other members of the party had been unable to get the man out of the bush and were exhausted. They asked for assistance, including a doctor, to be sent. A rescue party left Lower Hutt at I 7 p.m., but no word had been received from it up to a late hour. THE PRIME MINISTER RETURNS HOME TO-DAY (0.C.) WELLINGTON. Sunday The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Eraser, will return home from a private hospital to-morrow. Mr. Eraser first entered hospital some weeks ago, and later returned home, but last Friday week he re-entered the hospital for further special treatment. His health has shown steady improvement and in the past few days he has been able to attend to important matters when consulted. E.F.S. PERSONNEL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sunday In view of the continued improvement in the war situation, it is now possible to modify the service requirements of the Emergency Eire Service personnel in line with those laid down for the Home Guard, announced the Minister of Civil Defence, the Hon. D. Wilson. Except at Auckland, where special conditions make it necessary meantime to maintain the billeting system, the E.F.S. is now being placed on the reserve, but the organisation will remain in being and the personnel required to turn out for fires of emergency nature and to parade once a quarter for kit inspection. Further relaxation of conditions will permit the use of sirens for fire purposes and use at, industrial plants by the authority of E.P.S. controllers.