BURMA SUCCESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24832, 2 March 1944, Page 6

BURMA SUCCESS

INDIAN SATISFACTION

INTENTIONS OF ENEMY CAUTIOUS NOTE SOUNDIJD (Heed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 29 The successful outcome of the first engagement of consequence fought in Burma by troops of the Southeast Asia Command has made an impression in India, but it is not an occasion for too much shouting, says the New Delhi correspondent of the Times. The Arakan battle is but one incident on a frontier stretching hundreds of miles. General Stilwell, with his Chinese, has delved deep into northern Burma and is there fighting in the Chindwin Valley at the end of a long and geographically vulnerable line of communications.

Future operations in Arakan itself are speculative. It is thought the Japanese made their major effort here for the season, but one cannot be sure. Tho possibility cannot bo excluded that the Japanese, who have not concealed their anxiety to plant their standard at some point on Indian soil, will repeat their offensive on some part of the Arakan front where they can bo defeated only by very stout combined air and ground effort. However, as a result of tho outcome of the Arakan battle, the South-east Asia Command can await developments with considerable confidence. The battle has shown that superior air power can largely offset the Japanese advantage of superior mobility in jungle country. During the last 24 hours mopping-up operations have continued successfully in the areas east of the Mayu Range, states a South-east Asia communique. East of the Mavu Range there are now struggling parties of Japatfese trying desperately to find their way past our patrols back to their own lines. Enemy dead were officially reported to number 1500. During the recent Arakan battle over 500 British casualties were evacuated from the Mayu Range by air taxi service, savs Reuter's New Delhr correspondent. The casualties were brought out by British Fox Moths and American Stinsons. Pilots made several flights a day and sometimes flew six and seven hours daily. Forward troops sav that the rescue craft were the biggest factor in keeping up morale. PRODUCTION DECLINE DAIRY COUNCIL TO MEET

SOLUTION TO BE SOUGHT (P A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The New Zealand Dairy Board decided to-day that in view of the many serious problems of the dairy industry at the moment, and particularly because of the continued fall in dairy production, a meeting of the Dairy Industry Council should be held as early in March as possible. The council, which is composed of members of the Dairy Board and representatives of the National Dairy federation, South Island Dairy Association and the New Zealand Fanners Union, will consider what measures are necessary to overcome the downward trend in dairy production. While it is generally recognised that the shortage of manpower for dairy farms is the greatest single factor, other aspects will also be discussed, including the necessity (1) to take specific action to attract efficient labour to dairy farms; (2) to hold that labour and the present labour on dairy farms; (3) to prevent any further reduction in the number of dairy farmers; and (4) if possible to attract dairy farmers who have swung away into other primary industries back into dairying. These matters will necessitate a full discussion of the continued great disparity between the labour rewards of those' working in primary industries and those engaged in other types of indlistry. That there is serious and growing unrest among dairy producers has been evidenced by meetings held recently in several different dairying districts. The Dairy Board considers that by calling together the Dairy Industry Council unanimity on measures to meet these various issues will be reached within the industry.

140,000 HOUSES WANTED LONG-TERM PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS FOR 15 YEARS (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Government's housing policy had been planned in three phases, said Mr. P. G. Connolly (Government —Dunedin West), in opening the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-night. These were building activities for the war period, for the first three years of the post-war period, and a longterm programme of 15 years. It was estimated that the SOOO building operatives when transferred back to normal activities would be able to build 5000 houses a year for the remainder of the war period. For the first year of the three-year term, the Government planned to build 8000 houses, for the next year 10,000, and for the third year 12,000. It was estimated, judging by the 1936 level of private building, that another 'IOOO houses would he erected in that fashion. It was calculated that by 1958 the population of the Dominion would have increased to 1,850,000. Taking the number of persons to a house on an average of 3.7, we should require about 500.000 houses. The position to-day was that we had about 400.000 houses, so that in the 15-year period we should have to built about 3 00,000 to accommodate our population. It was also t estimated that in that time 40,000 houses would have to be replaced. and so the total requirements over the 15 years would involve the construction of 9100 houses every year.

LABOUR FOR BUILDING TRANSFERS OPPOSED (1> A.) NELSON. Wednesday ■ The Dominion conference of the New Zealand Federation of Master Builders this morning strongly opposed, on behalf of constituent associations, the transference of labour from country and other districts for the building of State houses in Wellington, while there was ample urgent incomplete work in hand both for the State and private ownership in those localities. STOCKHOLM BOMBING SOVIET REJECTS PROTEST (Herd. 8.10 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, March 1 The Soviet Government has rejected the Swedish protest about the bombing of Stockholm on the night of February 22, saying that no Russian planes flew over Stockholm on that night. The Soviet Note adds that the bombs were apparently dropped by German or Finnish planes as a provocation. A cablegram published on February 24 stated that an unidentified plane coining in from.the east had dropped bombs on Stockholm on the night of February 22. An unconfirmed report stated that a Russian bomber crashed near Stockholm. A message published on the following day said an investigation had established that the bombs were of Russian origin. It was stated that the Swedish Government was issuing a protest to the Soviet Union.