THE WAR EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24716, 19 September 1941, Page 4

THE WAR EFFORT

The people of New Zealand have more than once in the past few days been authoritatively reminded that it is important that there shall be no slackening of their war effort. The tremendous struggle in which the German and Russian armies are engaged must be involving both sides in very heavy losses in men and material. In order that they may be enabled to sustain the magnificent resistance with which they are meeting the invaders, the Russians must be afforded all the assistance that Great Britain and the United States can afford them in the form of tanks, planes and munitions of all kinds. But the provision of reserves of munitions for the British and Empire armies must not be neglected. Whatever the outcome of the fighting before Leningrad, Kiev, and Odessa may be, the Nazis will still possess a formidable fighting machine which may be hurled against us on one or more fronts. For, while the threat against Great Britain and the Empire must have been weakened through the miscalculation on Herr Hitler’s part of the spirit and strength of Russia, it has not been withdrawn and it would be foolish-to regard it. lightly. Nor is the war situation as it directly affects Australia and New Zealand one that can be viewed with complacency. The Prime Minister has told us,,indeed, since his return from Great Britain and the United States, that it is “ extremely critical.” He could hardly have used an expression of graver import. In circumstances such as these there is every justification for Mr Adam Hamilton’s warning, in a broadcast address this week, that a continued maximum effort is still urgently required. It was, perhaps, rather unfortunate that Mr Fraser should have suggested in his speech at Wellington on Tuesday night that the energy with which New Zealand had carried on her war effort had not been excelled in any other Dominion. He may thus encourage people in this country to imagine that they are doing as much as is needed of them or as might be expected of them. It were better to recognise that there arc hundreds, if not thousands, of men and women in this country who have as yet made very little sacrifice and that they have certainly not put forward any maximum effort. To them Mr Hamilton’s appeal may be addressed with peculiar appropriateness: “ What about it? What about your bit? Can your help be extended just a little more? Your country needs it.”