PACIFIC CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24776, 28 November 1941, Page 4

PACIFIC CRISIS

DEFENCE OF DOMINION AIR FdRCE STRENGTH ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER "Thanks to the understanding of the leaders of Great. Britain, because they appreciate our problems, our request for bombers was agreed to, and if the war spreads to the Pacific"we have an Air Force that vMI be able to give a very good account of itself against the kind of attack from the sea that our service chiefs envisage," said the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, during the course of an address on New Zealand's war effort to the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The Prime Minister also said it was obvious from press reports that Britain was now able to reinrorce her naval strength in the Pacific. " Our war effort in this country is handicapped," Mr Fraser said, "by a lack of the basic industry of iron.and steel. Efforts have been made to explore the possibilities of the steel industry here. If it were a period of lasting peace there would not be the same justification for doing it, but the possibility of our being cut off, even from Australia, makes it necessary. We will develop the industry as much as we can. and in the meantime we will experiment with the iron sand deposits. If these can be used at some future time it will be of very great advantage. Not having that basic industry, we cannot develop our armament, manufactures to the extent that we would like to do." .Mr Fraser gave details of the strength of New Zealand's forces, both overseas and in the Dominion, and referred to the problem of man-power for industry caused by the withdrawal of men for service in the fighting forces. He also spoke of the part being played by commerce and industry throughout the country in the Dominion's war effort, and said that, as there was much they could do to help further, the Government would not hesitate to call on them. He pointed out that on his visit to Britain he had been assured of the United. Kingdom Government's appreciation of the effort which the Dominion was making, and added that there was no limit to would like to do to help the Mother Country. The president of the chamber, Mr S. Lawn, introduced the Prime Minister, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.