PROUD RECORD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26113, 28 March 1946, Page 6

PROUD RECORD

NEW ZEALAND. IN WAR REVIEW BY MINISTER The fact that, during the war, no fewer than 450,000 men had been organised one way or another to serve in the defence of the Dominion was referred to by the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, when addressing the New Zealand Motor Body Builders’ Conference in Dunedin yesterday. “ There is no need for me to recount the difficulties suffered by your industry and related industries during the long years of war,” the Minister said. “ Rather let me congratulate the employers and the workers on the splendid way in which they overcame many handicaps and succeeded in making a valuable contribution to New Zealand’s war effort. We can all look back with pride on the achievements of our people during those fateful years.” It now seemed almost incredible, Mr Jones added, that a country so small in population could have done so much in all fields of service, both in New Zealand and overseas. ” Altogether close, orii 135,000 men gave notable service overseas,” he said, “ and at one period, when the threat from Japan was most menacing, we had 170,000 men mobilised in New Zealand. In addition, the Home Guard mustered 124,000 and there were 160,000 in the E.P.S. Thus it can be shown that at that time there were some 450,000 men organised to serve in the defence of their country. The women also played a magnificent part, at home and overseas. More than 8000 young women were in the services and another 78,000 were organised for a multitude of duties under the W.W.S.A. , t ‘‘l recall these facts,” the Minister concluded, “so that none of us should ever forget the strength, the courage, and the very high level of achievement of tbe New Zealand services and of the people who, in the more humdrum fields of service, achieved records of production in field and factory.”