NEW ZEALAND REINFORCEMENTS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14893, 16 October 1918, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND REINFORCEMENTS.

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME

MINISTER,

Referring at Auckland to the sugges-' tion that now that America has come, mto the war New Zealand should relax : its efforts and either greatly reduce its reinforcements or cease sending soldiers. altogether, Mr Massoy said-: "I should like to say that unless in a crisis such as occurred- last March the Government do not want to send more than necessary to sufficiently reinforce our troops already in tlio fighting-line, but I think for New Zealand or any one of the Dominions to slacken off would be a very serious mistake I understand the proposal was that New Zealand could do its duty sufficiently by producing food for the Allied armies, but if until the end of the war we were to depend upon America for our soldiers it would mean that all our ships would be required to carry troops and munitions, and we should'bo left with our-produce'on our hands. As Minister in charge of the Imperial Supplies Department, I have done my best to securo a sufficient supply of ships in order to got our products' away and keep the commerce of the country going, and I think not unsuccessfully, but 1 cannot possibly guarantee that the supply of ships for. the present season will, be equal to last year. All I can say is that,, taking the requirements of the war into consideration, the British Ministry of Shipping will do its best for us, and I believe the position will impi'oye steadily, but notlrapidly as compared with the last few menths. The Imperial authorities thoroughly understand the1 importance of sufficient ships for the Australasian trade, and nothing but the most urgent necessity will keep them away from us. While I have confidence in the Shipping Ministry there are Departments of State in Britain with which I am riot so well satisfied In the handling of our products, and it may be necessary to ask Parliament to set up a special Commission to go into the whole question' so that the public may understand some of the difficulties with, which we are being called upon to deal."