CANADA AND THE WAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22934, 3 July 1944, Page 4

CANADA AND THE WAR

Great Industrial Changes

Problems To Overcome

In a broadcast talk last night, the Hon. D. Wilson, High Commissioner for New Zealand in Canada, spoke of the great industrial changes which had taken place in Canada since the commencement of the war. New factories had everywhere sprung up, and this land of 12,000,000 people was now producing guns, small arms, and munitions of all kinds. Her army had been increased from a few thousand soldiers to half a million well-equipped men who had distinguished themselves in France and Italy. The Canadian Navy had been increased to such an extent that it was now the third largest Navy amongst the Allied nations.

The speaker said he was thrilled and surprised at the extent of the size, equipment and splendid recreational facilities of the Canadian air trainingschools. “That they are turning out splendid airmen is proved by the fighting- records of the airmen trained at them,” observed Mr Wilson.

Everywhere he went, said Mr Wilson, he found the people most interested in New Zealand, and they were particularly anxious to know more about our Social Security system. Their Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, was popular with all classes. He was keen to learn about this Dominion; lie showed an unusual grasp of the problems facing this country, and had a high opinion of our own Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. “This country has its own great problems to overcome, but they are facing up to them, and I have no doubt that they will overcome them in the future,” said Mr Wilson.

Mr Wilson said he considered that Canada would stand out as one of the great links in the chain of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and he hoped more people would endeavour to visit this country in order to appreciate for themselves the vastness of its territory. It was 34 times the size of New Zealand, but had only eight times the population of this Dominion. In the post-war period it should be as easy to visit Canada as it previously was to visit Australia.

“Canada is young in hope but old in experience, and this great Dominion, as well as New Zealand, will have Io strive to put into operation the principles enunciated in the Atlantic Charter to make a better world for the common people.” declared Mr Wilson.