The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1945. New Zealand’s Part

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 4

The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1945. New Zealand’s Part

ALTHOUGH there may still be some duties for the Dominion’s Armed Forces to discharge, New Zealand’s fighting part in the war has ended and this is an appropriate occasion to consider what the men and women of this country have accomplished during the past six years. It is a matter of pride for the people of the Dominion to recall that they were gallantly represented in every fighting service and in every theatre of the war. The British Prime Minister, in his message to New' Zealand at the conclusion of the Japanese war, said truthfully that New Zealand had proved her title to nationhood. Whatever lay within the pow'er of the people was done and it was done to the limit of human ability. This nagnificent effort, which resulted in the wounding of some 18,000 New Zealaders and the death of approximately 10,000 others, was the effort of a whole people united in the single-purposed resolve to repel the enemies of freedom. No section of the people can say that it contributed any more than another, and the Government has no title to claim special honour for what was exclusively a national effort and a national sacrifice. The Government administered the war effort of the people and it did no more, and Was expected to do no more, than find the means of expressing the war will of a united people. The cost of the war, materially and physically, has been gravely heavy; the country has had substantial financial burdens to carry and this part of the price of war and victory will affect national economy for many years to come. However, such disorganisation will be corrected in the end, but there can be no reparation for the loss of 10,000 lives. Among the dead are men who could have become the country s leaders in industry, business and government. Many, indeed, had already proved their talents in civic leadership before they were called to bear arms. Their absence in the coming period of readjustment and reconstruction will be severely felt, but in their selfless sacrifice they have left a legacy which will inspire those who are to fill the gap they have left in national life.

In his recent Budget statement the Minister of Finance gave some statistics which explained in simple form the demand which the war had made upon New Zealand manpower. At the end of 1940 one man out of every five between the ages of 19 and 45 was in the Armed Forces. A year later that proportion had increased to one in three and by the end of 1942 more than two out of every five were serving. Since the beginning of the war more than 134,000 men and women had gone overseas, 98,000 being with the Army, 30,000 with the Air Force and 6000 with the Navy. New Zealanders fought in the Battle of Britain; they fought as far south as the Solomons; their deeds in Greece, Crete and North Africa embellished the great national tradition established on the beaches of Gallipoli. Their part in the Italian campaign has been praised without qualification by successive leaders of the Eighth Army. In the field, in the air and at sea New Zealand has been as generously represented as the manpower resources of the country would allow, but at the same time it was necessary for the production of the country to be increased in every way. Unfamiliar industries had to be established to provide materials /for war when the Dominion stood under a direct threat of invasion. This industrial improvisation imposed a strain, but it was satisfactorily accomplished. The well-established farming industries had to meet unprecedented demands, not only to provide food for the people of Great Britain bul also to maintain in part the large United States Forces in the Pacific, The records of the past six years show that no matter where the call was made there were New Zealanders ready to answer it. Other countries did as well; others had to endure more during the war, but that need not prevent New Zealanders frotr taking an honest pride in what the) have done. A kindly verdict frorr history on all scores in the pasl world-shaking years can be antici pated. It was fitting in the nationa celebration of victory yesterday ir Wellington that the Leader of the

Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, should have mentioned the war leadership of the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser has had personal responsibility for the administration of the national war effort almost from the beginning of hostilities. When war broke out the late Mr Savage was already failing in health and the burden, therefore, fell upon Mr Fraser from the start. As a war leader Mr Fraser was justly entitled to the universal respect he has won. He devoted himself exclusively to the great tasks which pressed upon him and there must have been times when he had to make great and lonely decisions. As a war leader he has been a good servant of all the people. It should not be. forgotten either that his presence in Egypt saved many New Zealanders in Crete from falling into enemy hands. He persuaded the Royal Navy to make a perilous return journey from Egypt when the undertaking was no longer thought practicable. There are other stories which may be told later, but in the meantime, even without further revelations, it can be seen that Mr Fraser laboured faithfully as the leader of a country at war and fighting for its life.