EQUIPPING FORCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 67, 20 March 1942, Page 3

EQUIPPING FORCES

PRIME MINISTER REPLIES NEED OF NATIONAL CONTROL Hamilton, March 17. In reply to resolutions passed at a j public meeting in Hamilton in coni neclion with the "Awake New Zealand” campaign, the Prime Minister, 1 the Rt. Hon, P. Fraser, has written ; to the Hamilton Chamber of Cum- | merce, assuring the careful attention of the Government. j Mr. Fraser said the War Cabinet and the Army. N.ivy and Air Force were leaving no stone unturned to have the country 'Lilly armed and equipped. Nothing was gained by the foolish assumptions by some people that nothing was being done or being done right. From recent i statements by Mr. Churchill in the House of Commons, and Lord Stra- | bolgi in the House of Lords, it was plain that the British Home Guard | was not nearly adequately armed. ‘ Mr. Churchill talked of pikes and I Lord Strabolgi of knuckle-dusters— I and that in the Old Country after two and a-half years of war. "It is not possible to overcome immediately the obstacles of time ana material," added Mr. Fraser. "Every effort is being made to utilise the country’s resources to the full. Then the United Kingdom and the United States are doing their best to ”■* I strengthen our defence equipment, i and with marked results. The diffi- ' culties New Zealand is experiencing | are similar to those confronting Aus- ! tralia and other democratic countries I involved. | "Any suggestions for the improvement of our arms position from any | source will be gratefully received I and thoroughly examined, but al! ; measures taken in the matter of arms j and equipment for our forces must J be nationally controlled by the approi priate authorities, otherwise con- ; fusion will result." LONDON, March 17.—The Minisj ter of Food, Lord Woolton, has warned the people of Britain that I it may be very difficult to maintain I the present supplies of meat. He ; urges people to learn how 1o cook vegetables properly and to eat less i meat.