TRIBUTE TO N.Z.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 94, 21 April 1944, Page 5

TRIBUTE TO N.Z.

THE WASHINGTON POST CANDOUR OF MR. FRASER “COUNTRY WITH SACRIFICES OUT OF ALL PROPORTION” (P.A.) Wellington, April 2U. The following text ot an editorial from the Wasnington Post. dated April 19, was issued by Mr. Sullivan, acting Prime Minister, who received the text by cable from Mr. Nash, New Zealand Minister in Washington. “It is very commendable candour which has prompted Prime Minister Fraser, ot New Zealand, now briefly in the United States, to go before the Senate Committee and submit himself to questions on his country’s military and foreign policy. His country's war effort is clear and above board. He can tell of it with tremendous pride. New Zealanders were the spearhead of Jhe Eighth Army's great drive across North Africa. They have carried much of the combat load in the South-west Pacific: On all fronts where they have been engaged they have fought with high courage and distinction. One in 63 of the entire New Zealand population has been a war casualty—a sacrifice out of all proportion to that which wu as a people have yet been called upon to make.

“Yet New war effort, like Australia's, has recently been called into question by certain of our Sena, tors on the curious ground that a small number of her able-bodied men are to be withheld from the armed forces to work on farms. Mr. Fraser has given an incontrovertible reason for the new policy, ‘Such large manpower demands have strained our resources so that we are not able at a critical time to produce enough food to meet the increasing demands of the United States forces and of the United Kingdom.’ He might have added that the decision was made at the instance of combined Chiefs of Staff.

“One wonders if the complaining Senators would prefer to have our own troops in the South-west Pacific go hungry. Service in this total war is not dependent upon uniforms. We trust that the frank and generous explanation offered by Mr. Fraser, considered in conjunction with the equally cogent statement issued a few days ago by Australia's Minister to the United States, Sir Owen Dixon, will set at rest once and for all any doubts respecting the contribution of these allies to our common cause. Perhaps it would be a sound rule of conduct for Americans to think the best rather than the worst of partners whose, war record has set us so shining an example.”