FROM ARMS TO FARM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 96, 24 April 1944, Page 5

FROM ARMS TO FARM

N.Z. TRANSFERS MEN ADVICE OF ALLIED CHIEFS OF STAFFS FOLLOWED I MR. FRASER EXPLAINS TO U.S. Recd. 6 p.m. Rugby, April 22. “On the advice of the combineci Chiefs of Staff of the United States and the United Kingdom, New Zealand, is to arrange temporarily for a number of suitable men from the armed forces to arrest the decline *n food production which threatens to hav e world-wide implications, and also effect substantial increases.” Mr. Fraser, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, made this statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington. “New Zealand is a farming country. She is one of the chief food exoorting countries of the world. Soldiers and civilians in Britain are dependent on New Zealand foodstuffs; so are largely the United States forces in th e South Pacific, and so will be the people of occupied countries. “But, after four and a-half years of extensive war effort, New Zealand has reached a stage where production s* declining, and sh e is not able to fulfill demands for foodstuffs placed upon her. She is in this position mainiy through manpower difficulties and through a shortage of farm equipment, and lack of fertilisers is also a contributing cause.” | Mr. Fraser assessed the magnitude of New Zealand’s manpower contribution to the war effort. This should be compared with that of every other Allied nation. “New Zealand mobilised armed forces on a scale equivalent to a United States Army of 13,000,0’00 and a home force of 8,000,000” he said. “Only 39,000 of ( a total fit population have been withheld from military service, and these only in key industries. These forces have suffered exceedingly heavy casualties. New Zealanders have been in the war since 1939. they fired the first shots in Greece, they were in Crete. They were in the spearhead of every North African campaign. They were on the Anzio front, with the Bth. Army and they are among the troops who have borne the brunt oi the recent Cassino fighting. In the Pacific, under Admiral Halsey, they have captured the Treasury Islands and Green Island, and completed the occupation of Vella Lavella, in the Solomons. “The record of the R.N.Z.A.F. in Europe is well known. Our units in the Pacific were among the first to operate from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal and they have been in action in lhe South Pacific ever since. In the Pacific our Navy has also played a full part. “New Zealand casualties have been, in proportion, greater than those of any other United Nation, except probably Russia. One in every 143 of the population has been killed, wounded, missing, or taken prisoner. This is equivalent to a casualty figure for the United States of more than 2,000,000.” Mr. Fraser said, in conclusion, that the men transferred from the forces to industry, would be placed on leave. They would remain under military command and would be liable to be recalled for active service at any time.— 8.0.W.