Comparative War Efforts

Letter to the Editor WE continually read comparisons, made by English visitors—musical and otherwise—between the complacent attitude to the war of the average Aus tralian and the all-in effort of the British people.

It is not often a fair comparison, as the conditions are different. Right here, against our door, in the Pacific, doing the same class of work and service, we have two parallel services, working al most side by side. One, the Papua and New Guinea Administration actually two separate services, but for the sake of comparison they arp taken together— -100 per cent. Australian, and the other, the Western Pacific High Commission, 99 per cent. British.

From the 100 per cent. Australian Ad ministrations, according to the “PIM”, over 60 have gone on active service in one capacity or another, and only a few temporary officers have filled the vacan cies thus caused.

From the 99 per cent. British service, few have gone. It is known that the of ficial attitude to joining up is prohibitory.

Officers have been warned that anyone going on active service will not be re stored to his position. In other words, he will be dismissed from the service if he goes.

What would be said of a commercial firm that took this attitude?

Are the New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, Gilbert Is., etc., officials so much more useful than those of New Guinea, that they cannot be spared?

I am, etc..

Australian.

New Hebrides, 7/3/41.

EDITORIAL NOTE; Australians, New Guinea-ites, officials of the Western Paci fic Commission —all are of exactly the same breed as the people of Britain, and comparisons such as the foregoing are not only invidious, but useless. In such struggles as that now proceeding, it is the breed that counts—or (to use better known terms) morale, or “guts”. Breed is the thing that makes the German a formidable foe, and the Italian much less formidable. Apart from that, it is prob able that the New Guinea-Papua services are much more liberally staffed than those of Solomons. New Hebrides, etc.