Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1945. UNITY ESSENTIAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 59, 19 December 1945, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1945. UNITY ESSENTIAL

Speaking at a breaking-up ceremony in Auckland, his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Nevvall, issued a plainspoken warning against a recurrence of national slackness such as followed the F'irst World War, and any weakening of Empire unity. “We are privileged to be members of that most wonderful institution, the British Empire/’ said his Excellency, when speaking of the tasks that lay ahead of those boys leaving school this year. “Our Empire through l the ages has borne a very considerable burden in. framing civilisation. Let us not forget that it was the British Empire which for a vital period in the war stood alone defending freedom for the whole world. As part of the Empire we have important duties and responsibilities to face in the days to come. We, as an Empire, have got to have power and authority proportionate to those responsibilities.” His Excellency’s remarks were very timely in view of the present position of Britain, and the effect her position- is likelv to have on all members of the Commonwealth. He spoke as the representative of the head of the “British Family of Nations,” as they wer.e characterised by the late King George the Fifth. Six years £>f hardship, suffering and adversity drew the several members of the family very closely together, and they must remain together if the difficult path which lies ahead is to be successfully negotiated. The path .which all the nations hope to tread is the one leading to lasting peace and security. The price of security is vigilance, preparedness and co-operation. Recently General Puttick, on his retirement, drew attention to the needs of the future in the way of military preparedness, and General Eisenhower also spoke pointedly on the subject, when he said: “I sincerely believe that the only practical way to assure national security is by peace-time military training and that must be universal. Therefore, I believe arguments as to incidental disadvantages or benefits to be foreign /to the main issue.” This message was addressed to the Military Affairs Committee of the United States House, but its application is fully appropriate to the local situation. Two wars within a decade have surely taught the nations a lesson. Britain was as unprepared in 1939 as she was in 1914. She pulled through, but*.at tremendous cost to herself and to the Empire. The task ahead is no less difficult, and the youth of to-day will have a part to play. They would do well to remembei Sir Cyril Newall’s words: “No civilisation can endure if based pin el) on things material and intellectual. Human experience is not 'sufficient. We must have something deeper and believe in Divine providence.” ‘