EMPIRE'S UNITY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1940, Page 8

EMPIRE'S UNITY

WAR EFFORT.

DOMINION'S PART.

"PRESERVE LIBERTY."

HON. P. FRASER'S APPEAL

CIVIC RECEPTION TENDERED

Kmphasis was placed by tile Minister "I' Health ami Kdueat inn, the Hon. P. I'im-mm*. mi I lit* unity of itritiiin's war clTort and I lie need for people in New Zealand to play their par) if liberty and democracy are to lie preserved, when speaking this afternoon at a civic reception tendered him in the Concert Chamlier of the Town Hall. Mr Fraser nccntly returned from London, where he attended a conference ol kin pin' Ministers, and this was the lirst occasion on which he li.id visited Auckland since his return. The reception was larjjelv attended, and Mr. I' niscr was given a very cordial » clcniue, The Mayor, Sir Ernest Dtivis, presided, and with him on the pla'form were representatives of city and suburban lo'.il bodies, the M i yores*, Ladv Davis, NLs. l''raser and the town clerk, Mr. ,1. Melling, The Mayor's Welcome. Sir Ernest said that the juirjiose of the gathering was to do honour to Mr. Eraser, who had just returned from ft highly important mission to London. Auckland extended to him a most cordial welcome, and il was a great pleasure to have him with them again. Mr. Fraser'-; trip to liondon was a Hying one, ami they appreciated his cheerful acceptance of the hazards and dangers involved in Much a Journey under war conditions. Although the rvsiilts of his mission must remain secret, there was not tho slightest doubt in tho minds of those present, as to how well he had acquitted himself. Sir Ernest added that he was sure lib \ oiced a sentiment universally suhserilicd to In stating that the contribution Mr. Kraser made to the consultations was in every sense worth while. This lielief was confirmed by the great respect with which Mr. Fraser was received l„ the leaders of the Government in Britain, and the attention which, according to the reports available, was given to the viewpoint# he expressed. That impression awakened in them feelings of pridf, which were incorporated in the warmth of the welcome he accorded Jflr. Fraser on behalf of the corporation and citizens of Auckland. The chairman of the Auckland Harbour Hoard, Mr. W. B. Darlow, and the president of the Auckland Chamlier of Commerce, Mr. A. Ely, also extended a warm welcome to the Minister. "Overshadowing Cloud." Applause greeted Mr. Fraser when he rose to acknowledge the welcome. Mr. Kraser said it waa certainly a great privilege and honour tor anyone to be asked to represent his country at a conference of the British Commonwealth of Nations, tend it woukl have been a great pleasure for him to have done so if it were not for the fact that there existed the' overshadowing cloud of a big war. It w«* very important, he said, to meet the representatives of other countries wider he British Hag, of the Mother Country and the men in charge of the Allied Fotfees, Including Lord (tort, General Ironsides and Qeneral Gamelln, and to «ee the men at the front, and in the Maginot Line and sub-Mag-Inot Line, and above all to see the courage and fortitude and indomitable faith of the whole of the people of Great Britain. Efforts to Avsrt War. Mr. Eraser refer»cd to the efforts mude by Britain and .France to avert the war. Home said that too much was done in this direction, but all were agreed that finally, when, with the knowledge that Britain and France were pledged to protect Polish independence, German troops marched into Poland, that if a stand were not taken not only liberty but everything decent between nation and nation and man and man would be abolished. He declared that to-day the people of Britain were united more than they Jiad ever been, and were prepared to lace up to whatever might confront tliem. There was no such thing as selfrighteousness in Britain at present. Man fur man and 'plane for 'plane the uritish were superior to the Germans, while the British defences were very, very efficient. Spiritual fore* in Action. Continuing, Mr. Fraser spoke of the Himoth organisation of the evacuation oi' children from thickly populated areas ii England, of the inconvenicnce caused y the black-outs, and the sacrifices that . , cryone, including women, were making . i Britain's war effort. There was no reluctunce and no complaining. Men were prepared to make any sacrifice so that, perhaps not they themselves, but their children and children's children, may live in a world of peace and under decent relationships with the various countries of the world. There was a wonderful spiritual and moral- force in action, and no sacrifice wa« too much ,or the people. Mr. Fraser went on to tell of the part played by Mr. W. J. Jordon, New Zealand High Oommissi'oner, at the League of Nations, to oppose the aggrecmir and aggressor nations, and said there was no clearer voice than bin. When finally the British Government decided that a stand must be taken, or everything they stood for would go down in ruin, there was no hesitation' on tho part of -the \'(<w Zealand Government. This Dominion was the first country in the British Common wealth to declare itself and say it would stand side by side and shoulder to shoulder with the Mother Country in the »trnpir!« that was commencing. Now It wim necessary that the people of the Dominion, each and everyone in his respoetlve sphere, should dedicate him»l« to the task ofdoing what he could to achieve auccees for tho forces of democracy throughout the world. Cheers were given for Mr. Fraser, and those present sang "God Save the King.