The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. THURSDAY, MAY 22. 1041. MR. MENZIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

THURSDAY, MAY 22. 1041. MR. MENZIES

Tor the cause, that lacks assistance, For the vyrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that tee can do.

Pew Dominion. Prime .Ministers have gained an international reputation equal to that of Mr. Menzies, whose visit to New Zealand to-day is, regrettably but no doubt unavoidably, very short. Of the distinguished visitors to the United Kingdom since the war began none, save Mr. Wendell Willkie, has so greatly appealed to the English public. Like Mr. Willkie. whose stay was much shorter, Mr. Menzies went everywhere and saw Tor himself. He sat in the War Cabinet; he also, according to report, flung himself in a gutter in Portsmouth during an air raid. He saw the United Kingdom's Avar effort more completely than all but a very few other men, and when he spoke words of appreciation, gratitude and encouragement they were heeded, because the people knew that they came from a full heart' and a fully informed and comprehending mind. Mr. Menzies remained in the United Kingdom much longer than he had intended, because Mr. Churchill had asked that he should, and it has been reported that his robust and buoyant personality, and his views candidly expressed, have had considerable influence on British policy. Nor was it only in England that Australia's representative won liking and deep respect. In Canada. where he addressed the House of Commons, and then in his visit to Washington, he was the subject of some of the most complimentary references ever made to a distinguished visitor. Americans saw him, and rightly, as the representative, not- of Britain, but of the British Commonwealth, and he was able to tell them much of what the Dominions mean, and of what they are doing in the war. Mr. Menzies is returning now to his own country, which is preparing ! literally to redouble a war effort which already, on its industrial side, has been phenomenal. His stature amongst his countrymen has increased because of the striking recognition given abroad to hit qualities of statesmanship, and it is being said that he now has ar opportunity to give Australia leader ship such as. it has never had before New Zealanders, deeply interested in Australian achievements, will watcr Mr. Menzies , progress with hope, for it was never clearer than it is a 1 this moment that—in the well-worr phrase—the fortunes of the Com monwealth and the Dominion are closely bound together. The strongei Australia makes herself the more secure will New Zealand feel, anc for that reason the wish is wide spread that the policies and efforts of the two countries should b( co-ordinated more closely. It ha; already been announced that tht Governments of the two countries are to hold regular consultations and it is to be hoped that Mr Menzies will promote the first o; them at an early date. The course of the war during the next iev months is likely to be tumultuous and it is of the first importance the two Dominions in the Pacific who are glad to be neighbours, anc whose sons are fighting together should speak and act as one.