TO EACH MAN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 13

TO EACH MAN

MR. MENZIES' CALL

GRAPHIC WAR PICTURE

Every citizen of this community was called upon by the Prime Minister of Australia, the Rt. Hon. R. G. j Menzies, at his civic reception yesterday, to make this war a personal effort—to throw into the balance (everything he had, because nothing i less would achieve victory and pre- | serve freedom. "If this man (Hitler) and this | people, driven by this diabolical spirit, is to be defeated," he said, "we must meot organisation with organisation, sacrifice with sacrifice, and machines with more machines. We must place ourselves in servitude for the next few years in order that we may live in freedom for the rest of our lives. "Talk is not enough. We shall not win by having high hearts, by having hearts that soften to a tale of other people's sufferings, by making} a donation to a deserving charity. Tt is for every man to say 'It's my | business.' ~ i "W r e are a race of individuals, not a mob. If we were a mere mob I would say 'We will lose this war. We will go quietly. Let's make the best terms we can.' Englishmen are carrying on to-day, enduring things no man ever before endured, because there is a spark in every Englishman's mind which says 'I'm responsible in part for this.' Let every one of us examine our hearts as to what we are personally doing in this struggle. Private Interest v. State "Nothing annoys me more in a time like this than to have miserable little political bickerings. There came to me while I was trying to do my best in London the little whispers, the little murmurs of selfseekers. Any man or woman who in this time puts his or her private interest before the safety of the State is a traitor to the State. My private interest is to live in a free world when this war is over. "What does it matter if we come out of this in poverty, as we regard poverty, as long as it is an honourable poverty and we share it together? Don't worry about the sacrifice that has to be made—about your budget for the future. Be prepared to accept, if necessary, crucifixion in order that mankind may be saved." Mr. Menzies pointed out that Britain had endangered her own existence and significance in the political structure of the world in an endeavour to stop the aggressions of Nazi Germany, because there could be no future for decent humanity unless she fought. Circumstances gave the enemy every material advantage. Britain had devoted to the arts of peace the years that the enemy had devoted to war preparations. The Gravest Peril "Don't let us make any mistake," said Mr. Menzies. "We are in the gravest peril that has ever confronted our people." As instances of the spirit that would eventually give us victory, Mr. Menzies referred to the battle of Britain and the battle of Greece. In spite of the terrific hammering British cities had suffered, he had not found in the people the slightest, hint of anything but indomitable courage. "These people—half-fed if vou like—living in conditions of which Ave ought to be ashamed in this day and generation, are the greatest generation in the history of our race." Referring to Greece, the Australian Prime Minister stated: "These little people have written the most magnificent fighting chapter the world has seen in many a long day."