GOAL OF VICTORY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13672, 20 June 1942, Page 4

GOAL OF VICTORY

SOBER CONFIDENCE

Speeches At N.Z.R.S.A. Meeting Impressive speeches having as their keynote sober confidence in the victory of the Allied cause veie made at the opening of the twentysixth annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association. The speakers were the Governor-General (Sir Cyril Newall), the Prime Minis lev (Mr Fraser), and the United States Minister in New Zealand (Bri-gadier-General I*. J. Hurley), all of whom were given an enthusiastic welcome led by the Dominion president of the association (the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.). The meeting was officially opened by the Governor-General, who expressed his extreme pleasure at the honour done him in the presentation of the association’s gold badge and his election as an honorary life member. The annual report, he said, showed very clearly the immense amount of work the association had

achieved and the very wide field that had been covered. He thought that the change of name from- that of the Returned Soldiers’ Association to the Returned Services’ Association was a wise move, since it brought in some elements which for one reason or another were perhaps reluctant or diffident about joining the association. Unity was strength, and anything which would help to that end was to be encouraged. The association was also to be congratulated on opening its membership to ex-service women. Great credit was also due to the association for its efforts on behalf of the sick and wounded men returning to New Zealand and for its close co-operation in the evolving and final form of the rehabilitation machinery. Repaying a Debt In time of stress and danger it was customary for people to band together and do everything possible for those who were defending their country, but unfortunately, when that time passed, there was sometimes a tendency, because of the intervention of diffiult times, for Governments and peoples to relax in those efforts, in spite of their genuine desire. That was a common failing of human nature, and the task of the R.S.A. would be to assist in endeavouring to pay the debt to those who had defended the Dominion.

“You men who been through the mill of the last war will understand perhaps better than anybod else what the horrors of war mean to humanity,” said his Excellency, “and you will be able to exert a great influence in seeing that never again shall the aggressors, the tyrannical barbarians, be allowed to plunge the world and humanity into the horrors of desolation and destructions through which we are now passing.”

Support for War Effort

Appreciation of the association’s work not only for returned men but generally in the Dominion’s progress was expressed by the Prime Minister “I want also to express my appreciation of the unfailing, strong, vigorous, and ■ enthusiastic support 'the R.S.A. has given to the war effort since September 3, 193 9,” he said. “I have had a particular responsibility during all that time, and never on a single occasion have the returned soldiers failed.” He was confident that that support would continue. One glance at the position at Kharkov, at Sebastopol, at Tobruk, and in Libya generally would show that the Allied Nations were still facing a very grim situation, and the tide of war might oscillate forward in their favour or backwards in the enemy’s favour. Times like the present and times perhaps even more severe that they might be called upon to face tried men’s minds and men’s souls, and he knew that, as in the past, the R.S.A. would lead a strong, victorious sentiment among the people of New Zealand. In the Pacific the Allied cause had made some considerable progress, but they must not be caught in the snare of over-optimism, and no effort must be relaxed. Any person who imagined that there was immunity from attack on New Zealand was living in a fool’s paradise, Mr Fraser declared, but whether there was attack or not, whether bombs rained down from the skies or not. whether the enemy set foot in this country, to be hurle back, if the spirit of the R.S.A. animated the whole of the people < New Zealand, there could be nothing but victory for them in the long run. “Source of Inspiration” Remarking that he really felt at home with the delegates. BrigadierGeneral Hurley said that while Sir Cyril Newall was the GovernorGeneral, he was fundamentally just an old soldier.

There was a wave of over-enthus’ asm at the moment when people talked about the results of the Coral Sea and Midway Islands actions and the wonderful attacks that were being made on Germany by the R.A.F., but it should be remembered that the aggressive, offensive spirit was not in boasting about what had been accomplished. There was a long difference between over-statement of victory which they had not had and making up their minds and spirit to win through to victory. The aggressive and offensive spirit was just as essential as war material and manpower. “We can make up oiir mind' that we will fight and that we will win, but let us not claim it until we have done it,” he added, amid applause. Brigadier-General Hurley repeated the statement he made on his arrival from the United States, that as a token of their faith in the victory of their cause, he pledged the resources, I’ves, honour, and power of 130,000,000 Americans. Resounding cheers were given for the distinguished visitors, and they were accorded musical honours.