"PACIFIC SITUATION VERY SERIOUS"
♦ OPINION OF MR SEMPLE “The position as we see it in the Pacific is very serious,” emphasised the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) when he met the Ashburton Emergency Precautions Services executive at Ashburton yesterday. "Everything we possess must be placed in tlie pool to save New Zealand.” Tracing the history of the war in the Pacific from a map, the Minister said that Singapore must be held, as it was the gateway to the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. It was just as well for the rationally-minded persons• to realise the dangers which were ahead. Mr Semple said, as he urged that everyone should be prepared to do his part toward the war effort. “Wc don't want to live in a fool's paradise. America lived in, n fool’s paradise and got it ut the neck.” he said, when he referred to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. He contended that it was just as much the responsibility of America as Britain to look after the Pacific.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19420120.2.71
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23541, 20 January 1942, Page 8
Word Count
174"PACIFIC SITUATION VERY SERIOUS" Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23541, 20 January 1942, Page 8
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.