CALL FOR PUBLIC ACTION

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23946, 13 May 1943, Page 6

CALL FOR PUBLIC ACTION

OPPOSITION TO GENERAL ELECTION “Unless thought and service are applied to public affairs, democracy is doomed. World-wide catastrophes such as the present war have been largely due to the silent apathy of democratic peoples to the warnings given by men qualified to speak. The greatest figure in the world to-day, Mr Churchill, warned our nation of impending disaster, and men and women refused to heed him." said Mr W J Fletcher, president of the Waimate branch of the Farmers’ Union, in making an appeal for support of the union in its co-ordination in the war effort, and a declaration of opposition to the proposal to hold a General Election this year. Emphasising that he-adhered to the union's policy of “principles, not party,” Mr Fletcher said he was giving voice to the opinions held by many people in varying walks in life when he opposed the holding of an election. "Farmers and all other sections of the community should assert themselves right now and proclaim definitely the views held by so many of them regarding this proposal, which is detrimental to the nation’s best interests,” he said. “Apart from the question of disunity, and the needless expenditure, what about the thousands of our gallant men at present prisoners of war, who would be disfranchised if we persist in holding an election? God forbid that we overlook the rights of these gallant men now or in the future. “Our Prime Minister should lead an undivided war administration,” said Mr Fletcher. “Our farming industry, which is of front-rank importance in war time, should unite in support of the Farmers' Union, and our organisation join with others and a united corporate nation standing worthily behind the heroic men and women of the fighting services in an all-in effort to establish a just and lasting peace, with liberty our goal and God our inspiration.”