CHRISTMAS DAY BROADCAST

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28160, 26 December 1956, Page 5

CHRISTMAS DAY BROADCAST

Prime Minister’s Greeting CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. December 25. The Prime Minister (Mr Holland), a Christmas broadcast today, said: •j am glad once more to have the opportunity of wishing you all a very Christmas, and I hope that erery moment of this festive season kings you joy and happiness.- I feel ve can look to the future with conpderably more confidence than was possible a few short weeks ago.

p *Christmas is the great occasion of the year. It is one of the great anniversaries of the Christian religion, which guides and sustains us and gives purpose to our lives. It is the great family festival, with kith and kin drawn together in love and affection. It is a time when old friendships are itrengthened. and new ones pledged. ••Christmas is a supreme time for the children. Let all of us. who are no longer children, see to it that the voimger folk have full opportunity for ihappin^ ss an d celebration. And what a lovely place New Zealand is in ■ which to enjoy Christmas: summer time, warm weather, flowers, pretty friendly surroundings, and friendly people. We have no enemes on our borders to threaten our Christmas happiness. We have no food shortages to spoil our day. “If this is so, as I am sure it is. then we should spare a few minutes to count our and to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to Almighty God for our countless blessings. Could we also think of those countries and those peoples who have not the same firm grounds for happiness as we have and then let us offer a prayer that 1957 will, bring them greater happiness and greater assurances of peace and security.

“I am sure it would make our own Christmas happier if we spared a thought at this time for those who, for reasons of sickness or sorrow, are not able to enjoy this day as we are. A note of good cheer and goodwill or a telephone call or a telegram may help them. Let us think of those in hospitals and institutions, and especially those grand people who are looking after them and those who provide essential services that must be kept going, holiday or no holiday. “Think, too. of the elderly folk. Let ill of us try to make their Christmas happy A few flowers may add to their day’s happiness. “Especially should we think of those who are abroad and those who are serving their country in other lands, the Special Air Service Squadron and our airmen in Malaya, our adventurers led by by our own Sir Edmund Hillary to the Antarctic.

“My final thought is just this: let everyone enjoy this Christmas and let everyone help others to enjoy theirs.. especially at those family reunions where the children have such a happy time. A merry Christmas, therefore, to, every one of you. and to all the spirit of Christmas, wherever they may be."

MESSAGE FROM MR NASH

HOPE FOR BETTER WORLD ORDER

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 25. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash), in a Christmas message to the people, said: “May I first wish all listeners a happy Christmas and all that is good for the years to come. “The priceless gift of children in homes as members of the family is revealed in the spontaneous joy of Christmas. The gifts of God come as

a greater revelation at Christmas time with the sharing and giving of good things. The spirit of Christmas comes to us through the Colombo Flan, where we are sharing our surplus to enable others to increase their production, to provide higher living Itandards and longer physical life. “The first necessity (so splendidly Mown through the years at ChristMas) for a better world order is to make Christmas and its spirit last for ever. We all hope that the prevailing national, international and racial difficulties will be overcome on foe principles of truth and equity. Justice and freedom. There is no other permanent way. This means that

we desire to solve the problems we study the facts and face them. . we have a major responsibility to help the races of the world to live i t? er - in harmony, similar to that <oi Maori and European in our own {Country. All nations and races have specJal characteristics and virtues entheir peoples to make constructive contributions to an advanc.ing and improving world. Our duty is •‘° go forward, and we can best do so, 1 believe, by organising our personal nves m the spirit of the day we celeDra J® fj ? eace and goodwill to all men). Wc have passed through, and are Passing through, difficult days. With- ?£. forgetting all that is past, let us Hva forward to a fuller construcvont fe ’ with joy* happiness, and adventure on the road.

conclude by again wishing g-Cfyone a happy Christmas and all ®at is good for 1957 and the other ° come - May you enjoy the games * the pleasure of Christ2 s * u s j° y ’ enthusiasm, and adven- ® should not be confined to one . y» or one holiday—Christmas and "S spirit should last for ever.”