CALL TO SERVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 90, 18 April 1939, Page 12

CALL TO SERVE

MEN UP TO AGE OF 50

DEFENCE OF DOMINION

APPEAL BY PRIME MINISTER

A stirring appeal to every man up to the age of 45 or 50 to be prepared to.come forward to defend his country and the system which he has helped to build up in the event of an emergency was made today by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) when proposing the principal toast at the State luncheon given in honour of the delegates to, the Pacific Defence Conference.

In extending a welcome to the delegates, Mr. Savage said that when people looked at the world today they could hardly be sur- ■ prised at the fact that there was a Defence Conference sitting in Wellington to see what could be done and what should be done to help New Zealand keep its end up in this part of the British Commonwealth of Nations. "I am always ready to lift my hat to men like President Roosevelt," said Mr. Savage, amid loud applause. "Without stopping to ask any questions, he simply says what is in his soul."

President Roosevelt seemed to have a heart and soul that were not to be found in many places in these days, when they meant so much to humanity, continued Mr.^&^vage. The name of Roosevelt would live after the names of others would be forgotten.

Mr. Savage also referred to the suggestion of Mr. de Valera that there should be a conference before a war and not after it. That seemed to be plain common sense. "I could talk with a man better before I fought him than after," said Mr. Savage. "Whatever I might look like after, I think I would look better before. (Laughter.) It makes all the difference in the world. There isnot very much difference between "men. I have heard hard things said and I have said them myself, but in the finish, there is not much difference between us. There are reasons for our actions. We do not sot out with any intention of injuring our neighbours, and if we had the opportunity of talking things over beforehand we would do less damage."

< "Last time the nations fought for four years and then they had to talk. I am not sure that we got too much common sense out of that. If our fellows would only talk for twelve months we could be sure that they would not be fighting for that period. I would sooner hear their voices than hear the roll of drums. It is just a simple problem with far-reaching consequences unless we handle it. There are reasons for all our disagreements, and until we put them out of existence altogether we will never get the»superstructure that we arje all asking for and that everybody wants.

"It seems to be a fair thing that we should start round the conference table, but there are other things to be considered. We cannot carry pious resolutions and wait for results; we have

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to be prepared for other things that may happen, and for that reason we have our good friends amongst us today. I am sure that I am speaking for you all when I say, welcome to them."

The Prime Minister said that they were exchanging opinions as to the best means of defence.

"I have always felt that the best way in which we can help the British Commonwealth of Nations is to help ourselves, and. if %ye have anything to spare after that we can leave it to the manhood of New Zealand. The first thing: is to be able to look after ourselves," said Mr. Savage. "It is not altogether a boy's job. I would rather think it was a job for the manhood of New Zealand, and perhaps in some respects for the womanhood of New Zealand, to meet any disaster that may come along*. There is always so much to be done, for the other fellow. There are people amongst us who cannot always look after themselves.

"Every man up to the age of 45 or 50 should embrace the opportunity of being ready to serve; that is really what it comes down to in the finish. This is only just a plain understanding among ourselves, and when a nation has its back to the wall —perhaps isolated from the rest of the world — it will be able to feel that every man will be prepared to say, 'Here I am. What can I do to^elp?'" Mr Savage said that there were a lot of people remarking to the manhood of the country that they could not leave it to their efforts. The people were asked to play a part in looking after themselves if the* worst should come to the worst.

"I am hoping that in the near future we will be asking every man up to 50 to-do what he will do."