ADDRESSES TO TROOPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1940, Page 12

ADDRESSES TO TROOPS

: scribed by somebody as 'a good time , being had by all.' The Italians per- , haps do not look at it quite from that ' angle. I sincerely hope that that spirit ! will carry on until the Italians are r swept out of Egypt and even out of a : I large portion of Libya, where they can ,be got at by our armed forces. By these hard blows and by the hard blows which our Greek allies are in- • flicting on them, the Italians, I think, , will soon become extremely sorry that . they ever entered this campaign. The ' only way that victory can be achieved : is by striking hard blows wherever we ■ we can on our opponents so as to make , them sue for peace, which will be a ' peace of justice and liberty and right." "We are all linked together in this ; great war effort of crushing our op-' • ponents," said his Excellency. "It is that effort which has to be concentrated and co-ordinated to bring the : full weight of England's might against those unscrupulous people who have ' plunged the world into so much suffering and misery." THANKS OF COUNTRY. "We are here today to thank you on behalf of the Government, the Parliament, .and the people of New! Zealand for the readiness with which you came forward to serve your country and for your application to your various military duties," the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) said. Mr. Fraser congratulated the troops on the standard of efficiency they had attained. Everything that made New Zealand beloved to New Zealanders was at stake today. The future of New Zealand, the Empire, the millions of people now living, and the countless millions yet to come was at stake, and the men of New Zealand in the Army, Air Force, and Navy had been given the important work of helping to safeguard it. New Zealanders were playing their part overseas, said Mr, Fraser, and in New Zealand young men were training in the Territorial Force while others were offering their services in the Home Guard and the Military Reserve. Everything would be done to see that the shores of the country were defended, and plans had already been made to ensure that those serving overseas would be able to come home to find their privileges and benefits safeguarded so that they could take up civilian life again with a reasonable opportunity of enjoying the victory to which they had contributed. On behalf of the country he thanked them all for what they were contributing towards 'the cause of freedom and liberty. PROTECTION OF DOMINION. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), on behalf of the citizens of Wellington, congratulated the men on their appearance and those who were responsible for their training. New Zealand soldiers were building up as fine a tradition as in the war of 1914----18. "All of us will have to work to the best of our ability to maintain the stability of our country and build up those organisations that will ensure protection for our country against any who may venture against us," said Mr. Hislop. He appealed to everyone who saw and applauded the soldiers as they paraded to express their appreciation in some practical form by joining up with the Home Guard and building that organisation up to its full strength, together with other essential organisations, so that they could be ready should the need arise. Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., speaking on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland), for whose unavoidable absence he apologised, said that while he was speaking for members of the Opposition in the House of Representatives, he wanted to emphasise that there were no politics whatever when it came to war. matters. "The whole question of politics is set aside when we are considering the defence of this country," he continued. It was with great satisfaction that they acknowledged the splendid response of the young men in answer to the call. They were doing their part, and the citizens of New Zealand had to do their part in protecting their country as well and in keeping faith with their fighting men. R.S.A. MESSAGE. Lieutenant-Colonel A. Cowles, V.D., president of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, gave the troops a message from the New Zealand Rei turned Soldiers Association. "We old soldiers," he said, "are much im-

I Representatives of the State, Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the Church were among those present in the official gathering for the ceremony in front of Parliament House, Others who attended included Allied.Consuls and official representatives of Empire countries in the Dominion. His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Galway, arrived at 10.15 a.m. The first speaker was his Excellency, who congratulated those on parade. "Although we have been passing through dark times," he said, "I have no doubt that we have turned the corner and are making progress towards the victory of right over wrong. "We are thrilled to read in the newspapers of the deeds which are being accomplished in the Western Desert of Egypt, where the First Echelon and others of the New Zealand forces, we have no doubt, are taking their full share in that splendid victory which is [now being achieved over the Italians. | I saw in the paper's that it was de-<

pressed by your soldierly bearing, your steadiness, and your physical fitness. Our hearts thrill with pride when we see you so full of life and energy and overflowing health." PRAYERS OFFERED. At the conclusion of the speeches and before the troops moved off for their march through' the city, the VicarGeneral of the Archdiocese (the Rt. Rev. Monsignor T. F. Connolly) offered j prayers for grace, for fortitude for those who were afraid, for confidence for those who were lacking in trust, for protection for the King, for direction to those who were guiding the issues of war, for those in the fighting services and in danger, and that valour should be given to our men, courage to our women, heroism to our nation, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to our rulers. He concluded with the Benediction.