TIDE HAS TURNED

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 156, 30 December 1940, Page 6

TIDE HAS TURNED

VICTORY AHEAD

MR. FRASER GIVES REASONS

"NO CHEAP OPTIMISM"

The tide had turned in favour of the British Commonwealth of Nations and the time was coming when they would strike the enemy on a battleground of their own choosing, the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) declared in an address last night. This conviction did not arise from cheap optimism, he said, but was soundly based.

"As each month goes by, as £h« British Commonwealth" defences grow, as it strengthens its industrial organisation, as it exploits its natural wealth, as it takes advantage of its financial strength, as it delivers decisive blow 3 with its sea, land, and air power, we know that the tide, now turned in our favour,'will carry us on to the battleground of our own choosing and to tha decisive blow for • which we are preparing," Mr. Fraser declared.

"This is no cheap optimism but assurance solidly based on our vast resources and our will and determination to survive and win, to overthrow once and for all the evil forces of Nazism and Fascism which are still menacing mankind."

"We have been filled with the deepest admiration for the way in which the British people have rallied from the enormous losses in Flanders, and for the way in which they have made good those losses. The workers of Britain in every branch of the vast business of munitions productions made their contribution.

"In the hour of crisis they turned to and worked without consideration of hours to the full limit of human endurance.

Every worker who stuck to his post and did his job played his part. He did so in the face of air raids because to take shelter when the | warning sirens sounded meant the loss of precious working hours." He faced death, and many men and women went to their deaths at their posts, heroes in a great cause. EVERY MAN,HEADY. . "We have seen the formation of new armies in Britain—the coasts defended and every preparation made to repel invasion. Every man, indeed, for whom a weapon could be found has been incorporated into the armed, forces. "In August, air warfare mounted to a terrific pitch. In their thousands the German planes were hurled across the seas and were beaten back with huge losses. The Royal Air Force has broken the first great air offensive and demonstrated again and again the superior quality of its pilots and machines. The Royal Air Force has also struck back, [ night after night, raiding German objectives, and Italian also.

"The airmen, assisted by the Navy, and backed by a nation of dogged defenders, army and citizens alike, turned the tide of battle and halted invasion and for their valour and prowess and devotion to duty we are profoundly grateful.

"A few months ago many of the neutrals and even many of our American friends thought the British prospects of survival were only moderate. Tor j day I doubt even if our enemies still think that. We have proved conclusively to the whole world not only that jwe can survive, but that we will win. j INSPIRED LEADERSHIP. "Mr. Winston Churchill, who, as Prime Minister of Great Britain, is an inspiration to the friends of democracy and freedom throughout the world in- | terprets that democracy for which we jare fighting in the following terms:— " 'When this war is won, as it surely will be.' he said, 'it must be one of our aims to establish a state and a society in which the advantages and privileges hitherto enjoyed by the few shall be far more widely shared by the men and youth of the nation as a whole.'

"Both President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill interpret true democracy as meaning what we in New Zealand have endeavoured to make it mean, namely, social and economic security and full opportunity for all- to live a useful, a cultured, and a happy life.

The work of maintaining what we have achieved in New Zealand is a sacred trust, but all of it will vanish unless the forces of freedom and democracy triumph. But triumph we will and it is our privilege to assist towards that victory which will save not only New Zealand, not only tha British Commonwealth, but mankind."