CALL FOR UNITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 133, 8 June 1942, Page 7

CALL FOR UNITY

NATION'S WAR EFFORT

MESSAGES TO LEADERS

Telegrams stressing the urgency of strengthening the war administration and avoiding political conflict have been addressed to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) by the president of the People's Movement, Mr. James Crisp, of Cambridge.

The telegram to Mr. Fraser is as follows:—y

■ "I have noted with profound interest that discussions have been proceeding between yourself and the Leader of the Opposition for the purpose of strengthening the war administration and avoiding political conflicts. However, the protracted nature of these negotiations is giving rise to some anxiety, and the People's Movement, having sounded public opinion, desires to assure you -■ that your search for a formula for national unity and the utmost war effort meets with the heartfelt approval of the whole, nation and we sincerely trust that the negotiations will be brought to a speedy and successful conclusion.. I desire to assure you, on behalf of the People's Movement, : that you will have our loyal co-opera-tion and support in the objectives at which your efforts are aimed. It has become apparent that the destiny of New Zealand and of all mankind will be determined by the events of the immediate future and it is now that we can put forward • the supreme effort to turn these events to our advantage. It is with the solemn thoughj of the tremendous possibilities of the present that we earnestly appeal to you to le*ave no itone,- unturned in seeking- the solution of the only problem which can stand in the way of fulfilment of. our. sacred trust—the., mightiest and most united effort possible in defence of civilisation and everything we hold dear."

THE MIGHTIEST EFFORT. The message to Mr. Holland is as follows:—

"The discussions which have been proceeding between the Prime Minister arid yourself have been watched with deep anxiety by the whole nation arid; on behalf of the People's Movement, I desire, to* appeal to you to spare no effort to bring these r egotiations to a speedy and successful conclusion. We can assure you that public opinion, which we have thoroughly explored, is overwhelmingly in favour of the political unity in the war administration, the maximum utilisation of our national resources for the purposes of war, and the postponement of the elections. It is plain that as we have climbed the long and arduous road towards armed parity with the enemy he has been gathering his forces for a titanic effort to stop us before it is too late, and, in the face of impending events of world-shaking importance, New Zealand must put forward her mightiest effort. We believe that this effort will be enormously strengthened if you. reach an agreement with the Prime Minister and we pledge our loyal co-operation in such an agreement. We therefore earnestly hope that you will be able to reach an agreement and so give to the people that inspiration and strength which can come only from a sense of unity and wise. leadership."