PEACE ON EARTH

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 152, 26 December 1945, Page 4

PEACE ON EARTH

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

MR. FRASER'S MESSAGE

This year the message of Christmas had a deeper significance than ever before, said the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) in a message to the people of New Zealand. Mr. Fraser, who is on his way to attend the first meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation in London, referred to the importance of that gathering in establishing the best means of giving effect to the desire oi! people the world over for enduring peace.

"I extend to everyone my Christmas greetings and good wishes for happiness during the New Year/ said Mr. Fraser.

"This is the first Christmas in six years on which we have been free from the hard tasks of war and from which we can look forward to the progressive ways of peace. The strength of New Zealand's war effort was such as to give us all full confidence in the Dominion's ability to undertake the work of increasing production and maintaining and improving our standard of living. "By the time this message reaches you I, with fellow-members of the New Zealand delegation, will be on the way to London for the first meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation. It will !be attended by the delegates from more than 50 nations, and it will be thentask to ensure that war, with all its destruction, will never again convulse the earth. The purpose of the assembly's discussion is to establish the best means of international co-opera-tion in everything that makes for a durable peace. "Never before has there been a Christmas when millions of people throughout the world have been so united in their desire for lasting peace. Many nations have paid a heavy price for liberty. The toll of sacrifice has been incalculable. The message of Christmas at this time has a deeper significance than ever before. THANKS FOR WAR EFFORT. "I would like at this time to express on behalf of the Government of New Zealand heartfelt thanks for the gallant and devoted service of our soldiers, sailors, and airmen, and for the tremendous war effort made by our citizens. Neither record has been excelled in any other country. Some of our men and women are still overseas, and we hope to see them soon; others will never return, and I know there are many today who are thinking of some loved one. My deepest sympathy is with them. "It is a national duty today to see that the men and women who have served New Zealand so well should be securely placed in civil life at no disadvantage because of the opportunities lost during the war. They must be adequately rewarded. A great deal has already been done and whenever the need arises for improving the conditions of rehabilitation more will be done. "As far as the general condition of New Zealand is concerned, we can look confidently to the future," continued Mr. Fraser. "Although the war imposed a heavy strain on our servicemen, we have been very fortunate in escaping the destruction and disorganisation which has blighted so many other countries. TASK FOR THE FUTURE. "The fear of want has been abolished in New Zealand and economic security has been established for every family. This is only as it should be, because in a productive country like New Zealand, there is no excuse for poverty. It is on our productivity that our structure of social welfare and high standard of living depend. Nothing must be allowed to weaken the foundation of our prosperity. Production must be maintained and increased. In the coming year all our energy, resources, and skill must be used to the full to keep New Zealand happy and prosperous. "Let us begin the New Year with a resolve to maintain New Zealand as one of the most productive, progressive, find harmonious countries in the world. | and to prove worthy in all things of our democracy and liberty. "I express my warmest wishes to everyone for the happiest of Christmases and for prosperity in the New Year."