NEW YEAR OF PEACE

Evening Star, Issue 25679, 31 December 1945, Page 4

NEW YEAR OF PEACE

PRIME MINISTER'S SEASONAL MESSAGE COUNTRY THANKED FOR WAR EFFORT “I extend to all the people of New Zealand my warmest wishes for a prosperous New Year. Our people nave earned happiness,” said the Prime Minister, the Right. Hon. P. Fraser, in a New Year message. “ The conclusion of the war has made 1945 one of the most historic years this country lias known. The very victory which brought us such thankfulness and joy brought, too, new tasks and new responsibilities. We were fortunately spared the devastation of war within our own shores, but it- is only since the end of hostilities that we have known how directly were were threatened. Japanese plans for the invasion of New Zealand were discovered, and the people learned for the first time how thin was the line of defence in the South Pacific. “ Our New Zealand men who served in battle zones in all parts of the world, on land, at sea, and in the air, have earned for our Dominion a foremost place among the free nations of the world. To them and to all who served and worked and produced at home we owe a debt which words alone can neither express nor repay. “ As New Zealanders, we have the right to feel proud of the part that our Dominion has played along with the great nations of the world in the years of war. We are now called upon to play an equally responsible and effective part in the complex task of international reconstruction and the stabilisation of peace. “ As we enter the first New Year of peace the nations of the world are making an effort to build a structure which will preserve us from a repetition of the horrors of the past six years. New Zealand has a duty not only to herself, but to the Commonwealth and the world, to ensure that no effort on her part is spared to ensure the success of this tremendous task. “ One aim of the conference of the United Nations at San Francisco, which I was privileged to attend, was to establish international security by removing the danger of aggression. It was recognised that this was only part of the task. The nations to-day recognise that their responsibility extends to removing the economic and social causes of war. At various conferences before San. Francisco and at Sail Francisco there has been a continuous development of international collaboration towards reconstructing a stable and beneficial world economy. The best-devised system of security against aggression would be useless if another poison brew of war were allowed to generate from economic frictions between nations. THE DUTIES OF THE PEACE.

“ Economic warfare, depressions, hunger, poverty, and despair—these are the conditions that undermine democracy and love of peace. These are the conditions that made possible opportunities for the tyrants and aggressors who led the world into this war. These are the , conditions that nations an& tho people who make the nations must succeed in conquering if they are to avoid plunging into another catcalysm. The United Nations have therefore been striving to create cooperation for mutual welfare among the nations. These efforts will be extended in a series of conferences in the coming year. “ Here at home, the rehabilitation of our servicemen and servicewomen in civil life is one of our paramount duties in the period of readjustment which we have entered this year. No effort of which we as a nation are capable must be spared in rewarding them for the sacrifices they made and in making up to them the opportunities, they] have lost. There is cause for satisfaction in the work which has already been accomplished in this direction. It must take a foremost place in the year which lies ahead. Much can he done, and indeed, much has been done, by departmental organisation but the successful rehabilitation or our returning soldiers, sailors, and airmen must always depend largely on the co-opera-tion and spirit of the people. “ We must now turn our eyes to the future. The readjustment of our national life from war to peace is a task of great moment for everyone of us—it is for us to use wisely that freedom to guide our own destiny for which so many of New Zealand's sons fought and died. Already we have made important advances. In the legislature the session of Parliament which concluded a few weeks ago was one of the longest and most important for many years. Such measures as those providing for the minimum wage, the minimum family income, and universal family allowances, provided the legislative framework within which a society free from what can. be built. “It is true that our social sendees and benefits are equalled nowhere else in the world, but it must be remembered that the whole of the. structure already built to ensure freedom from want depends on tho maintenance, of the highest possible level of production. This means conscientious and efficient work by everyone in every walk of life and harmony in industry.

“Again I desire to express my gratitude for the splendid efforts of the whole country during six years of war, and to offer everyone best wishes for prosperity in the New Year of peace.”