MAXIMUM EFFORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20525, 8 April 1941, Page 4

MAXIMUM EFFORT

DOMINION’S DUTY WINNING THE WAR MR. SEMPLE FORCEFUL CALL TO RAILWAYMEN (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. "I will investigate any of your grievances, but I will not stand for pointing a pistol at my head, using knuckle-dusters, stabbing in /the back, holding secret meetings, or any form of conspiracy that will hold up the war effort of the country,’" declared the Minister of Railways, the Hon. R. Semple, in addressing a mass meeting of employees at the Otahuhu railway workshops. The Minister who was accompanied by the general manager of railways, Mr. Casey, was given a hearty reception and a resolution was unanimously adopted pledging support to the Government and its war effort. In appealing for a reciprocal effort on the part of the workshops employees, the Minister said he did not want to be regarded as a boss or master, but as a friend and workmate. As such he would consider any alleged grievances or wrongs and rectify them where possible. All Sections of Community The task of winning the war transcended all others and the maximum ettort was necessary from all sections of the community. “There was no other road we could take,” declared the Minister in regard to the Dominion’s part in the war. "There are only two sides of the fence, Hitler’s and ours. "The doors of mercy and the gates of reason were slammed in the face of Britain and other parts of the Empire. “For myself, I would rather perish on the hillsides or valleys of New Zealand than yield to the forces that are seeking to enslave free peoples,” lie declared amid cheers. It was not lime to hold inquests on what had been done in the past. “If you were escaping from a sinking ship you would not hold a stopswim meeting to discuss whether the captain had done right,” he continued. "There will be plenty of time after our survival for making inquests and passing judgments. Custodians of Liberty "We arc only the custodians of liberty and we iiave a sacred charge and holy obligation to maintain it and to die, if necessary, before we give it away. There is no safety zone in this war and New Zealand is no longer an isolated country immune from war.” Mr. Semple said that the people of Britain were working over 80 hours a week and had vowed to die amid the ruins of their cities rather than surrender.

"England is our first line of defence,” said Mr. Semple. "The people there are working for us, suffering, fighting and dying for us.

“The least we can do is to give our maximum effort to help. lam confident that if you are called upon to make a special effort you will do it. "All I ask is tiiat you are manly and straightforward with me. I ask you to join together, work together, and fight together to hold New Zealand free from enslavement,” declared the Minister.