MR NASH’S SPEECH

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1945, Page 5

MR NASH’S SPEECH

THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY. BIG TASKSYET AHEAD. . ; P a. WELLINGTON, May 9. * “We have joined to-day m thanksgiving for delivery from the greatest , See that the Engl people have yet known, said Hon. • Nash speaking at the public -eie monv at Government Buildings at noon toW. "It ««« M MWt to measure the dangers from wnwn vp Tmve been freed, but to-day we . ~.,p fathered to give thanks for victory 0 to acknowledge how mucn we _ owe'the men who died; .to extend our sympathy. to those who have remained io mourn the loss of loved ones, m pied£ the use of our reso™ J ntd thp wounds are healed, and no . restored'to health; and to Pledge ourselves to support to the full the measures necessary •to preve ha Mr G Nash a particularly th^nl^ d people of New Zealand foi - . strained, quiet expression of I thanks giving on the day the capitulat Northern Italy was announced. Zealand remembered that day the mothers, wives and relatives of the 'men who had not returned lhe wounded, by whose wounds we. lived were also remembered that day. _ Nalh asked that a similar inspiring quiet should be" observed to-day to-morrow. In giving thanxs for oei g saved from the greatest menace the world has yet known, we should remember those in other United Nation countries where millions had lost their lives, and millions more were wounded. We should remember the British Naw, without whose aid Britain could iiot have been saved; we should remember the hundreds.. ot thousands of airmen who daily risked their lives; we should remember the seven thousand New Zealand prisoners of war, whom we were longing to bring back home, and the ten thousand men of the three services who would never come back; we should remember, too, the Maori Battalion, whose brilliant exploits and courageous actions carried the fame of their tribes to the Northern i Hemisphere. Mr Nash said there were stern • times ahead for Europe, where famine and starvation were possible, unless unprecedented relief were provided We must be determined not to rest until the lands still imprisoned under enemy control were also freed, and all people freed politically and economically.- ' We must not let up until J’apan was also defeated, and until maximum food and other supplies were sent to starving Europe and Asia. MESSAGES TO N.Z. WELLINGTON, May 9. Hon. W. Nash has received rhe following message from Mr Churchill —“The final victory over our German enemy is now achieved, and, on behalf of the Government and people • of the United Kingdom, I send our greetings and congratulations to our kinsfolk in New Zealand on their great share in our common ' victory. During the darkest hours we in the Mother Country were very strengthened by the knowledge of the sure sympathy and support of New Zealand. Your courage and steadfastness never faltered, even when the enemy was almost at your gates. You allowed nothing to hamper the contribution which New Zealand has made through her sons on the field of battle, and through her workers on the farm and in the factory. The New Zealand Division, which has marched from Alamein through all of the battles in Tunis, Sicily and Italy, is now in the van of Marshal Alexander’s conquering armies. Let us now go forward together, with great determination, to inflict, as we shall at no distance date, the same crushing defeat on the Japanese aggressor.” Hon. Mi’ Nash sent the following message to Mr Churchill: “At the greatest moment in the history of the British Empire Commonwealth, the New Zealand Government and people send good wishes and congratulations on the saving of the Empire and. Commonwealth and the world from its greatest menace. No man’s ; contribution has exceeded yours, and its crowning glory is that it comes , on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the opening of ycnir special work —five immortal years,- which will enshrine your name and work in the annals of the world for all time.” Mr Nash has received the following message from General Eisenhower in reply to a cable message sent him congratulating him and all ranks under his command on the capitulation of the German forces in north-west Germany, Denmark and Holland: “On behalf of myself and all ranks of the A.E.F. I wish to thank you and 'the Government and people of New Zealand for your kind and heartening message. Let me assure you we are all very conscious of the great part which New Zealand has played in the victory of the Allied Nations.” The following message . has been received from Mr Mackenzie King, Canadian Prime Minister: “The Government and people of Canada are rejoicing with the Government and people of New Zealand in the deliverance of the nations from the evil forces of Nazi Germany.” Mr Nash replied: ‘!The New Zealand Government and people send congratulations and thanks to Canada for her great contribution to the victory so far achieved, and look forward to the fullest co-operation until the final victory is reached.”