The Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated. THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service” FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1950 DEATH OF MR FRASER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4369, 15 December 1950, Page 4

The Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated. THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service” FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1950 DEATH OF MR FRASER

/ In i>he passing bf the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, New Zealand loses a' great political figure and friend of the people, and the Commonwealth and the United Nations-a stateman and counsellor Who in his years as Prifne Minister did much for ihe world’s well-being. He had all the qualities of statesmanship if by statesmanship is meant the ability to encompass a World view in any given circumstance. He was a man who had grown, with hisr years and experience, and enlarged his vision to a world range. He had a far-seeing eye and immense capacity to weigh the consequences of this move or that. As a lad Peter Fraser was nurtured in the Scottish Liberal, school—at the age of 16 he was secretary of a branch in native shire—and those who have studied the- history of Liberalism will have readily discerned that the influence of those early days never really deserted him. He bore more tp the centre of the political road than to the extreme left. Like many others of those early days, however, he became impatient of the inertia of the Liberal Party and joined the Indepeiident Labour Group, which was becoming a political force to be reckoned with. In his adopted land—he came to New Zealand, in 1910—his interest in politics was no less intense, and through. , various stages of service in the Socialist Party, and subsequently the Social Democrat and Labour parties, he rose to the hierarchy of industrial and political Labour, with his entry to Parliament in 1918. He came up the hard way in politics, and had much experience of local body affairs for good measure. In the House, and out' of it, Mr Fraser did not seek-to embellish his speeches- with flowery phrases. Well read though he was—and he was nosean journalist—he was of* tha dour type of orator, tenacious to_his point, and there was never anj mistaking his meaning. His spoken word seldom did j ustice to his keen intellect. jHe was one of the ablest political strategists of his time and a master of the rules of procedure in Parlia-r ment. Frequently in his long service would he a’droitly turn the tables of debate. Above all, he was fair, and transparently so. ' • Mr Fraser had a touch of genius for conciliation and a deep understanding of human nature, was quick to sepse, in domestic as well as international affairs, any behind-the-scenes 'manoeuvres. With his innate Scottish shrewdness he often found a way out of. what appeared an insoluble problem, and steered sharply conflicting opinions to a course of harmony. No less was he a humanitarian. An outstanding instance of this Was his offer of a home in New Zealand for hundreds of Polish children whom the tide of war had swept into despair, ' As Acting Prime Minister during the illness of Mr Savage it fell to Mr Fraser* to announce that New Zealand, ranged alongside the rest of the Empire, was at war, and from the moment of his historic declaration he -never spared himself. He was the personification of the pledge given by Mr Savage in a message from his home a day later: “Both with gratitude for the past and with confidence in the future, we range ourselves without .fear with Britain. Where she goes, we go. Where she stands, we stand.” Mr Eraser was to carry the main burden in the organisation and direction of New Zealand’s war effort throughout the hostilities, for his leader was-nearing his end and died seven months after that call to the country. With f quiet confidence and the example of hard work—he was. at his desk almost day and night—Mr Fraser inspired those around him and the Dominiona whole, and perhaps no bute could be paid to him than Mr praise for dur war effort, “New Zealand never put a foot wrbngtThe welfare ■of the forces was always of prior imporWide'-to him. Soldiers of the N.Z.E.F. and the country in general will never forget‘Mr Fraser for his personal appeal in the dark days of Crete for another effort to save more men whom the Middle East High Command had virtually given up hope of rescuing. But for his intercession and the resultant success of the desperate naval operation, many more New Zealander® would have fallen into enemy hands and spent years in captivity. For his action he won a place in the esteem of all, * By his personality and deep earnestness of purpose at the United Conference at San Francisco in 1945 Mr Fraser became recognised throughout the world as one of the architects of the structure for the maintenance of peace and security. As the New Zealand forces in war had won admiration for this small country, so did its then Prime Minister evoke wide commendation for its jiart in helping to rebuild the world. Not all his efforts figured in the limelight of open assembly, for he was indefatigable at committee work as well. Subsequent events may have caused some disillusionment to him, but his faith in a new order never faltered. We, with every citizen of the Dominion, mourn thq passing of a statesman who served not only his own country well, but the cause of all peace-loving nations.