Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24 1940. BRITAIN'S TASK

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4486, 24 September 1940, Page 2

Lake Wakatip Mail QUEEN STOWN, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24 1940. BRITAIN'S TASK

“LET as, therefore, do our duty and so boar ourselves that, if the British Commonwealth and Empire lasts a thousand years, men will. stiJL say, ‘This was their finest hour’.” Mr Winston Churchill has the flair for ganging the exact temper of the British spirit in times of crisis. His many speeches have been rallying calls to which the whole Empire has responded. Almost—but not quite—alone Britain is facing the powers of darkness . Within the last week we have lead of the indiscriminate bombing of London and of the heroic attitude of its people, of the marvellous feats of the Royal Air Force, including the bringing down of nearly two hundred enemy planes in one day. Mr Churchill has since reminded the people of Britain that still 1 worse air raids may be expected, and that the attempted invasion is still a possibility. How does Britain stand in the face of such a threat of invasion? Historically, her War Office has always taken a harsher view of the possibilities than the Admiralty has done. But today the situation is better in many respects, Never at any time has Britain had such a large well-trained army on her shores. Against real full-scale invasion, because of the trend of this war, Britain- has unexpected strength. Seaborne invasion ton a large scale means that the enemy must maintain lines of communication from his coast to Britain’s —since it can certainly not be assumed that he would be able to supply himself from the resources of the country he was invading. Against his efforts Britain ha* (apart from land forces greater than ever before) the resources of surface ships), submarines, aircraft and mines- which would be used to make it impossible for the enemy to sustain the forces, if any, that he may throw on British shores. It has been pointed out by Mr Churchill that the chances of what the enemy meditates are much better today than they used to- be becausereconnoitring aircraft are the eyes of the defence. On the other hand, of course, the Germans would reckon greatly on their own aircraft to escort the expedition to its objective and to maintain it there against attack. On the relative strengths in the air, however, we have had very

reassuring state mentis. Britain lias fewer bombers than Germany, but she Seems to have- enough to go bn attacking military targets in Germany itseft without intermission. British pilots are definitely the masters of the /Nazis. Man foil’ man, and machine for machine, the enemy cannot touch them. All in alt, Britain stands well aimed and well prepared. She has the men, who are in spirit inferior to none in this oir any other war. They are by now well and fully equiped. And from the entire nation, from the men in the lighting forces and from the civilians engaged in the

less direct phases of the country’isi war effort, a high resolution., faith in

the future, and readiness to serve are the finalities that can he counted upon. 'The spirit of the people is still the spirit which defeated Philip of Spain, Louis XIV and Napoleondour, determined, unconquerable. The workers know that, under Hitler, they would exchange freedom for slavery, and they have sworn that they will not he conquered. Every class, in, the community is today shouldering financial burdens which a few years ago would have caused revolution. To their own Government they have, surrendered rights in their persons and their properties the better to preserve their liberties,. They only ask that the Government shall accept their sacrifice, and use it with energy

and imagination. They will forgive no man who strangles their effort with red tape, or brings to naught their will to victory by v,actuation.

Official summer-time will bejr.ni mi New Zealand at 2 a-.ni. on Sunday, September 29, when clocks will be advanced half-an-hour. The penod of summer time will continue until the last Sundav in April. 1911. Arbor Day was observed locally on Wednesday last. A large number ot poplars were planted on Queenstown hill and the children had their usual sports and refreshments at the OneA reminder is given about Mr Fus--s ell’s sale of a few small items of household goods at the Vicarage, on Tuesday next, October the first at 2.30 p.m. . . , The Queenstown Municipal Band gave a varied program of musical select ions in the Park on Sunday afternoon in the presence of a moderate number of local people and visitors. The performance was ol considerable merit and drew forth the applause of those present. It was intended that a collection be taken up in aid of patriotic funds, but unfortunately no collectors were appointed. , „ „ , ... The Country Football Club hold their annual ball in the Lower Shotover Hall on Friday next. Patrons may rely on the usual feast of entertainment this function affords. The surplus funds will be handed to- the patriotic funds. J A conference of represeintati ves ol lime companies in the province and members of the lime committee of the Southland Primary Production Council was held Hast week, when it was reported that the immediate requirements of lime amounted to 3100 tans. The representatives of the companies gave an undertaking to supply this amount of lime urgently for cultivation purposes. ' * The. -Minister for Health (Hon. H. T. Armstrong Isaid last week that he had another interview with _ the New Zealand Council of the British Medina! Association and was hopeful that satisfactory arrangements would be made between the British Medical Association and the Government about medical benefits under the Social Security Act. The- coincidence that at a luncheon only two years ago. Admiral Harper and Count You Luckner had boon the joint guests of the Christchurch Businessmen’s Club was mentioned by Mr S. G. Holland. M.P. last week- _ “It I’yst shows how gullible we British are that we should entertain a man who. was obviously a German spy. “I remember," he said, “that while he was at the table the telephone message came that he could go rowing on the Avon or anywhere _ else, but that he -must not go to Ripa Island because we were busy there. And now German bombs are raining on Loudon." The Otago Society tar the Prevention of Crueltv to Animals has decided -not to institute a court action against those responsible for a coursing meeting ..at Forbury Park on June 22. when ..it was stated. IS hares were killed out of IS courses. Legal advice on the question was that a prosecution would have little chance of success. “There its apparently nothing illegal in the so-called ‘sport’ 1 ’ of coursing.’'’ stated the solicitors in a letter, “any more than there is in the wretched practice of live pigeon trap shooting." Sister societies throughout New Zealand are to be circularised asking them to assist in bring pressure on the Government to prohibit live hare coursing in enclosed areas.