Nothing Can Shake or Break Britain

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 192, 14 August 1941, Page 4

Nothing Can Shake or Break Britain

New Zealand Ready if War Comes to Pacific MR. FRASER’S BROADCAST United Press Association—By Electric T elejiraph—Copyrigrht. LONDON, Aug. 12. The situation in the Pacific is certainly serious, but there is still time for wiser counsels to prevail than that of aggression,” said the New Zealand Prime Alinister, Air. Fraser, in a broadcast to-day. “If, despite every effort to maintain peace in the Pacific, the tide of war should reach New Zealand and Australia, I am certain that the daughter Dominions will show the same calm, unflinching courage, the same fortitude, amf the same deep, unyielding determination uhich has ennobled the Motherland. New Zealand will stand shoulder to shoulder with the United Kingdom to the end, whatever may come, and that end will be victory.” .Summing up the impressions of his visit, Air. Fraser said: “The nation's unity is most inspiring and wonderful. It is truly magnificent. Nothing can shake or break it. It is fusing all that is best in British hearts. It will withstand any attack. It has grown stronger with each shock. (‘lt is fittingly typified by a Alinistrv of able, earnest, energetic and devoted men from all parties with the intrepid and dauntless Churchill at its head. The Allied executives in London are all fully united and determined to carry on the struggle until the aggressor nations are overthrown and the subjugated peoples liberated. ‘A few weeks ago much talk of industrial absenteeism, slackening and inefficiency resulted, painting an altogether too black picture of conditions in Britain’s war industry. This when sent abroad conveyed a wrong and altogether too pessimistic impression. There may have been, and probably still, is a certain amount of these evils and they should be dealt with as effectively and drastically ns the circumstances require, but their extent should not be magnified out of all proportion to their importance. As a result they obscure in some measure the enormous amount of fine work accomplished. Great work has been done in the fields, factories, workshops, mines, shipyards, railways docks and offices. The changeover from peace to war economy on such an unprecedented scale within 18 months has been a gigantic task reflecting great credit on the administrators and people generally.” After paying tribute to Britain’s new army of workers, Mr. Fraser added: “The land, sea and air defences I have seen are only a very small part of the national defences, but they impressed me very much as did the Home Guard and other war services. I am certain any attempted invasion will be overwhelmed and crushed. I nowhere, however, saw signs of complacency or 'foolish self-deception. There is confidence everywhere. I carry home with me pictures of a nation organised in every way for victory.”