Her Excellency's Message To Women of Dominion

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 110, 11 May 1945, Page 2

Her Excellency's Message To Women of Dominion

“There can seldom have been a day of greater universal rejoicing than this in the history of the civilised world, ’’ says Lady Newall in a message to the women of New Zealand. “New Zealand women in this Dominion and overseas fully share in the relief and happiness of this day of victory over all enemies in Europe, when unconditional surrender has at last been accomplished. During the past live years many New Zealand women, a high proportion for such a small population, have seen their sons, husbands, fathers and brothers join the Fighting Services and Merchant Navy, and leave these shore for varying periods which in some cases exceeded four years. Each one of us is proud to know that by their valour New Zealand’s fair name stands higher than ever before. Men and women, both pakeha and Maori, have been comrades in arms on every battle front, and by their prowess at sea, on land and in the air have proved their loyalty to the Commonwealth and Empire. “You who have served here at home have done your various jobs well, have packed Bed Cross St. John patriotic parcels which saved the lives of many prisoners of war, and have performed the manifold omergency tasks which were set you by the needs of tho war, so that you can face with flear consciences those who return from battle. “If there are any women or girls who did not do their fair share, they can still prove their worth now in the coming mouths. For, though we can rejoice to-day wholeheartedly with our sisters at home and overseas, nevertheless we realise that war tasks must still go on without respite till Japanese aggression is as thoroughly crushed as the aggression of Germany. Let us do what will help most and do it diligently with all our might, and thus safeguard, in so far as in us lies, the future freedom and wellbeing of our homes and our children to the banishment of false materialistic ways of life, to the destruction of wickedness and vice for a better world of truth', order and •Godliness.