“Fighting For Life,” Says Mason

Northern Advocate, 21 February 1940, Page 6

“Fighting For Life,” Says Mason

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] AUCKLAND, This Day. “Make no mistake about this —we are fighting for our very existence, our self preservation; fighting the powers of darkness; and the Government of New Zealand expects every man who is capable of bearing arms to volunteer in this fight against the common enemy.” This was the dramatic appeal made at midday today by the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, Minister for Justice and Attor-ney-General, at the opening of a new recruiting station, situated in front of the chief post office in Queen Street. Mr Mason got to the point without any preamble. Pie referred to Herr Hitler’s specious promises before his annexation of “Austria, by fraud,” “Czechoslovakia, by fraud and violence,” and “Poland, by violence”; and pointed out that these aggressions followed a disregard of various treaties. “At the outset,” said Mr Mason, “Hitler took advantage of our sporting spirit, but Poland was the crucial phase or test. Virtues As Weaknesses “The question then was, ‘when is this cease?’ We were forced to. realise tfiat we would have to fight for our existence, that Hitler regards Christian virtues as weakness. “We are face to face with a fight against the powers of darkness, and the Government, believing, in the voluntary system, appeals' to everyone, irrespective of 'politics, to stand shoulder to. shoulder to fight the common enemy. “We have no choice in this matter. The war must be prosecuted vigorously for our own preservation.”