FORMIDABLE TASKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 31 December 1940, Page 5

FORMIDABLE TASKS

STILL GREATER EFFORT REQUIRED | PRIME MINISTER’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE DOMINION’S WAR-SERVICE [United Press Association] WELLINGTON. This Day. “While much has been done, most formidable tasks still lie ahead of ! us and we must make 1941 a year | of tremendous national effort.” states the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in his New Year message to the people of New Zealand. “There is need for still greater effort, for harder work and for still greater efficiency,” Mr Fraser says. “Our shipping losses present formidable difficulties which can only be met and successfully overcome by the united efforts of all concerned, freezing companies, coolstore workers, transport workers, shipping companies, seamen and waterside workers.” Mr Fraser’s message follows: There is little I need say to remind the people of New Zealand of the series of events which have marked 1940. The grim progress of the war and its effects throughout the world are familiar to all Great perils have been surmounted by the British people. At no time have th**y been disheartened or dismayed. At no time have they faltered in their determination to stand by their ideals. The peoples of the British Commonwealth are not prepared to accept the so-called new order of tyrannical dic--1 tatorship which the aggressor nations are attempting to impose upon the world. AMERICA’S ASSISTANCE In the desperate and powerful attack that has been launched upon democratic civilisation, some countries have fallen. Far the time being their people are down but they are not out so long as they can hope for deliverance. Their whole future is dependent on our victory. The British Commonwealth is now the only world Power actively defending those hard-won liberties and institutions built up over a thousand years and upon which modern civilisation is based, though our courageous and determined ally, Greece, is waging a victorious campaign crowned by outstanding successes against the Italian aggressor, while the United States ot America is rendering magnificent assistance by placing her vast material resources with unprecedented generosity at our service.

The people of Britain are carrying on calmly and confidently building up their defences, increasing their army and striking back at the enemy in everincreasing force on land, sea and air. in the past few weeks our forces in Egypt have shown their mettle and th ; r victory is a splendid tribute to the skilful planning, dash and courage which characterises the British Army of 1941.

Throughout the year the men and women of the United Kingdom have covered themselves with honour: in the factory, in the field, in the mines, in shipbuilding yards, and at the docks, they have doggedly stuck to their jobs in the fact of danger and death. In towns and cities scarred by constant raids they are carrying on. Their courageous example is beyond praise, and is an inspiration to the people of the whole world

o NEW ZEALAND’S GRATITUDE e Here in New Zealand we can best show our heartfelt admiration and graa titude in deeds rather than words. By A organising our own war service as we it are doing in accordance with our full i- strength and our total resources, we d are assisting the whole commonwealth effort, and it is important to rememe ber always that it is not Britain that .. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy are g fighting, but the British Commonwealth of Nations and its peoples, including ourselves, everyone of us, in New Zealand. g During the year much has been done e in New Zealand —men have been traing ed and sent overseas to the theatres of ' war. Our soldiers, sailors, and airmen 1 have worthily upheld the best traditions of our armed services. At home we have organised our defence forces on a firmer basis than ever before—--7 territorials, National Military Reserve. -) Home Guard. Emergency Precautions Scheme. Women’s War Service Auxil- . iary, all these have received active support and are performing excellent work. The national, provincial and local patriotic fund organisations have 1 been most creditably active and suc--7 cessful in receiving the full confidence ! and support of the public. As a result i the lives of our men overseas have , been brightened. i On the civil side, farmers, and work- . ers, manufacturers, indeed, those en- . gaged generally in production and dis- . tribution of our commodities have met the extraordinary needs of war condi- ! tions in a most satisfactory manner. , More goods are being produced and more food and raw materials are being made available to Britain. I am proud to say that no request which Britain has made to us has failed to meet with an immediate and favourable response. We would gladly do more if we could. TIIE NEED FOR UNITY Above all. there is the need for unity. I would like to appeal once again to every man and woman to co-operate in the fullest possible way with the Government in the prosecution of the war. To waste time and energy in petty quarrels while the nation is involved in a life and death struggle is shameful and unworthy of a democratic people. This is no time for emphasising political differences. All our combined energies must be concentrated on one object alone —the attainment of victory. The burdens of war are already immense—the estimated cost in money this financial year is £37.500.000. Next year this sum will be increased. We can only meet ihis huge expenditure now and ultimately by our own efforts from our own sources of real wealth. We have the resources. Let us develop them to the full, even at the same time, at the cost of consuming less ourselves! Fortunately our standards of living are among the highest in the world and there are great numbers of our people who can afford temporarily to make the individual sacrifices which are and will be inevitably required. ; This does not mean that the social advance made in recent years will be r lost On the contrary, we are fighting j for the maintenance of our high social i and economic standards as well as for c political freedom and the right as a c nation to order our own lives as we ou*selves think fit which is the very z essence of liberty ” r PRINCIPLES WORTH DEFENDING J These are principles worth defending « and their full restoration when the war * is over is the highest duty devolving upor Government and people alike. Those of us who remain at home must

see to it that full preparation is made to look after all the men who return trim overseas and to make certain that the provision made is full and generous. As Prime Minister, I would like to take this opportunity of assuring the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Government’s determination to do everything possible to secure their successful return to civil life and in addition to as ist and support all those who because of the effects of war. may be unable to take their places again In civilian ranks. The future of New Zealand depend* upon their efforts and those of all the armed forces in securing a British victo •/• Without that victory there could 1 be no return to the ways of social pro-1

gross and the high level of prosperity which we have enjoyed. We realise our debt and we will honour it to the utmost of our capacity. To our men overseas, in the navy, th® army, the air force, the mercantile marine, the nurses and all other war workers, and to all of you in New Zealand, I extend cordial greetings and every wish for happiness and good fortune in the New Year. MR LEE’S MESSAGE WELLINGTON. This Day. The following New Year message on behalf of the Democratic Labour Party has been issued by Mr Lee D.C M M.P.:— •Resurrection is as eternal as death. In the life of humans, of societies, of nations, there are crises. Yesterday’s hope dies on some Calvary. Our Empire is emerging from the Jaws of death. Truth and courage are winning the resurrection With purpose still more tenacious we must face 1941. May all help to smash and repel Fascism’s enslaving physical and spiritual chains. May a new world be deserved and wo% Good fortune to New Zealanders on active service May achievement crown their sacrifice Good fortune to boy® and girls, to all patriotic citizens.**