DANGEROUS DAYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 31 December 1941, Page 5

DANGEROUS DAYS

NEW ZEALAND THREATENED MR FRASER S ( Al l. FOR l MTV AND COFRAGE "peoplf: will be tested as NEVER BEFORE" Wellington, This Day. "The year 1942 will find the people of New Zealand united in their firm resolve to do their duty.” says the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in a New Year message. “For the first time in our country’s history, we are directly threatened by enemy attack and. at such a time, I am proud to say, the people are neither dismayed nor are they unaware of the perils and difficulties’ which may be in store for them. ‘•Every citizen recognises that the first responsibility is to get together, here and now. and to work and if need be to fight.” continues Mr Fraser. "In the year just past the glorious example of our men overseas, of those who fought so magnificently against overwhelming odds in Greece, in Crete and in Libya has inspired and strengthened all our people. I know T speak for * every man and every woman when 1 say that, if the day should come when we. too. may be called upon to defend our own soil, there will be no one who | will not regard it as a privilege to share some of the dangers and hardships which the men of our Armed Forces overseas have endured; and no New ( Zealander will, I am sure, fail to acquit himself with equal courage and forti- | tilde in the task of defending his own country. LIBERTY AT STAKE ‘lt is customary in the I’rime Minister’s New Year message to wish happiness and prosperity, but for 1942 I can express no such sentiments. Something more precious, more vital and more real than pleasure or prosperity is now at stake, and that is liberty. “Because we have never known any- j thing but freedom in its fullest measure we do not, and probably cannot. , realise what its loss would mean. We do, however, have the example before us of millions of unfortunate people in j Europe to-day and in Asia who are suffering the grim horrors and humilia- i tions of conditions akin to serfdom. In all those countries now deprived of national existence, as in almost every democratic country, there were many who i said in the past. ‘lt cannot happen here.' The year 1941 has. I hope, buried any | such illusion, and it remains for us in i the time still at our disposal to hasten , and complete our preparations and to | devote our whole national effort to the prosecution of the war. It is only three weeks since this Dominion became an outpost in an actual theatre of war. Already the people have responded magnificently, but much more is required of everyone. “The fateful year ahead will, in all probability, be the most crucial in our history and indeed in the history of modern civilisation. The*capacitv and character of the New Zealand people will be tested as never before, and it is for us to prove that we are worthy of the very great privileges we have so j long enjoyed and that we are capable of maintaining the trust which has been imposed on us by those who founded this Dominion 100 years ago. APPEAL TO ALL “As Prime Minister of this Dominion. I earnestly appeal to every citizen to work wholeheartedly with one object in view—the security of our own country and the furtherance of victory for the British Commonwealth and its Allies, against the forces of aggression in Europe, in the Atlantic, in Asia, in the Pacific, in North Africa, in the Mediterranean and in every theatre of war in which the enemy may make his attack. ‘The odds against us are still great,'' says the Prime Minister. “At the present moment we must steel ourselves against reverses and disappointments. Risks must be taken and for the time being there can be no guarantee of safety or easy success. But the tide will turn. We are marching with our courageous comrades of the British Commonwealth and our brave Allies, in spite of difficulties, to a sure and certain victory. The vast resources in men and materials of the United States and Russia are being rapidly organised to that end. Our task in 1942 is to keep working and to complete our preparations and to stand fast if we are attacked. I am confident that we can and we shall rise to the occasion.”—P.A. MOTTO FOR NEW YEAR VIGILANCE AND PREPAREDNESS MR S. G. HOLLAND’S ADVICE Wellington, This Day.; "The eve of the New Year finds New Zealand in the war zone and it behoves all of us to take our proper share in the burden thus imposed upon the j country. This is no time for anyone to shirk his responsibilities or to say: ‘That doesn’t concern me.’ The war concerns every one of us. It mayaffect our lives and our homes and the happiness of those we love, states the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) in a New Year message. "If New Zealand is attacked we shall i have to stand or fall largely by our own i efforts. Vigilance and preparedness! should be the motto of all. There is no room for the slacker. There is no place for the loafer. A country involved in a war of survival cannot afford to waste its productive power. W e have got to make the fullest possible use of our resources in men and materials in order to preserve our own security in these perilous times. "But even though unusual hardships, sacrifices, and inconveniences are called for, there are many compensations to be discerned. It is in these times that j the finest characteristics of our race j are seen. We stand shoulder to, shoulder and should not let superficial : differences in thought and outlook i divide us. "Then, too, we have been reinforced in our struggle against the dark forces that would extinguish the light of liberty from the world. A year ago Britain stood virtually alone. To-day the course of events has brought to her side two of the largest and most powerful nations of the world, the United States and Russia. Our fight is their j tight, and who can doubt that such a ' formidable combination must eventual - 1 ly triumph? The road may be long and [ hard, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that 1942 may be one of ‘he: decisive years of world history. In a , year’s time, when we look back, we may be able to know that through our i work and achievements we have helped i to lay the foundations of a glorious j victory.”—P.A. GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO BROADCAST His Excellency the 1 Governor-General ; will broadcast to the people of New Zealand immediately after the one min- i u*e silent prayer at 9 o’clock this even- < infi