WHAT IS IT?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 4 November 1942, Page 2

WHAT IS IT?

AWAKE NEW ZEALAND CAMPAIGN ENQUIRY ANSWERED A correspondent (“Enquirer") writes to say he has been puzzled by advertisements appearing under the name of the “Awake New Zealand Campaign" and appealing for a miscellaneous assortment of articles to be given or sold to the organisation At first he thought it was some sort of a political organisation, but its main energies, he says, appear to be concentrated on accumulating articles having .ittle apparent connection with one another. He asks for an explanation of what “Awake New Zealand" and for what purpose the wanted. The assumption is are for defence purposes. (he asks) do we have to these things and why does this to do the work? T Explanation of the points raised is given by the secretary of the Nelson branch of the Awake New Zealand Campaign as follows : The Awake New Zealand Campaign was originated in Hamilton by Major T. Melrose, Officer Commanding the Hamilton Home Guard. It can be said that it owes its birth to a feeling of helplessness and frustration in the minds of thinking people when Japan entered the war and the immediate peril of invasion threatened New Zealand. The objects of the organisation are : (1) to endeavour to awaken the spiritual consciousness of the people. (2) To rouse the public and the Government to the urgent necessity for a total war effort, involving among other things, every able bodied man being 1 trained to fight, and all the factories ! snd workshops of the country being used to their fullest capacity in pro- ■ ducing the arms, ammunition and i equipment requited.

(3) To urge on the people the need for immediate individual action without waiting for Government compulsion as the success of any defence effort made by the Government must rest finally on the offensive spirit of the people themselves.

(4) To obtain for the Home Guard Unit in the district such equipment as the resources of the district can supply. It is strictly a non-political organisation and. acting without fear or favour, endeavours to right the wrongs to win the war, giving practical support where possible—such as assisting to provide Home Guard equipment.—criticising constructively the actions of any person or persons without distinction as to political creed whose actions are considered harmful to the maximum war effort.

Branches have been operating in various centres throughout New Zealand, the Nelson branch having been fornied on 30th July, 1942, when Mr W. M. Shaw, secretary of the Dominion Provisional Committee at Hamilton, and Mr H. W. Morton, Mayor of Te Kuiti. addressed a large gathering in the Marina Tea Rooms, Nelson.

Efforts are being made by this Dominion Provisional Committee to develop the organisation on a truly Dominion wide scale and a conference of Dominion delegates is expected to be called at an early date. Immediately following this conference a public meeting is t § be called in Nelson, when it will be possible to develop the local organisation on the same lasis as in all other centres. Meantime, each provisional local committee is endeavouring to help in every possible way to further the war effort The Nelson Committee has so far spent the greater part of its time obtaining items of equipment urgently needed by their Home Guard and a substantial part of the required items is now available for delivery.