PUBLIC MORALE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24275, 16 May 1942, Page 9

PUBLIC MORALE

FACING THE FUTURE UNIFIED SACRIFICE URGED (0.C.) NAPIER. Friday The subordination of selfish idealism, the engendering of a co-operative spirit in each community, and the development of unified sacrifice, were urged by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell when addressing a "public morale" meeting in Napier. "Recently, I read extracts from text books published in Germany on the subject of morale," said. Sir Andrew. "These extracts were scientific and ingenious, going into details about the superiority of Germans, and regarding you and I as a type of person outside, fit only to hew wood and to carry water. But they were on the wrong line. They treated morale as they treat propaganda; just turn on the tap and let it come out when they want it. "We do not want morale for just the two or three years the war may last," he added. "We want it throughout our entire lives, whether we are at peace or at war. Morale can be called selflessness —the putting aside of one's own gains for the good of the community as a whole. How do you get morale? Ask God and He will give it to you, and if you follow this idea and use it you can face whatever is in store for yon, whether defeat or victory, with high courage." The Bishop of Aotearoa, tho Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, said since the last war there had been a decline in attendances at the churches. People had been making the pleasures of life their main ambitions. "If they do not worship God, they must worship somebody," he said. "Hitler closed the churches in Germany and, as Germans had no God, they treat Hitler as one." As a democratic people, said the Hon. W. E. Barnard, Speaker of the House of Representatives, we had been free to differ, but to continue to do this, even when the enemy might be at the gate, was a luxury which we could not afford if we were to survive as a free people. He urged the removal of class distinction. What was needed was a spirit of human fellowship. France was a classic example of a country collapsing from within, while Russia stood as an example of what could be done by a truly united people. ROLL OF HONOUR EXPEDITIONARY FORCE ONE DEATH REPORTED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday In a Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force casualty list issued to-night, one man previously missing is reported killed. Two prisoners have been traced and one man is reported safe. The names are as follows: — KILLED IN ACTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING Savage, Thomas Michael (Cpl.), Ahaura. PRISONERS OF WAR PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING Collins, Andrew "Walter, Wellington. Stratford, James Joseph, Wellington. REPORTED SAFE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED PRISONER Thomas, Walter Babingtoa (Lient.), Riwaka. AIR FORCE LOSSES MISSING ON OPERATIONS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday The following air casualties are announced, all being members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force unless otherwise stated: — Beatson, Rex Vivian (Pilot-Officer), missing on operations—Mrs. K. W. Major, New Plymouth (sister). Fussell, Philip (ktldham (Ssft.), R.A.F., missing on operations—Rev. J. C. Fussell. Waimate North (father). Sligo, John Adams (Pilot-Officer), missing on operations—Mrs. M. T. Sligo, Palmerston North (wife). Waters. David Owen (Pilot-Officer), missing on operations—Mr. W. S. Waters, Auckland (father). Sotham, Richard John (Pilot-Officer), missing on a ferrying flight—Mrs. R. J. Sotham, Thames (wife). Smith, James Manzies (Flight-Sgt.), previously reported dangerously ill as the result of air operations: now removed from the dangerously ill list —Mr. S. Smith, Timaru (father). OBITUARY MRS. M. E. JOHNSTONE A well-known pianist and singer, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Johnstone, of Auckland, has died at the age of 70 years. Born in England, she went to Sydney with her father, Mr. H. H. Thiele, becoming known in musical circles there, and later came to Auckland, where she was associated with the Choral Society. Leaving Auckland in 1910, she married the late Mr. John L. S. Johnstone in Fiji, and there took a leading part in musical and dramatic circles until her husband's retirement from the Colonial Civil Service in 1-919. They then returned to New Zealand. She' is survived by two sons in the Royal New Zealand Air Force; a third in the same service was shot down in 1940. CENSORSHIP BREACHES Two persons charged with breaches of the censorship regulations appeared before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., yesterday. They were Ruby Gladys Yelas, aged 20, and John Louis Hans (Mr. Fleming). Ruby Yelas was convicted and ordered to pay costs after admitting a minor breach, and Hans was fined £4 for what the magistrate described as a worse offence.