BRAVE SACRIFICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24850, 23 March 1944, Page 4

BRAVE SACRIFICE

DIVISION AT CASSINb!: PRIME MINISTER'S. TRIBUTE i

GENERAL FREYBERG'S LOYALTY (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday "To-night we are thinking of all our boys serving overseas in the various theatres of war, and particularly the men of our division faced with the terrific job of trying to clear the enemv from those formidable heights and o£ stacles at Cassino," said the Prime Min" ister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, the debate 011 the Finance Bill in .the Hou se of .Representatives to-night. "When we think of them the things relating to our social and political life fade into comparative insignificance" Mr. Fraser added. "Complaints and problems about minor matters at iioiiie carry no weight at all in the face of the sacrifice our lads are making. 1 will take the opportunity to-morrow to brinjr forward a resolution which I will ask the House to approve as an appreciation and encouragement of the men who are giving all for us."

After expressing his own and the Government's sympathy with the relatives of men fallen in battle. Mr. Fraser mentioned that the Opposition member* ■ for Bay of Plenty, Sir. W. Sullivan, and Franklin, Mr. J. N. Massey, had received advice that their sons werß reported missing and said he hoped that good news would be heard of them soon. Paying a tribute to Lieutenant-Gen-era 1 Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., the Prime Minister said that although he had had opportunity for a higher command he had declined it in order to remain with the division he loved.. can only pray that the New Zealand corps which General Freyberg commands will continue under the guidance of Providence," he said.

The war was far from over and won said Mr. Fraser, who added that we could not live on the achievements of the past years. We must live in the present and plan for the future. There must be no falling away from the high standard of the war effort, which had earned recognition in other parts of the world.