PLEA TO PEOPLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25084, 23 December 1944, Page 8

PLEA TO PEOPLE

ME HOLLAND'S MESSAGE SIXTH WAR CHRISTMAS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday A plea for co-operation, tolerance and unselfishness in order that New Zealand may march forward as a united nation through the coming days of peace is the keynote of a Christmas message addressed to the people of the Dominion by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland. "It is only by showing these qualities that we can be worthy of the sacrifices of the fighting men and their relatives, who have carried the heaviest burden of the war," said Mr Holland "Today we have come to oui sixth wai Christmas and we have much cause for gratitude and rejoicing. Diliicult years lie behind us, years in which our very existence as a nation was in jeopardy. During these years New Zealand played its part well, and today we look forward to an early and certain victory. But Ue war has left scars and gaps in our community which even victory cannot oifaco. Acknowledge Sacrifices ■'.Let us not forget, especially at this time of family reunions and goodleiiuwship, the sufferings and sacrifices oi those who have fought and bled to make victory possible. Let us not lorget the brave women —mothers and tl.e wives of fighting men —who have endured years of separation and sometimes the loss of their loved ones. Nor should we forget the thousands of children who have been deprived of the strength and comradeship of their fathers during several years of their young lives. However encouraged we may feel at the brightening of the horizon during the past year, we should acknowledge in all humility the ureat , sacrifices that have been made. "As we look forward in the hope o! j victory in Europe in I lie coining year we must all resolve to take inspiration from the courage and steadfastness of the fighting men. Let us see to it that wo express our gratitude in the right way by creating conditions that will assure them of happiness and security in the years ahead. This can be done if we pull together in peace as "we have done during the war. Achieving "New Order" "Never was New Zealand more united than in the days when invasion threatened us. Surely we can apply the same singleness of purpose to peacetime problems, so that the 'new order' will be a reality and not an illusion. To achieve this will demand hard work and hard thinking. It cannot be achieved by mere wishing. "There will have to be high efficiency and sustained effort to create more production, without which a higher living standard cannot be had. Ihe theory ol something for nothing is a delusion, as most New Zcalanders now realise. Everyone wants a better New Zealand and a fuller life, but these things cannot be built by politicians; they must be the product of intelligent and concerted effort by the people as a whole. Meanwhile, as we plan for peace, we most spare no effort for victory until the last throb of the war drums dies away. The war effort must remain paramount. "Our country has built up a grand record, both on the battlefield and on the home front, in the past five years. Let us continue the task, confident in the outcome and clear and steadfast in our purpose. To every New Zealander, 1 wish a merry Christmas. May the new year bring happiness to all arid joyful reunions to those who have been separated from their loved ones and friends." HIGH PRICES FRUIT AND VEGETABLES DEMAND AT CITY MARKETS Prices at the Citv Markets yesterday for vegetables and fruit which have come to be regarded as important constituents of a Christmas dinner were double and treble those realised at the corresponding sales last year. As a result of the recent unseasonable weather certain essentia! lines were ::i short supply, and retailers bid extravagantly for what was ottering rather than return to their shops with nothing to sell to their customers on the busiest day of the year. Mostly affected were beans and green peos, the latter changing hands at Is 6d per lb, compared with od per lb at the final pre-Christmas sales last year. Beans, quoted at from Is 6d to '2s 9d per lb. also were more than three times as dear. Marrows were as much as Is 6d each, against 2s a dozen a year ago. Those costing lOd each were barely large enough to provide a meal for two people. Supplies of potatoes were reasonably good, but the demand was so keen that auctioneers were obliged to sell them on the quota system. It was stated that if they were carefully rationed by retailers no one would have to go entirely without this important commodity. Vegetables like lettuce and cabbages, which are not recognised as Christmas fare, came forward in abundance and fetched comparatively poor prices. , The high prices which ruled for strawberries on Thursday eased yesterday, when considerably larger consignments were marketed bv the growers. Dessert plums, for which a ceiling price of 10s will come into operation on Wednesday. sold at 26s a case. Three-tray crates of peaches brought 50s each, and at this rate it was estimated that the retail price would be about 6d a peach. Only clearing sales of poultry were held yesterday. A feature of the market has been a dearth of turkeys, which were more scarce than they have been for many years. One auctioneering firm handled about 100 hirds this week, compared with about 2000 for the corresponding week in previous years. MAORI FINED £lO OBSTRUCTED CONSTABLE Charges of obstructing Constable Palmer in the execution of his duty, of throwing glass in Symonds Street and of aiding in the supply of liquor to himself, a native, within a proclaimed area, were admitted by Richard Court. Maori, aged 19. before Mr F. H. Levien. S.M., yesterday. Sub-Inspector Henderson said that accused was seen carrying liquor in Symonds Street, and when Constable Palmer tried to take him to the police station he threw the bottles into the roadway and ran away. The constable caught him, but he resisted arrest. The magistrate said he would give accused the opportunity of spending Christmas out of gaol, and imposed fines totatlling £lO, in default 14 days' imprisonment.