WAR SITUATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24620, 30 May 1941, Page 4

WAR SITUATION

STARK REALITIES PEOPLE NOT AWAKE AN OUTSPOKEN CRITIC (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 29. “The state of the country is so serious and dangerous that it amazes me that delegates can sit here to-night discussing the allocation of canteen funds at a few pence per head when their brothers and sons are dying in Crete,” said Colonel H. Holderness (Hastings) at the annual conference of the New Zealand R.S.A. in Wellington to-night. This was during the discussion of a Christchurch proposal to consider the holding of a Dedication to England Day. “ God alone knows what is happening to the New Zealand Division at this moment.” continued Colonel Holderness. “The first person who has made a speech of any use in New Zealand on the war situation was the Australian Prime Minister. Mr Menzies, and Mr Nash has told us that not five per cent, of the people of New Zealand understood the seriousness of the war position. We have spent two days on tiddly-winking items that have nothing to do with the winning of the war. For God’s sake let us do something to see that there is a full war effort.” Mr W. E. Leadley (Christchurch! said the conference could do no better than give all its attention to the position of the Empire. They had heard the address of Mr Menzies, who came from the seat of war, and he had made no bones about it. The Empire to-day stood in dire peril, and the returned soldiers could not do too much to awaken the country to this fact. Dr N. A. Foden (Wellington) said that something more radical than one day of commemoration and emotional appeal was needed. They wanted something continual and educative. They were up against the fact that there had been a new generation since the last war. The whole countrywanted educating to the stark realities of the situation. It was decided that the council of the New Zealand R.S.A., realising the gravity of the situation, should recommend all branches of the association to commence a win-the-war effort by a national dedication day on a date to be fixed by headquarters, and that thereafter the local associations take all steps to continue this effort.