"NO COMPLACENCY"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24736, 13 October 1941, Page 6

"NO COMPLACENCY"

WARNING TO NEW ZEALANDERS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE WAR TALK BY MINISTER OF FINANCE A warning to New Zealanders that they should not become complacent in their attitude towards the war was given by the Minister of Finance, Mr W. Nash, last night in a national service talk, entitled "What Are We Fighting For? " " There is a real danger in settling down to war, and there is danger in complacency," he said. "Mr Nash opened his talk by saying that just over two years ago New Zealand 1 threw in :its lot with the British Commonwealth _. in the war against Hitler, it?thad now had two years* experience of war. "At this time last year, the situation was fraught with peril," he added. "France was overrun, and the invasion of Britain was expected hourly. Great Britain stood alone, and withstood the onslaught. We have seen the, overthrow of most of the European countries, and now Russia is fighting alone. The position is very critical. Great Britain is making/great sacrifices to help her Allies, arid America is helping, too. "If Russia were to fall, what mortal danger Great Britain would be in!" the Minister said. " The fate of New Zealand depends on that of Great Britain. If ever there was a time when we in New Zealand should do our utmost to further the common •cause it is now. Our records have been given high praise wherever they have become known. Our fighting men are praised, and even the Germans have a great respect for them, our people, and our production. " It would be interesting to see what defeat would mean," continued Mr Nash, who went on to give a graphic illustration by citing the book "I Came Out of France," by Cecily Mackworth, which he said he had just read. He dwelt on the systematic bombing of French towns and the plight of starving refugees, "and then with lies Hitler poisoned the minds of the people against Britain," he said. "Flames came over the defenceless towns, and refugees flocked the roads. "Design Now for Peace" "You may say it cannot happen here," he added. "There is a real danger of settling down to war, and there is danger in complacency. We are seeing the Russians fighting. Some day we may have to fight harder than we are doing now. But we must- not become complacent. We must win victory; but it will not end with victory. We must have understanding and courage to make the world a fine place to live in. We are fighting to maintain a civilisation that is the best in history. We are fighting against an idea—the doctrine of people who were willing to sink all for their State. It is the Nazi philosophy we are fighting. We can win, but we must have a philosophy of our own so that life in the fullest sense may be available to us all. Each has a part to play, and we must design now for peace.