INSPIRATION AND CHALLENGE

Southland Times, Issue 24109, 24 April 1940, Page 6

INSPIRATION AND CHALLENGE

SPIRIT OF ANZAC N.Z. AGAIN FIGHTING FOR SAME IDEALS iMESSAGE TO NATION (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 24. On the occasion of the commemoration of Anzac Day, the Governor-Gen-eral (Lord Galway) has associated himself with Ministers of the Crown and other representative citizens in giving to the people a message outlining those ideals appropriately associated with the spirit of Anzac for which the nation is fighting. The message has been signed by his Excellency, all the members of the Cabinet, the Leader and other prominent members of the Opposition, the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), representatives of the native race, the Mayors of the four principal cities, _ representatives of the principal religious denominations, the Chancellor of the University and representatives of organizations such as the Returned Soldiers Association, the Labour Party, Municipal Association, Counties Association, Farmers’ Union, Associated Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Labour and the Employers’ Federation. The full text of the message is as follows:— , Twenty-five years ago tomorrow tne Anzacs landed on Gallipoli. Their sacrifice and the sacrifice of those who went later was made to build a better world from which war would be abolished. Theirs was an essential no less than heroic sacrifice in order that the foundations of a new world order might be securely laid, in peaceful associations between nations. But today we are again at war. Today our young men are facing the same sacrifice in the same spirit and to the same end as those who gave their all 25 years ago. The men of 1914-18 did their job and did it magnificently. But the moral and spiritual law which should influence human life and action has been given no adequate place in the relations that have subsequently emerged between nations. Truth, justice and tolerance, these have been denied and in then stead the doctrines of force, dictatorship and aggression have in later years been openly espoused. INSPIRATION AND CHALLENGE To free the world from this menace we are again at war. Memories of the determination, courage and sacrifice which tomorrow’s anniversary calls forth serve as both an inspiration and a challenge in this present grave hour of crisis. But Anzac brings more than reverence for the memories of those who have passed on. It brings also a realization of responsibilities to those who arc left. Our responsibility in the present conflict is clear; it is not merely our own security which is endangered, nor merely the future of the British Commonwealth which is in the balance; it is not only our political institutions and democratic forms of government which are threatened. It is those very principles which have made civilization possible, which give value and meaning to life itself, that are at stake. The rule of law, the search for truth, protection of the weak against the strong —these are the vital issues. On such issues there can no compromise. From defence of these principles there can be no turning back. The task we have set ourselves may be fraught with tremendous difficulties; it may require heavy sacrifices. UNITED CONTRIBUTION The immediate struggle will be arduous. It may be long; it certainly will demand from our nation that it should withhold nothing that may contribute to our strength. We must live, work, think and act constructively, collectively and unitedly, submerging with willing cheerfulness individual, sectional and national prejudices not only for the sake of New Zealand but for the whole of humanity. However the war develops one thing is certain—its outcome will depend upon the determination of the peoples of all nations, including our own, to unite in the common purpose to bring into being a spirit of love, honesty and unselfishness which alone can provide the basis for lasting peace. The full list of signatures to the message is as follows: Galway, Governor-General. P. Fraser, Prime Minister. W. Nash, Minister of Finance. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce. H. G. R. Mason, Attorney-General. H. T. Armstrong, Minister of Housing. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs. P. C. Webb, Minister of Labour. F. Jones, Minister of Defence. W. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands. D. Wilson, Leader of the Legislative Council. Adam -Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition. G. W. Forbes, M.P. J. G. Coates, M.P. Michael Myers, Chief Justice. A. T. Ngata, M.P. E. T. Tirikatene, M.P. Ernest Davis, Mayor of Auckland. T. C. A. Hislop, Mayor of Wellington. R. M. MacFarlane, Mayor of Christchurch. A. H. Allen, Mayor of Dunedin. W. Perry, Dominion president, New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. J. Roberts, president, New Zealand Labour Party. T. Jordan, president, Municipal Association cf New Zealand. C. J. Talbot, president, New Zealand Counties Association. W. W. Mulholland, president, New Zealand Farmers’ Union. W. S. Mac Gibbon, president, Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. A. McLagan, president, New Zealand Federation of Labour. W. Machin, president, New Zealand Employers’ Federation. J. A. Hanan, Chancellor of the University of New Zealand. Campbell, New Zealand Primate. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa. T. F. Connolly, Vicar-General, on behalf of Archbishop O’Shea. J. Lawson Robinson, Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly of New Zealand. Leslie B. Neale, president, Methodist Church of New Zealand. J. Evan Smith, Lieutenant Commissioner, Salvation Army. S. Katz, Rabbi, Jewish Community.