“TOO MANY CITIZENS DOING NOTHING”

Southland Times, Issue 24521, 23 August 1941, Page 6

“TOO MANY CITIZENS DOING NOTHING”

INCREASED WAR EFFORT URGED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 22. Continuing the debate on the second reading of the Finance Bill in the Legislative Council today, the Hon. W. Perry expressed the hope that there would not be a general election and suggested that if the parties were not able to come together they should set up a War Cabinet with executive power, including men outside Parliament. Though New Zealand’s war effort was extraordinarily good it was still a long way from the possible maximum. Far too many citizens were doing nothing, though the Government had given a lead with the Home Guard and other organizations. Then there were so-called clever people who tried to beat the censorship and the petrol regulations and those who did not give a fair day’s work. Stressing the necessity for the utmost effort, Mr Perry said Japan was on the brink of war and statesmen warned us that the war was going to be a long one, yet there were fools who deluded themselves into the belief that “it can’t happen here.” If Japan did decide to fight she would send raiders into the Pacific and New Zealanders, instead of worrying about elections, might be worrying about a blockade.