CAN HAPPEN IN NEW ZEALAND

Southland Times, Issue 24760, 3 June 1942, Page 4

CAN HAPPEN IN NEW ZEALAND

MR SEMPLE’S COMMENT ON SYDNEY RAID

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 2. “Who will say that New Zealand is safe and that it can’t happen here?” asked the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, this morning in referring to the Japanese submarine raid on Sydney Harbour. “On Saturday I declared that the Coral Sea Battle was not over and that anything might happen, and that we had to preserve everything we have got. Since then this amazing thing has happened in Sydney Harbour. The most serious aspect of the question is that although the submarines were allegedly destroyed the mother ships, in other words, probably major battleships, are not far away from Sydney, because small submarines have a range of only 150 to 200 miles. Surely these things will put us on our mettle. The fellow who says we are safe now ought to be locked up, because what has happened overseas can happen here. It has happened to our sister Dominion just across the pond. “In view of these facts the Government’s action in doing everything and anything to preserve what we have got within our own country to use for our own defence is amply justified, said Mr Semple. “Something unprecedented in the history of Australia or New Zealand has come about, and my advice to the people is to be prepared to put up with inconvenience and sacrifice in the interests of their own safety, their homes, their lives and their liberties. Material things don’t count now; uttle inconveniences don’t matter. One thing on earth that matters is to work hard, think hard and. sacrifice and suffer it needs be to save this country. Every other issue sinks into oblivion. Barty politics and material things should not be considered for a moment. .hose who whine about trifles now are either unconscious of the danger surrounding us or otherwise are potential enemies. Those who are not with us are against