V-J DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 4

V-J DAY

National Ceremony Homage Paid To Dead Deeds Of The Services Extoiled (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Aug. 16. “Now that the announcement of Japan's surrender has the authority of truth, we meet together to celebrate in humble thanksgiving the end of the war throughout the world," said the GovernorGeneral Sir Cyril Newall, speaking at the national celebration. “Let us never forget that we, the British Empire, together with all our Allies, faced extermination or at best conquest by ruthless nations who were determined to impose their will upon all our free peoples by force. Victory has been won at last. We have won by a team spirit both within the Empire and together with our great Allies; by the endurance and fortitude of the men and women of the fighting services and merchant navies—to all of whom we owe undying gratitude; we have won by the united labours of all our peoples making the fullest use of our industrial, technical and scientific resources, and by the courage and vision of our leaders. In spite of bombs, rockets and human destruction, weary and batter-

ed, we have never lost hope nor wavered in our conviction that we were right to resist the arrogant assaults of those who would destroy our civilised way of life, and who would ignominously enslave us. To-day, therefore, with thanksgiving and full hearts, we rejoice everywhere in the final defeat of the Japanese enemy, and in the happy knowledge that the world is freed from evil aggression. “Six years of bitter conflict have left a black trail of suffering. The world shortage of food is acute. Throughout the war New Zealand’s contribution to victory has been both generous and outstanding, and I feel that New Zealand will surely contribute magnificently to the cause of humanity. We have learned what can be achieved by unity of purpose ana common endeavour in defeating evil. Let us go forward in a spirit of unity and tolerance to make ourselves, our homes, our nation and the world worthy of those who have died in order to save us, and to preserve our civilisation. ‘ln thought and faith, m word and wisdom, in deed and courage, in life and service,’ may God bless New Zealand.”

Message From Mr Attlee The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, said he had received a message from Mr Attlee which said m a much better way what he himself had intended to say concerning what was m New Zealanders’ hearts. He read the message, which was as follows:

“Victory in Europe has been speedily followed by the surrender of the last of our foes. On behalf of the Government and people ot this country I send this message of congratulation to our kinsfolk in New Zealand. Our hearts have gone out to the people of the Dominion in the anxieties which have for so long beset them, and to-day we join with them in rejoicing and thanksgiving for victory. “New Zealand was with us from the moment when, nearly six years ago, war was loosed upon the world, and in many widely separated theatres of war her sons have added lustre to her name. Their feats of arms, whether on distant seas or the European and African Continents or in the air warfare, are the admiration of the world and worthily compare with those of an earlier generation when, in the furnace of conflict, New Zealand proved her title to nationhood. We hail also the work of all those who, in field or workshop, have contributed material resources without which human effort would be powerless to conquer. Through the long years of toil New Zealand has never failed to provide of her best in all that lay within her power. “We are now called to finish the work so well begun; to build a new world whence the scourge of war and the fear of aggression have been removed; to repair the devastation which these years have brought in their train, and to open u» the prospect of hope to all those who still sit in darkness. In all these efforts we know that we can count on the willing partnership and unfailing help of New Zealand. From all our hearts we thank you.”

Mr Frasrr said he could add little to Mr Attlee’s appreciation of New Zealand's war effort, which ranked with Mr Churchill’s oft-repeated sentence that New Zealand had never set a foot wrong in this war. These two men, who had been comrades in the British War Cabinet, had joined in their praises of New Zealand's war achievements. Mr Fraser’s references to Mr Churchin were twice interrupted by loud applause, as was his mention of the late President Roosevelt, whom he described as a great w„ar leader, co-equal with M" Churchill. New Zealand’s war effort, said Mr Fraser, had been praised not only in the Mother Country but in every country where men and women drew the breath of freedom. We had fought the good fight and kept the faith—faith in the four freedoms for which we had fought. We had now to see that the dead had not died in vain, and that the four freedoms were maintained in the world of the future. Mr Fraser referred to the way in which the highest in the realm had assisted in the war effort with the people, how their Majesties had gone out into blitzed London and won the honour and love of all their people by sharing the same dangers with them. To-day they were all sorry the job had had to be done, but it had been inevitable. They were sorry death had come into many homes, sorry for the wounded, sorry that men had had to endure such hardships in the cause of freedom, but (hey had endured nobly and it was now our job to see that what they had done and sacrificed was not wasted.

A Gracious Tribute The Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) extended to the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of New Zealand thanks for the way in which he had led the country during the war and for the way in which he had organised the war effort, of which all could feel justly proud. All hearts were filled with admiration lor the servicemen and nurses all over the world who, by their sacrifices, had made this great day possible. As one who had seen some of the results of the methods the aggressors had tried to impose on the world, his heart was fuller than ever with gratitude to those who had made victory possible. They had never failed us and now it was our turn to ensure that we so organised the future that we would always be able to face them feeling that we had not failed them. Through six years of war the people had foregone much of their freedom and many of their rights. Those days were happily ended, and all hearts were filled with gratitude to one man amongst all men to whom we owed a debt we could never repay. Mr Winston Churchill (applause). whose leadership example and inspiration had gathered the Empire together in a wav in which it had never been gathered before. Yesterday a black chapter in Ila* world's history had been closed Today the door of opportunity was open. In the hour of victory and rejoicing

the people of New Zealand should make a sure resolve with the same singleness of purpose and will to win that they had shown during the last six years that they apply themselves to the problems which lie ahead and build on the ashes of the past a brighter and happier world in the future. The Bulldog Spirit The Hon. E. T. Tirikatene. speaking on behalf of the Maori people, said his Excellency exemplified the bulldog British spirit for he was participating in this thanksgiving function in spite of the fact that he was suffering from two cracked ribs —an injury suffered during his recent visit to his island peoples. Mr Tirikatene said there had been no difference between Maori and pakeha in their contribution to the Dominion’s war effort. They had cooperated so effectively that momentum had been established which would ensure equal co-operation in the coming years of peace. New Zealand would have its own problems, but- we were fortunate compared with the peoples of Europe and Asia where millions were homeless and transportation and productive systems largely destroyed, with whole cities devastated. Gratitude to Services

The gratitude of former servicemen was expressed by the Dominion vicepresident of the R.S.A.. Mr C. O. Bell, who referred to the gallant deeds of all Services, including the Merchant Marine and other transport services (applause). He also paid a tribute to the Prime Minister for the efforts he bad already made at San Francisco in the cause of peace. Mr Fraser, before the celebrations closed, referred to the fact that Sir Cyril Newall had been in command of the forces which hurled the German air forces back In the Battle of Britain (prolonged applause). Before the gathering dispersed a minute's silence was observed in memory of the dead. As his Excellency left, the Town Hall the band played the first four bars of the National Anthem, and then a battery from the Second Field Regiment, New Zealand Artillery, which was drawn up in front of the Parliamentary Library, fired a royal salute of 21 guns.