“WE CAN GIVE IT”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 55, 6 March 1942, Page 1

“WE CAN GIVE IT”

FIGHTING PHRASE WANTED | SUGGESTION AT TIMARU. ’ (P.A.) Timaru, March 5. 1 Saying that to him it seemed there ' was evidence of a spirit of defeatism ;in the country. Archdeacon Mona- ; ghan, in an address to parishioners in I’lmaru. called on them to make ! every effort to squash this spirit “and make up your minds that we shall I light to defend our country to the last : man.’’ Far too much, he said, had been I made of the phrase, “We can take it.” ■Rather,” he said. “We should say. ; We can give it.' ” ! On the Sunday afternoon there had ' been an E.P.S. try-out. which was designed to prepare the people for a ' war emergency, in its way it was a good thing, excepting that the affairs seemed to be so im- ■ the holding of i such a trial on any day but Sunday. 1 It was right that the people should i know what to do if the necessity arose, but the scheme seemed to be • the outcome of the cry. “We can ‘take it.” In fact, far too much was 'made of the phrase. Rather should they build themselves up to say. “We ’can give it.” He appealed strongly to : parishioners to guard against the spirit of defeatism which seemed to be jabroad. Many people were saying: “If the Japanese take Australia, we ! should give them our country and ' wait for the Americans to deliver us.” That spirit was entirely wrong. What 'would the New Zealanders who were J serving overseas feel if they thought .that was the spirit of the people who were left behind? ’ “We should be determined to fight. • and fight to the last man.” said ArchI deacon Monaghan. “We should fight ifor three reasons:— I “ID For the inheritance which our ' forefathers handed dow n to us, a won- ' derful country. “(2) For the sweethearts, mothers, | ’sisters, and brothers of the men over-: • seas. I ”'3» For the principles at stake.” ■