CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM MR. HOLLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 December 1947, Page 4

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM MR. HOLLAND

(P.A.i Wellington, Dec. 26. Reference to the indisposition of the Prime Minister, which he said no dolfbt had been contributed to very largely by the exacting requirements of his high office, was made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, in his Christmas message. “I learned with regret that Mr. Fraser is in hospital," he said, “and I wish him a speedy and complete recovery.” Mr. Holland said that while New Zealanders were fortunate to be celebrating the Christmas festival in an atmosphere of warmth and abundance, their kinsfolk in Britain had an atmosphere of wintry austerity. It was therefore doubly important to maintain production and achieve unity of national effort so that the greatest possible volume of foodstuffs could be delivered expeditiously to those places where it was so urgently needed. New Zealanders were fortunate too, added Mr. Holland, in being members of a community where political differences could be conducted in a spirit of freedom and tolerance and they should therefore guard zealously their democratic way of life and the Christian principles on which it was founded. At times the international horizon appeared cloudy and bitterness, rancour and suspicion seemed rife. Nevertheless, the instinct for peace was still strong among men of goodwill and provided that instinct were allowed free play the world would have peace and harmony. Mr. Holland concluded by extending his personal good wishes to all New Zealanders.