FIRST OBLIGATION OF NEW GOVERNMENT TO MEN WHO FOUGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 December 1949, Page 7

FIRST OBLIGATION OF NEW GOVERNMENT TO MEN WHO FOUGHT

“On taking office as head of the new Government, my first concern is that all obligations to those who 'fought and made sacrifices for their country shall be met in full,” states the Prime Minister (Mr. Holland), in a message to returned men, published in the current issue of the R.S.A. “Review.”

“We will carry on in the same (spirit, and in this I feel that we are fortunate in having in our ranks such a high proportion of returned soldiers of both wars. Six of the nine new members elected to our party are exservicemen. two of them being exservicemen of the Second World War. I feel that, with this strong representation of those entitled to wear the R S.A. badge, we are fortunately placed in carrying out these all-im-portant responsibilities. “We realise that there is still a debt to be discharged to many ex-service-men before their rehabilitation is completed. To this end, rehabilitation services will be maintained and improved. Every effort will be made to expedite acquisition and subdivision of land to enable the settlement of returned soldiers on the land to be completed. Modifications of the Land Sales Act, while not imposing any additional costs on soldier-buyers, will, we believe, have the effect of making more land available. Housing of exservicemen, too, will be an urgent priority. DEFENCE SYSTEM. “Ex-servicemen, having already played their part in defence, and being well aware of the sacrifices made to preserve our democratic way of life, are naturally interested in defence policy. Here, again, we are fortunate in the numbers of members of Parliament who have had war service and can speak on military, naval, and air force matters from personal experience. It will be the united desire of the National Party Government to maintain an efficient defence establishment so as to bear our full share of defence responsibilities, consistent with the resources of the country. As the National Party supported the principle of compulsory service, the training scheme recently instituted will, of course, be carried on. The highest standards of health, instruction, and efficiency will be the objective, and there will be the closest cooperation and understanding with Great Britain, Australia, Canada. South Africa and the U.S.A, in defence matters, particularly concerning th? Pacific zone, in which we are so vitally interested. “Our view, as a party, is the Empire unity and solidarity are an indispensable factor in preserving world peace. We will always be ready to do our part in anything that will strengthen the bonds between the different countries of the Empire, and will oppose any trends which seem to us to weaken those bonds. I believe the spirit of patriotism which animates the Returned Services’ Association—that same spirit which has given the men of Anzac, and their succes- ' sors, imperishable glory—is something we should cultivate throughout our national life. “May I, as a final word, express my warm personal appreciation of the many messages of congratulation received from former comrades? It was j particularly gratifying to receive teleI grams from former members of the units with which I was associated in the First World War. Such messages prove again the enduring bond that exists between ex-servicemen.”