The Waikato Times SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1939 WARTIME CHRISTMAS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20995, 23 December 1939, Page 6

The Waikato Times SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1939 WARTIME CHRISTMAS

For the first time in over 20 years, Christmas throughout the British Empire will be over-shadowed by the dominating influence of war. In many other lands where Christmas has lost most if not all of its meaning the position is infinitely worse. The inspiring message of “Peace on earth and goodwill towards men” must ring strangely hollow in the ears of millions of men; not because the message is false but because men nave become false to a great ideal. Because men have lest control of themselves they have for the lime being closed their ears to an age-oid exhortation which they yet know is wise and timely counsel. Still to Britons and many others the message rings as true as ever. Britons have not lost control of themselves. They are fighting manfully and with good spirit to ensure that in the world of the future peace and goodwill shall reign. Because of this, and because they are confident that their cause will triumph, Britons and their Allies everywhere can hail the coming of Christmas Day with better heart and a nearer approach to real joy than the unfortunate peoples of the aggressor countries can hope to experience. Economically and politically, this Christmas finds the world in a state of turmoil and flux. Influences are at work which will have a revolutionary effect on the future of men’s existence. There is strong hope that the world will be a better place to live in when the enemy of mankind has been overthrown and the terror that has ruled the people of all countries for many years is no more. It is a period of reconstruction which everyone has known for years had to be faced. There is, indeed, relief in many minds that the mask has at last been thrown off and the defenders of civilisation can strike a blow wholeheartedly in the belief that it is a means to a desirable end. iherefore this Christmastide and the months that follow will be a period of mighty effort inspired by a great hope.