The Waikato Times FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1944. NEW ZEALAND NEEDS TONIC

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22245, 14 January 1944, Page 2

The Waikato Times FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1944. NEW ZEALAND NEEDS TONIC

Some aspects of the New Zealand home front scarcely convey the impression of a people sharing in the greatest period of all time—on the road to triumph over the forces of darkness, to victory and to a brave new world. At such a time morale ought to be at its highest point; the spirit of service of the people on the home front should equal that of the men on the fighting front, who have smashed the enemy’s aggressiveness and are preparing for the final phases of a war of liberation. But something has gone wrong with some people at home. Strikes, “absenteeism” and lack of determination to drive on to victory have in places marred the picture which the real patriot would expect to behold in New Zealand. What is the reason ? Is it complacency—a belief that the war is won and there is no further need to worry and to strive ? If that is so there may still be a rude awakening. The war is not yet' won. It is still necessary to fight, to persevere and to work. It would be a ghastly tragedy if sloth now robbed the United Nations of the favourable position they have won by the expenditure of much toil, tears, blood and sweat.

It will be noted that in those countries which most lightly escaped the terror of the enemy’s aggressive phase of the war there is the greatest tendency toward complacency. The British people above all might have been excused if they sought to rest after the first terrific strain had been lifted. But they have never faltered. They know perfectly well that they cannot afford to slacken their effort; that just across the Channel and in the air over Europe a ruthless and still powerful enemy is waiting to pounce if given the slightest chance. New Zealand is farther from the seat of danger, but for that reason is the more favourably situated for an uninterrupted and effective war effort to tip the scales iri favour of the United Nations. This should be a moment of painful pride, of heads bloody but unbowed, for it is near the dawn of the greatest day in history. In these circumstances it comes as a shock to hear the Minister of Railways say that insufficient coal is being produced to operate a full railway service; to know that several other industries are faltering, even when the fighting fronts are depending upon them for food and other supplies. Surely this is not the real New Zealand, of people who pioneered a wilderness, who have met and conquered other crises and who have only to persevere to win a brighter future! Perhaps there is only a temporary tiredness induced by four years of war labour and a sunny, droughty Christmas holiday. Certain it is that only a small proportion of the people are slackening their effort, but in these days all sections are dovetailed and a disturbance in one affects all. New Zealand needs a tonic that will shake it out of its lethargy. It can only be hoped that the tonic does not come in the shape of further disaster. It should come spontaneously from a sense of coming victory over an evil enemy, from pride in achievement and from hope for a happier future that is waiting to be won.