MINISTERIAL PARTY

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22467, 30 September 1944, Page 4

MINISTERIAL PARTY

VISIT TO WAIKATO . PUBLIC RECEPTIONS The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, accompanied by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, the Minister*of Justice, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, members of the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives, arrived at Frankton at 7.20 this morning and after breakfast proceeded by car to Ngaruawahia, where the party was welcomed by the Mayor, Mr H. D. Sampson. Those present included the Hon. J. E. Duncan ((Te Awamutu), the Hon. W. Black (Nelson), Mr R. Coulter, M.P., Mr F. Findlay, M.P., Mr R. M. Algie, M.P., Mr Clifton Webb, M.P., the Hon. W. Lee Martin, and the chairman of the Raglan County Council, Mr H. Johnstone.

“The people of Raglan and the neighbourhood have exceeded their quota for the Victory Loan,” said the Prime Minister. “They have reached the remarkable figure of 140 per cent, an indication of the sincerity of the .people in their efforts to show appreciation of the sacrifice of our men serving overseas and of the war effort in general. On behalf of the Government and Parliament, I express my sincere appreciation and hope that the result will be emulated in other districts. No Slackening of Effort “We had hoped that the Allied forces would be so overwhelmingly successful that we could expect an armistice within a few weeks,” Mr Fraser continued, “but events during the past few days indicate that this is not so likely now. There must be a lot of hard work ahead and hard fighting, too, before victory over Germany is achieved. Then there is Japan to beat, so there must be no slackening of effort. “I sincerely appeal to you now not to let the fighting forces down,” concluded Mr Fraser. “To do so would be a blot on the escutcheon of New Zealand.” The party continued to %» Glen Massey, Glen Afton, Pukemiro, Rotowaro and Huntly, inspecting opencast mining and being accorded public receptions, with luncheon at Huntly. In the afternoon they proceeded to the open-cast workings at Lake Kimihia, after which some members of the party left for Auckland.

At Kimihia the Prime Minister gave an address in which he said it was established that the coal miners during the war years, although there had been difficulties here and there, had done a job comparable with that done in any other country. The future of the industry was very bright. ___