PRIME MINISTER’S APPEAL

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22468, 2 October 1944, Page 4

PRIME MINISTER’S APPEAL

SECOND DIVISION’S DEEDS A strong plea for support to the Victory Loan was made by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. .Fraser, speaking at a special Victory Loan procession in Hamilton today. He referred to the splendid achievements of our men overseas and said those at home would be failing in their duty if they did not back them up with the material to make their achievements possible. Mr Fraser said he was particularly pleased to be associated with such a large gathering of school children, as they should assist to bring home to older people the grave responsibilties that lay with them in preserving for the coming generations a free and democratic way of life. The Dominion had thrown everything into the war effort in a long and bitter struggle in which New Zealand men had played such a glorious part. Mr Fraser described his impression of the Casino fighting and said one had to see for oneself the famous Monastery Hill to appreciate fully what the New Zealand Division had achieved there. Praise For New Zealanders The Prime Minister said that while overseas he had visited the men of the New Zealand Forces, who were unanimous in their desire to return to New Zealand—but not before they had “finished the job” and the enemy was destroyed: The whole world paid tribute to our fighting men. Famous correspondents were high in their praise. One had told him that they were the best troops in the Eighth Army, the Eighth Army was the best in the British Army, and the British Army was the best in the world.

The war, Mr Fraser emphasised, was not won yet. There was much bitter fighting ahead before the end was in sight, and in addition to Germany Japan had to be beaten. He appealed to everyone to support the Victory Loan to the limit of his resources.