WOMEN’S SACRIFICE

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22606, 10 May 1945, Page 6

WOMEN’S SACRIFICE

CONTRIBUTION TO VICTORY TRIBUTE BY LADY NEW ALL (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday “There can seldom have been a day of greater universal rejoicing than this in the history of the civilised world,” said Lady Newa.ll, in a V-E Day message to the women of New Zealand. “New’ Zealand women in this Dominion and overseas fully share in the relief and happiness of this V-E Day of victory over all enemies in Europe when unconditional surrender has at last been accomplished. “During the past five years many New Zealand women, a high proportion for such a small population, have seen their sons, husbands, fathers and brothers join the fighting services and the merchant navy, and leave these shores for varying periods, which, in some cases, exceeded four years. Each one of us is proud to know that by their valour New Zealand’s fair name stands higher than ever before. Men and women, both pakeha and Maori, have been comrades in arms on every battle-front and by their prowess at sea, on land and in the air have proved their loyalty to the Commonwealth and Empire. Service On Home Front “You who have served here at home have done your various jobs well, have packed Red Cross and St. John patriotic parcels which saved the lives of many prisoners of war and performed manifold emergency tasks which were set you by the needs of war so that you can face with clear consciences those who return from battle. “If there are any women or girls who did not do their fair share they can still prove their worth now in the coming months. For although we can rejoice today whole-heartedly with our sisters at home and overseas, nevertheless we realise that war tasks must still go on without respite until Japanese aggression is as thoroughly crushed as the aggression of Germany. “Let us do what will help most and do it diligently with all our might, and thus safeguard in so far as in us lies the future freedom and well-being- of our homes and our children to the banishment of false materialistic ways of life, to the destruction of wickedness and vice for a better world of truth, order and godliness.”