Stirring Broadcast to People of N.Z. by the Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 26, 7 June 1940, Page 2

Stirring Broadcast to People of N.Z. by the Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance

The necessity for the maintenance of national morale in the present crisis was emphasized by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, in an address last week. He said that if the morale of the people weakened their military and economic power was weakened also. He realized that inevitably initial reverses and seemingly impossible odds, were prone to create a feeling in the public mind of temporary frustration and hopelessness. It was imperative that no such feelings should be allowed to emerge, no matter how dark the outlook might appear.

“When I spoke last week I said that, in the .situation in France and Belgium the British Commonwealth is faced with a crisis as grave as it has ever faced.” said Mr. Nash. “That situation continues and probably will continue for some time to come. I do not wish to minimize its gravity; in-

deed, it would be foolish to try and do so. I do most emphatically urge, however, that there is no occasion for any loss of heart. Above all, let us not allow anything in the nature of a panic to stampede us into foolish and irresponsible criticism and activity. After all, we have faced and have emerged successfully from many crises in the past. Those who remember'the dark days of 1914-18 will recall that

NATIONAL MORALE NO OCCASION SEEN FOR LOSS OF HEART

the British Commonwealth faced times no less critical .and overcome odds no less great than confront it today. Confidence in Allies. "It is absolutely vital if we are to play our part as we are expected to play it, that any tendency toward a feeling of hopelessness should be promptly and relentlessly stifled. Thai does not mean that we should ignore or minimize the difficulties we are up against. It does not mean that -we should lull ourselves into a false sense of security, but it does mean that we should have confidence in the ability of England, France and our other Allies, and above all, in the ability of ourselves, to maintain, the struggle with unrelenting vigour and firm resolve till victory is achieved. “We have a war to fight bn) three frontsj We must pul forward first the maximum military effort of which we are capable. We must mobilize, secondly our entire economic resources in order that this effort may be sustained and strengthened. . And thirdly —and no less important —is the necessity of maintaining the national morale, be cause if the morale of the people weakens. their military and economic power is weakened also. This is something which New Zealand and New Zealanders should take to heart at the pre sent moment. "An Old Country friend of mine has

sent me a book by Sir John Orr and David Lubbock on ‘Feeding the People in Wartime.’ In the first chapter there are two* striking sentences, ‘the strength of the Home front depends upon the spiritual and physical stamina of our people. The spiritual is even more important than the physical.’ Nothing must be left undone in this land of ours that will help Britain and her Allies. All our resources, material, mental and spiritual, must be drawn on to the limit to help. I am affirming that the health line, depending as it does on food, and the spiritual line,

are more important than the Maginot Line. "No sacrifice to help the Mother Country is too great to make. The Prime Minister has pledged all that we have. Our kinsmen at Home are facing difficult times, but with a united country, a united Commonwealth, with all individuals forgetting themselves in the enthusiasm for work and service, ' we can win through to commence again to build in our country and our Commonwealth the priceless freedom and liberties which can only come if built on the spiritual foundations of sacrifice, determination and selfless love.

“The present struggle is . not one which is confined solely and entirely to the men who 1 constitute our fighting forces. Theirs is a heroic and allimportant part, but there is also a part which each ami every one of you can play, and it is up to you all to do your level best to play it sincerely and well Let each man and woman ask himself or herself whether he or she is doing all that can reasonably be done to assist the country’s war effort. Remember that by carrying on whatever occupation you may be in, by putting your best effort into whatever job you are engaged upon. and. above all. by going about your work with calmness and confidence, you are making a real and vital contribution to the national effort.”