A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE to the Readers of Camp News from the Hon. F. JONES, Minister of Defence

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 54, 20 December 1940, Page 2

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE to the Readers of Camp News from the Hon. F. JONES, Minister of Defence

' In thanking you for the opportunity of conveying through z ■ ■ I “Camp News” a message of seasonal greetings to your readers, s may I express the most sincere hope that long before Xmas next i • year our enemies will be defeated by the combined efforts oi the Naval, Army and Air Forces of the British Commonwealth

of Nations. When victory has been achieved—and to-day thy prospects are brighter than they have ever been since the beginning of hostilities—we will ever remember those who risked their lives to maintain the freedom for which the present war is being waged. Let us all hope that the victory will be the death knell of dictatorship in all the countries which have never

experienced the freedom of action and thought for which democracy stands. While all our thoughts at this time are with those serving overseas, my immediate message is to the men in camps in New

Zealand. ■ ■ '' ' ~ You are preparing yourselves to join your comrades already in distant lands. They have earned a high reputation for character and some have had the opportunity of displaying the qualities of fortitude, courage and tenacity inherent in our people - ■ | .A i 1. I feel sure that should the need arise, you will show the traditional British spirit of confidence, the same ability to face ; the foe and the same courage to carry out to a successful con-

elusion the fight which has been thrust upon us.

Unlike our kinsmen in other parts of the world, the

inhabitants of this Dominion have cause for thankfulness that, I so far, we have been spared the dangers of bombing from the air and the nervous tension inseparable from the thought of invasion or even attack. . .

My heartfelt wish is that the outcome of this war will be a

glorious victory against the forces of wrong and oppression and to all those who have been and are still preparing to do battle for right I extend my sincerest good wishes for a pleasant Christmas, and a successful New Year.