FARM OR FIGHT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 123, 14 February 1940, Page 4

FARM OR FIGHT

AIM OF OUR MAN POWER VIEWS OF MR DOIDGE, M.P. Speaking at the opening of the Katikati Agricultural Slioav on Satur clay, Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P., said: 'T just returned from a National Party Caucus in Wellington. There we reaffirmed our decision to sink Party politics and get behind the Government in its Avar effort. "We are on the eA'e of momentous events. If Britain were to go down in this Avar, it would ljiean the complete smashing up of the British Empire. Our fate in Ncav Zealand Avould.be certain. This Dominion is the richest prize that offers, as a primary producing urea. "Our pledges to the Motherland are definite and exact; Ave have pledged ourselves to maintain a division in the field; pledged ourseh*es to maintain, and even increase the supply of foodstuffs to Britain. 'if in a three-years' war Ave to maintain a division at full strength, Ave must find 'jO,OOO men. So far we have recruited io,ooo men only Avho are physically lit. There are in New Zealand 200,000 men of age for military service. The need for united national effort is rlear. That does not mean that young farmers arc expected to rush off to the nearest recruiting office. On the contrary the GoA'crnment is as much concerned about production as it is about recruiting. Ultimately, in my opinion, the issue a\ ill resolve ilself into a simple alternative: farm or fight. "Those are the tAvo fronts on which man poAver is needed. Let us organise for a ictory or both."