TRADITIONS CHANGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 166, 29 May 1940, Page 5

TRADITIONS CHANGE

BRITAIN'S GLORIOUS EXAMPLE SPEECH BY MR DOIDGE, In his speech at the opening of the Otakiri School, Mr F W. Doidge, M.P., said that the people should take their cue from Mr Winston Churchill. "When the history of this war is written," said Mr Doidge, "one of the facts which will be revealed will be that the British leaders, at this time, Avere undismayed. German propagandists are .saying that the Allied leaders are panicking. They are lies from Berlin, rotten lies." Speaking of Britain's effort in the last two years, Mr Doidge said that young men, of 20 to 21, had been called into the ranks and that procedure marked a changing of the old traditions in Britain.Previously the poor man's son went into the ranks and the rich man's son proceeded to a military school to obtain a commission. Now they went into the ranks together.

Mr Doidge then referred to the change of Prime Minister in Britain. He said that no one doubted Mr Chamberlain's sincerity but the voice of the people called and on the call of the people Mr Chamberlain had to go. It was not as a result of ;a vote by the Opposition. "Britain is setting us a glorious example," continued Mr Doidge. "The Lion is fighting with its back to the wall, but the time will come when the lion, and the lion cub, will swish their tails/' Mr Doidge said that the 'long purse' Avas just as important as the 'long sword.' "It is a case for a stiff upper lip, but Britain cannot be beaten. Be sure that we will come through."