EMPIRE FIRST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 169, 5 June 1940, Page 4

EMPIRE FIRST

Sir,—l desire to congratulate the Mayor and County Chairman on their prompt action in calling a public meeting to be held at the Grand Theatre on Thursday next to discuss New Zealand's' War Effort. No doubt these gentlemen have had good reason to sense public opinion on this subject and have been stirred to action by the apathy of the powers that be, coupled with a sincere desire to do something of value to assist their country in tßijs hour of need. These are drys when firSt things should come fiist» and the first thing wanted to-day is leadershij> that will bring together all our strength as one, building up unity, strength and co-operation and then every man to his job pulling his full weight. Was it not Mr Churchill who said "There is not a week, not a day, not an hour to be lost." New Zealand fiddles while the Empire burns. True statesmanship is the art of changing a nation from what it is into what it ought to b«. Could we not adopt Mr Churchill's slogan and thrust aside all partnership, all party politics and build up a Cabinet of the very best men available. Yes this could. be done overnight if we had that true lead- v ership that was determined to mak*? a nation what it ought to be. In the opening hours in this session of Parliament we have very much the same old - bickering, while today the country is calling out for leadership, calling loudly for a Cabinet of strength to use all our resources to the full so that we shall not be found wanting in this hour of trial. We might well ask "If England dies, who lives?" As responsible citizens let us think of the men who have already left our shores, are they divided into two camps or more, what would the strength of our division be if such were the case. . Wc should be big enough to bury the domestic hatchet, abolish all party politics, and internal dissension, construct a Coalition Cabinet of the very best men available for the duration oi the war. Our leaders are called upon to act and act quickly and I sincerely hope the proposed meeting will be a huge success in order that this small district maj' do its share to impress upon the powers in auth-ority-to give all sections of this Dominion the representation that is thus due in this hour of trial and National emergency. ' Finally let me say that every citizen has a duty to do, he should attend the meeting and let the authorities know we want action and not a battle of words. ' It has been truly said that the "Sixtli Column are those who know the danger and do nothing," let us hope "there are none of these people in Whakatane.. . ' Yours etc., / EMPIRE FIRST.