THIS BRAVE INDIVIDUALISM!

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 28, 13 March 1942, Page 4

THIS BRAVE INDIVIDUALISM!

THE UNBELIEVABLE is happening to-day in our miclst. If we were permitted to publish some of the experiences of the voluntary collectors who are now combing the Borough in the interests of tne All Services Patriotic Appeal, our readers would b b astounded at the uttei selfishness and apathy of some of our so-called citizens. In some instances the callei_s have been met with point blank refusals, others wa it to arg-u-s on political grounds, others raise moral and ethical points. W; can thank high heaven, that these persons are in the very small minority, but that they exist and flagrantly expound their views to workers who are voluntarily giving of their time:, is enough to make us hang our heads in shame. How it ca,n be possible in these days of dire peril for individuals with homes and families to smugiy turn their backs upon the nation's effort to finance the war, is beyond comprehension, yet the proof is there for the asking and, we must face up to the unpalatable fact that such human apologies are still with us, enjoying substantial livings, and all the privileges c-f free citizenship, yet too mentally minute to 'pull their weight' because of political or national grievances. Good heavens! are we to go down as a people, senselessly arguing the point over some technicality of outlook and completely oblivious to the presence of the enemy, wh i has the power to seal our fate. What on earth is wrong with our people that they cannot, with one accord rise in the common defence cf their country, forgetting the petty differ3n29S of partyism, and the cherished visions of personal kleal-s. Time to-day is vital to our very existence— and yet. w 7 e are: compelled to listen for hours to futile argument, based on grievances and incidents which should have been given decent interment shears ago. What has happened to our mentality, where is cur united love of freedom and cherished code of colonial brotherhood. Surely the maggot of class distinction and, political bitterness has not so completely undermined our sense of balance that we fail to show a comon front in the. face of threatened danger. In the name of all we cherish, in the name of all we have built up in this fair land of ours, in the name of human-kind and the memory of the Hong Kong outrages, let us get to gether before it is too late.. Overboard with all the wretched barriers separating class from class. In a few days, weeks, possibly months we may be fighting for our very lives. Let us shelve our differences and in God's name link hands in the pledge of unity, before the storm which is gathering bursts upon us unawares. New Zealand to-day needs every man and every woman to rally to her deience, and until the shadow has passed let us be as one.