FAREWELL SPEECH

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23977, 18 June 1943, Page 6

FAREWELL SPEECH

MRS GRIGG APPLAUDED IN THE HOUSE PLEA FOR ELECTION WITHOUT BITTERNESS From Our Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, June 17. There was spontaneous applause from both sides of the House of Representatives to-day when Mrs A. N. Grigg (Opposition, Mid-Canterbury) sat down after her farewell speech, which made as big an impression as her maiden speech last year. A stirring conclusion was the highlight of a thoughtful contribution to the Budget debate. Mrs Grigg said it was probably her last opportunity of speaking in the House. She' had been a member for only a short time—she was afraid she had created a record for the shortness of her term of office —but she had had great satisfaction in her work. She thanked Mr Speaker and members on both sides of the House for their courtesy. “I may not be taking much part in the coming election campaign, but I should like to say how sincerely I hope that the election may be conducted without bitterness.” concluded Mrs Grigg. ‘‘Wo plan and hope for a better world, for a new world. That new world cannot be built on bitterness, on distrust, on suspicion among our own people. The hope of security for our children, of opportunity for all—that is the hope that inspires many women who are going on nowadays in weariness, in loneliness, in anxiety, and in sorrow. Nothing must be permitted to frustrate this hope. All our energy, all our devotion, and all our loyalty must be given first to the winning of the war. and then to the building of a brave new world.”