N.Z.R.S.A. PRESIDENT’S APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 194, 15 May 1944, Page 4

N.Z.R.S.A. PRESIDENT’S APPEAL

Anzac Spirit In Daily Life The Anzac Day appeal of the president of the New Zealand (Returned Services Association, Mr. B. J. Jacobs, to revive the Anzac spirit, is now followed by an appeal to ex-servicemen and women. It states: — “I ask for your co-operation (and that of your association, if you belong to one) to ensure that the Spirit of Anzac is translated into action in your daily lives. I suggest that each one of.you (and I myself, for that matter) looks at himself in the light of my statement and resolves .personally to live the Spirit of Anzac. You will remember I defined that to be the spirit of co-operation and selfsaerifice for your country aud your fellow-men. I realize you have already made the sacrifice of fighting for the country and its people, ibut it is no use leaving the areua till the trtiole job is done.

“Many of our mates —our cobbers — did not and will not return, and they especially would have.wished that those of us who have (.and those, too, of the men and women who will) should see to it that the ideals for which they gave and give their lives are realized to the full. As the .president of the N.Z.ILS.A., I call on each one of you to assist in this, the heaviest task of our careers. “You ask how you can help. I give you just a few suggestions. “Let us banish all selfishness from ourselves aud our actions and .so arm ourselves as crusaders to make the Spirit of Anzac n real live thing, be it in office, shop or factory, oil the farm or on the sea. “Let us determine to .stop all loose talk and rumour-mongering. “Let its challenge all abuses of the laws of our country—particularly thosespecially passed to help the war effort. •■l.et us accept cheerfully the comparatively small sacrifices we are called on) to make, and don't grouse about them'. Surely they have been and will be small in proportion to those borne -by the people of Britain, aud smaller in rela-, tion to the ultimate benefits to be won.. "Let us set an example by each of us doing his best to promote the maximum war effort and by urging all in his immediate circle to do the same. “There are dozens of others. All I can do is to appeal to each one individually, for surely, even if we are no longer able to take our places on battle-, fields overseas we can at least carry the torch high at home. If we respond conscientiously, the Spirit of Anzac will in Hie end prevail—a magnificent contribution to Hie happy prosperity of our native land;”