BACKING BRITAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 24 August 1939, Page 11

BACKING BRITAIN

DOMINION STAND NATIONAL UNITY VITAL SPEECHES BY LEADERS OPPOSITION OFFERS AID CO-OPERATION IX CRISIS (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day.

Party feeling went thoroughly inio the background when the House of Representatives resumed proceedings last night, and the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, asked leave to make a brief statement. He said.

“In view of tile alarming situation that has arisen in Europe and the disquieting news received late this afternoon and published in the press, the Opposition wishes to assure the Government of its whole-hearted support in all and any action deemed necessary to meet the crisis that has arisen. The Opposition recognises that national unity is all-essential in such a crisis and assures the Government of its unanimous backing.”

The acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, promptly acknowledged this statement which the House had followed with close attention.

“I wish to thank the Leader of the Opposition,” said Mr. Fraser, "for his offers of assistance at a period which might possibly develop into a most critical time for tile people of this country and the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Unity Essential

‘‘lt is essential," and Mr. Fraser emphasised that word, “that at this moment not only members of this House, but everybody in the Dominion should speak with a united voice (hear hear) and say that the country stands side by side and shoulder to shoulder with every other British country.

“We cannot but sympathise with the United Kingdom in its present position and. with all other nations whose rights and liberties may be threatened at this moment, we devoutly pray there may be no further development, but that the counsels of peace will prevail, but if the hour comes, it will find New Zealand united and solid.”

Mr. Fraser again referred to the world crisis when iie came to the conclusion of his speech in reply to the Budget debate.

He said the angel of death was abroad, and with this menace over the nation, differences that parties held on social and economic problems became dwarfed beside the interests of the community as a whole. As head of the Government for the time being, he again welcomed the offer of co-operation made by the Opposition and assured its members that the sentiments expressed by Mr. Hamilton were fully reciprocated by the members of the Government.

Everyone in the House and beyond it would stand true to Britain in the fight she was making for, no matter how many retreats and surrenders Britain had made in the past and some of them had 'been regrettable, she was making a fight for democracy 1o ensure that “government of the people, for the people by the people should not perish from the earth.”