WORLD'S DARK DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 4

WORLD'S DARK DAY

NO OPTION BUT WAR DUTY OF DOMINION DEFENCE OF PRINCIPLES MR, FRASER’S STATEMENT (Pur Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. “This is not an occasion for many words. It is a dark day in the history of the Avorid,” said the Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, in a statement issued this morning. “The actions of Germany left the British Commonwealth no option but war in defence of the principles of democracy, justice, and freedom. “If is with deep regret and sadness that I make this announcement on behalf of the Government, and the people will receive it Avith similar feelings. That will not. however, affect the determination of both Government and people to play their part. “I would like to pay a tribute to the manner in which the British Government consistently and patiently has tried to preserve peace. During recent weeks the New Zealand Government had repeatedly offered the support ot this country to the United Kingdom in the honouring of its pledged word. The Government has reiterated that pledge again during the night, in a cable message to the United Kingdom Government, the text to which is published in the press. Dominion Will Do Its Part “New Zealand is ready to do its part in assisting Great Britain in the conflict. The people of the Dominion, I know will throw themselves determinedly into any and every effort that may be required of them. Everything possible has been done to put the country into a state of preparedness, both on the civil and military sides. I have already given , details of what has been done during the past few days. In this respect statements are being published in the press this morning, setting out the various additional war regulations, and orders which the occasion demands. “There is no need tor me to say much more at present. In the task that lies ahead, much will be ex-, pected ot everyone, and I know that every man and woman in the Dominion will play his or her part. The work and business of the country must go on, along Avith the added effort which the war requires. I am certain that the people of New Zealand, as they have done in the past, will respond unitedly at this time, when the safety of the commonwealth, and of bur very civilisation, is at stake.

OPPOSITION SUPPORT ASSURANCE BY LEADER (Pnr Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. “Every man and woman in New Zealand must deplore the tragic conclusion to the crisis which lias brooded over Europe for some time. Britain’s decision had to be,” said the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, in a statement issued this morning. “This fateful hour,” he said, “demands the clearest possible statement concerning the unity of the Dominion. New Zealand gives unqualified support to the Motherland, in her decision to stand with France and Poland against German aggression. It is clear that so long as we have people in the world who are not willing to resort to reasonable and peaceful measures in settling international disputes, so long must catastrophe threaten.

“For the National Party, represented by His Majesty’s Opposition in the House,” said Mr. Hamilton, “I wish to state that any action that the New Zealand Government takes to support the Motherland has the whole-hearted support of every member of that party. “Party politics must be laid aside, so that our people may be united in determination and in the elTort to live up to the high tradition established in the past. New Zealand proved herself ready to answer the call in 1914, and the spirit that went to the building up of that unexcelled tradition still lives, 1 am sure. The people of this country will rise to the occasion again, in Avhatever capacity they arc called upon to serve. I know that I speak for every member of the National Party throughout New Zealand Avhen I say that.”