HOUSE APPROVAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20035, 6 September 1939, Page 9

HOUSE APPROVAL

UNITY OF PEOPLE WISH TO PLAY PART LIMIT OF CAPACITY OPINION OF ME. FEARER ( MR. HAMILTON'S SUPPORT (Pnvlianipntarj' Reporipv.) WELLINGTON, this day. The hearty singing of the National Anthem and three cheers for His Majesty the King in the House of Representatives yesterday signalled the conclusion of the formal procedure approving the action of the Government of New Zealand in joining with the Homeland in the declaration of war with the German Reich..

In moving the motion, the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, declared that he was convinced that the House and the whole country would approve of the decision of the Government and that the united people, Pakcha and Maori, would place themselves at the disposal of the Government for the purpose of taking every possible stop within our power to further the common cause.

“The conflict," declared Mr. Fraser, has broken out, not between one nation and another, or between one group of nations and another. It is plainly and obviously a conflict between two diametrically opposed conceptions of international relationship, between reason and force. Efforts for Peace

“Every possible step had been taken to avoid hostilities, every approach had been made -through the most peaceful means by those responsible, but one is faced witii the problem whether 'right or might should prevail, whether men who have achieved high power are entitled to conquer and oppress other people without consideration for tire rights of humanity and justice. “There can be but one answer. We have arrived at the point where we have determined that force has been allowed sway too long in the world. We must play our part, to the limit of our capacity, to assist in overwhelming it."

He expressed his confidence that tlie House v/riuld support tlie resolution of continued and unshakable loyally to tlie King and to our association with the United Kingdom and other members of the British commonwealth of nations who had taken up the sword. Tlie Leader of flic Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, was brief but unequivocal in his endorsement of tlie resolution and the sentiments expressed by the acting Prime Minister.