ALL RESOURCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20044, 16 September 1939, Page 9

ALL RESOURCES

DOMINION MOBILISATION WAR AID TO EMPIRE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM GOVERNMENT AIM (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. In outlining to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, the Dominion’s commitments to Britain in the war with Germany, the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, stressed the important part New Zealand would play in the supply o. •foodstuffs. “The question of supplying the United Kingdom with an even wider range of commodities than is sent there from the Dominion at present is under consideration,” continued Mr. Fraser. “It is the intention of the Government, as it is of Parliament and the people of New Zealand that the whole resources of the country shall be thoroughly mobilised, efficiently organised and effectively directed to assist to the utmost the British commonwealth of nations in the struggle for democracy, and freedom against dictatorship and tryannv. “I feel sure that people of New Zealand realise that, in addition to me ties Of blood, friendship, political and ccon'omic co-operation, democratic principles and ideals which bind the nations of the British commonwealth so closely togsther, there arc other overwhelming reasons wnich call lor our greatest efforts at Jus time, of national and international danger.Units of Commonwealth “New Zealand, as a nation, is indissolubly bound up with the United Kingdom and other units of the commonwealth. We stand or fall together, dwarfed or upright of full stature, bond or free in war or peace, in defeat or victory. Defeat might mean the collapse of tne Brn.s.. commonwealth and the domination o. our pcopie by a foreign Power or Powers. The ruthless treatment o the Czechoslovakian, of the Austrian and of other unfortunate minority peoples convey a startling warning to us all. The fact that we are so. far from the actual existing fields oi war operations should not engendei a sense of false security and immunity. Let there be no mistake, the future of New Zealand is a stake, equally with that Great Britain and ether democracies.

“The question for all of us to decide by the effectiveness of our efforts and, so far as those efforts, necessarily and naturally circumscribed in extent by our resources and population, can contribute towards the ultimate decision, is whether this country, along with the Motherland, is .to collapse in ruins, crushing all we hold dear in life or, in association with the British commonwealth, maintain, safeguard and promote our progressive democracy, political, social and economic institutions, ensuring to their pcopie continued liberty, security and happiness. “That is the question New Zealand has answered with the clarion call to all her citizens. That call has been responded to and will confinir to be responded to, not with the blare of trumpets but with the devotion and determination that springs straight from the heart of the people. “To the men, Maori and pakeha. who have responded promptly and have already jointed up, tiie Government, in the name of Parliamen* and the country, tenders its special thanks. The victory for freedom, righteousness and all that is decen 1 in civilisation which is assured and to which New Zealand will contribute to the limits of her resources, will be a victory for all men ”