NEW-WORLD AIM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20091, 10 November 1939, Page 11

NEW-WORLD AIM

FREEDOM CALL MR. FRASER SPEAKS BRITISH BROADCAST PRAISE OF VOLUNTEERS ANTI-TANK COMPANY (Elec. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 9, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 8. The visiting New Zealand Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, broadcasting for’ the British Broadcasting Corporation to-day said that the disposal of aggression and international lawlessness would be insufficient.

"This time we must make a most earnest effort to build a new world wherein the rights of small nations will be as secure as those of the large nations, wherein individual freedom of conscience and speech will be assured and wherein the people of the whole world will cooperate as friends and neighbours in the interests of mankind,” said Mr. Fraser. New Zealanders, he added, would be among the foremost in helping to secure for all the liberties and privileges they possessed in such large measure.

Addressing the New Zealand antitank unit personnel “Somewhere m England” at the conclusion of a whole day’s tour by the Empire Ministers of military establishments, Mr. Fraser said: “The Government and people of New Zealand are greatly moved by your action and everything will be done to assist you in the task you have undertaken.

Sacrifice Appreciated

“We in New Zealand appreciate that many of you have sacrificed careers in England in order to join the first Dominion unit training in England. All day I have seen men parading and training. I am convinced that there is nothing better for you lads in the British Army or elsewhere.”

The New Zealand High Commissioner, W. J. Jordan, told members of the unit that they were the blazers of a new trail and were taking up the task of serving New Zealand's name established by their predecessors a generation ago.

Mr. Fraser presented members of the unit with copies of the New Testament from the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. containing a message from the King and also a wallet embossed with a kiwi from New Zealanders in London.

The Empire delegates earlier closely inspected units at work. One sergeant among the instructors • on loan from the British Army told Mr. Fraser that the New Zealand unit was the most quickly taught of any in his experience. Modern Barracks Mr. Fraser was most interested in the modern barracks where the unit is quartered, especially the bathrooms and Sleeping quarters with their beds and wire matresses contrasting 'with the palliasses of past wars. Each hut is named after a New Zealand tree, such as kauri, rimu and so on. The walls of the recreation huts are adorned with New Zealand scenes. The Empire delegates spent the day inspecting Britain's most modern equipment and training methods.

Mr. R. G. Casey (Australia) was most interested in the revolutionary extent of mechanisation, which is of peculiar interest to Australia.

The Dominion delegates visited a famous army training centre where they were shown the latest mechanised units and given a demonstration of the immense power of l/ie infantry. They watched a mock battle staged on a stretch of heatherland. where Highlanders advanced. Bren guns smothered targets 500 yards away. In the middle of the demonstration a mock gas alarm was given and within a few. seconds the men, now equipped with gas masks, resumed their blaze of deadly fire.