STERN TASK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20916, 16 October 1942, Page 2

STERN TASK

WAR NEAR AT HAND DANGER_TO N.Z. MR. COATES’ WARNING ‘NO SACRIFICE TOO GREAT’ (P.R.) WELLINGTON, this day. “I say that at this. very moment the situation as far as this country is concerned is perhaps as critical as it could be,” declared the Rt. -Hon. J. G. Coates, a member of the War Cabinet, when he entered the debate on the; no-conflderice motion in -the House of. Representatives last night. He forced home this point in emphatic arid vivid language which made a deep impression on the House. “Members have gleaned from the newspapers,” continued Mr. Coates, “some of the activities riot so far away from us. lam going-do take the risk of saying that at this very moment there is a terrific struggle on the part of our allies to hold the ground they have gained—not just a raid but a determined attack to drive them out. Some people will "say that is a long way off. It is not so far away. “Members have seen for themselves the results of certain battles on the men who have returned;to this coun-’ try to be healed from their wounds. That must, be an indication to . the average person that this war is very close to our country and to Australia. That struggle at this very moment may mean the safety and preservation of our people. That is not an exaggeration. These are stern facts that every man and woman in this country should realise as never before.” Vital Issue at Stake Mr. F. W. Doidge (Nat., Tauranga): Were we.not up against'sterner facts after Dunkirk? Mr. Coates replied that he respected, the opinions of Mr. D.Oidge but he : very much doubted whether every member of the House realised that an, issue so vital to ourselves was at stake at that very moment at a point just a : few days away by sea and less than a. day by air Where this titanic struggle! was taking place. “We are in it. We cannot, leave it j to anybody else,” continued the Mitt-; ister. “We are not made that way and; none of our people here would say; that our 150,000 or 200,000 men do not' come into the picture. Of course.; they do, and with them what comes; into trie picture fnorie 'than 'anything! else is ‘What is happening to ourj wives and families if trie worst hap-: pens?’ No effort or sacrifice we can; make is too great to defeat the enemy; who threatens us at this very, moment.” - Mr. Coates spoke enthusiastically of the New Zealanders 'in trie Middle East, declaring: “We are mighty proud of them arid "their perforrnances. There are none better.” (Hear, hear.) They were depending cm u's to 106 k after this flank while, they were-away and there Were the New Zealanders In the navy, of whom h 'commanding, officer had said to him: “They are magnificent.” Maximum Effort Needed We had New Zealanders jn the merchant marine, quietly and silently doing their .'duty, .'with no .bands to play them off. Hundreds had been lost, yet they went on, Which should surely bring home to us./the realities of the 'position. , Our -men in The air force had brought lustre to themselves /arid their country—those on the ground forces arid the air crews. We in New. Ziealand .tyere. responsible to them all to give everything we had and use our initiative and thinking powers in the direction of welding our country in one direction only —to organise our country to make the best use of the material and manpower they had left behind. "We cannot afford to make a mistake,” Warned Mr. Coates, “because a mistake means an advantage to the enemy.” Members should make it clear to the people that there was a stern, stiff, task ahead and that no sacrifice was too great to enable New Zealand to present a solid front, using the maximum effort the country could make at that very moment.