THE WAR EFFORT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 157, 3 June 1940, Page 6

THE WAR EFFORT.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Democracy is fighting a brutal dictatorship and for Democracy the men of the British Empire are prepared to make the, supreme ' sacrifice. The Allies are measuring their strength against the deadly efficiency, of German dictatorship. In such a struggle cumbrous representative government must be hopelessly out-matched unless every man entrusted with representation in Parliament is prepared to forget political ambition and work only to crush Nazi Germany. I should like to join with your correspondents of Saturday last in vigorous condemnation of the conduct of our House of Representatives. In these grave times the Government slioujd have agreed to a coalition, but when the Opposition realised that they could not bring about the union the discussion should have immediately ceased in order that the emergency legislation might be rushed through. Instead of devoting every thought and every effort to the immediate furtherance of the war effort our politicians are wasting precious time l in fruitless bickering., Our leaders must show energy and initiative to prove to their electors their worthiness to execute a sacred trust. The Cabinet should have no time to devote to party feeling, and should concentrate oil the titanic struggle in which we are engaged. AA'e waij; in vain for Government leadership in stimulating every branch of our productive resources which can be utilised in bringing the war to a successful conclusion. If New Zealand leads Great Britain in social legislation, it is certainly lagging behind in the war effort, and it the war fails what will happen to the much vaunted social progress ? So successfully has Nazi Germany organised her internal war programme that she can spare both men and foreign exchange to carry on a flourishing Fifth Column movement in almost every country in the world. _ . . , One recalls how General Gordon lost his gallant fife at Khartoum. For five fatal months Gladstone’s Government procrastinated Relief was sent too late and the failure to save' General Gordon is remembered to the eternal shame and grief of the British race. I hope that, while the bodies of helpless men and women are being crushed beneath the iron teeth of German tanks. New Zealand statesmen will not repeat this shocking page of our history.—l am, etc., UNION JACK.