WAR DEMANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 January 1940, Page 4

WAR DEMANDS

IN CENTENNIAL YEAR LORD GALWAY'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE. RECRUITING AND PATRIOTIC FUNDS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. January 1. The Governor-General’s New Year message was delivered from IYA Auckland, as follows: — “On the occasion of my broadcast last New Year’s eve I referred to the spirit of nationalism prevailing throughout the world and to the shadows of enmity and fear which were clouding the horizon of the old world, and I suggested that despite the crisis from which we had just emered it would be prudent for us to prepare for emergencies. The sequence of events of the following few months went to show that there was good reason for anxiety. “At the dawn of our new century we cannot help thinking of our cherished hopes, now disappointed, that New Zealand’s Centennial year was to be for us one of joy. happiness and prosperity. Instead we are called upon to face the most serious situation ever forced upon the Empire. “All our thoughts are concentrated on this war in which we are engaged; a fight for our liberty against the worst form of tyranny ever known. Civilisation hangs in the balance. Everything we hold most precious is jeopardised by the aggression of powerful nations ruled by unscrupulous dictators. We have not taken up the sword without just cause and we will not sheathe that sword till the powers of evil are subdued and just once again established. There can be no question that our enemy may be allowed to call off the war which they commenced in order to recommence it later when conditions are more favourable -to them. The war machine of Germany must be broken and the German people made to realise that war docs not pay.

GERMANY’S FAILURE. "But there are already bright moments.. Germany could only win the war if she could achieve a smashing victory within a few months. She has falied and now she cannot win. With every passing month more and more strength pours into the Mother Country from the Empire overseas. None of us can tell how this w,ar will develop, but we do know that if we are to retain our fredeom we must concentrate immediately on how best to make all our energies and resources available for the prosecution of the war. NAVY AND AIR FORCE. "The Navy has borne and is bearing the chief brunt of the struggle and has achieved wonders, but alas not without loss. German ships have been swept from the seas, U-boats are proving no longer a menace, and the glorious exploits of three British cruisers off the South American coast which recently brought about the end of one of Germany's most powerful commerce raiders will go down to history as one of the finest actions evei- fought. The participation of the New Zealand cruiser Achilles in that action must have caused a thrill of pride to every true New Zealander. “Particularly gratifying to the people of the Dominion has been the part already played in the war by her sons in the Royal Air Force. “New Zealand’s quota of manpower for service overseas is a most important factor and I hope that early in the New Year many more thousands of her young men will be offering their services in answer to the nation’s call. The Dominion’s troops are most fortunate in the appointment as their commanding officer overseas of MajorGeneral Freyberg, one already wellknown in New Zealand, whose proved qualities as a leader, whose interest ip the welfare of his men and whose splendid military record will imbue all with a spirit of confidence. WELFARE OF TROOPS. “The First Echelon has now completed training and is ready for service, but before the troops leave these shores it is essential that arrangements should be made to provide for their comfort and well-being while away from their homeland as well as for the welfare of those who leave in later drafts. The National Patriotic Fund Board has been established to this end and some magnificent individual contributions have already been made. The scheme for the collection of money by the sale of seals has produced splendid results to date, but we shall require more if we are to do our share toward those who leave on active service. The whole of the funds subscribed for patriotic purposes will be administered not by the Government, as many people seem to believe, but by the National Patriotic Fund Board and by various provincial councils. Those gentlemen who have most generously given their services in this connection are known throughout New Zealand for their integrity, patriotism and honesty of purpose. The members of the central board and the provincial councils have gone to great pains to obviate that overlapping which took place during the last war and to ensure that the value of every shilling subscribed will reach those for whom it is intended in the best and most acceptable form. I would ask all to be as generous as they can when subscribing to this fund and to remember that after all it would be a very small contribution to make for the comfort of those who are risking their lives for the safety and liberty of many who are unable to take an active part in the conflict. “This New Year’s eve represents an important milestone in the history of the Dominion, marking as it does the dawning of a new century. New Zealanders have indeed good reason to be proud of the progress made by their country during the first hundred years of its existence, but when congratulating themselves on their happy position they should not fail to remember those who have gone before them, those men and women of splendid physique, character and foresight who laid that solid foundation of our present structure. Too much cannot be said of the sacrifices which they made, of the privations which they endured and of the spirit and courage which they displayed in the earlier days of settlement. IMPENDING DEPARTURE. “Most of you are aware that I am now nearing the end of my term as Governor-General. Were it not for the war Lady Galway and I would be leaving the Dominion in a few weeks’ time, but in the present circumstances my time in New Zealand may be extended for a short period. However, this will probably be the last New Year’s eve on which we shall be in the Dominion and I should like to take the opportunity of expressing once again our heartfelt gratitude for many acts of kindness and hospitality which have been accorded to us and to our children in all parts of the country. We have greatly enjoyed our stay here in New Zealand. It will always remain with us as a happy period of our lives. To one and all throughout the Dominion and in New Zealand s dependencies, pakeha and Maori alike, we send our best wishes for a very happy New Year. We pray that it may bring peace to our Empire, and that the new era will be one of still greater progress to New Zealand. Good night.