PARADE & RALLY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1940, Page 5

PARADE & RALLY

BIG PUBLIC GATHERING IN DUNEDIN ADDRESSES BY MR FRASER & OTHERS. CALL FOR WHOLE-HEARTED EFFORT. (By Telegraph—Press Asociation.) DUNEDIN. March 5. One of the most impressive military parades seen in Dunedin for years, lollowed by an inspiring gathering in the Town Hall which was packed in every quarter, macle tonight's recruiting rally a memorable’ occasion which should result in a substantial increase in the number of enlistments for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary f orce in Dunedin and Otago. The list of speakers was headed by the DeputyPrime Minister, Mr Fraser, who placed New Zealand’s position clearly before the audience and appealed first to young men to come forward and join the colours, and then to people generally to lend every aid within their power to the war effort. Other speakers were Chief of the General Staff, Major-General J. E. Duigan. Mr Waite, M.L.C., the M.P. for Dunedin North. Mr Munro, Mr J. M. White, president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and the Mayor. Mr Allen, who presided.

The military display comprised a score of units and more than 1300 officers and men, and during the march through the Octagon the salute was taken by General Duigan. The atmosphere created in the streets was intensified by the vivid singing by Miss Mary Pratt of such stirring songs as “My Land” and “Land of Hope and Glory,” and by a programme of music by the St. Kilda Band from the stage of the Town Hall. A vociferous interlude occurred with the arrival of five members of the crew of H.M.S. Achilles, who were given a boisterous impromptu welcome by the crowd in the middle of one of the speeches, and were later formally welcomed by the Mayor, and congratulated by the Deputy-Prime Minister, who referred in glowing terms to (he action at the River Plate and the conduct of the New Zealand ratings.

"There is no better standard of living) in any other country of the world than in New Zealand; surely it is worth fighting for,” Mr Fraser said, in the course of his address. If Britain were defeated and crippled economically New Zealand would become a backwash of the world, because it had to send overseas its surplus foodstuffs in exchange for commodities necessary in its industries. This country would lose its high standard and would lose its protection against predatory Powers. The fate of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Finland would overtake New Zealand if Britain went down. One of the most precious possessions of New Zealanders was their association with the British Commonwealth, which guarded the freedom, advancement, culture, standard of living and lives of its people. It was necessary for all according to their ability to do their utmost to overthrow tyranny, despotism and aggression and make certain of freedom and justice in this world and for ever.