PEOPLES’ OBLIGATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1940, Page 5

PEOPLES’ OBLIGATIONS

Mr. Whyborn proceeded to say that they must face up to their" obligations to help to provide ample fully-trained men to reinforce those who had gone overseas. If any one of them who could did, not in some way assist to back these men up he was not deserving of the privileges of citizenship of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Even if he were looking a long way ahead, he extended to the men on their return to New Zealand an invitation to join- up with the old Diggers in the R.S.A. When the old Diggers came back there was no such organisation in existence. The New Zealand R.S.A., he said, was a body of which they were justly proud. It had been able to do a tremendous lot for the ex-Service men and had always held the respect pf the public of New Zealand. Ever since the war had broken out, it had done everything to further the interests of the new Diggers and would continue to do so. He believed that all ex-Servicemen throughout the country were happy and proud to do everything they could to help the new Diggers and he suggested that they should try to do something to ensure a more stable economy when these men returned than was A ll 6 case in the last war. That would go a long way in making the return of the new Diggers to civilian life a good deal more simple. On behalf of all ex-Service men in the Wairarapa, he wished to express their admiration and appreciation of the offer of service to the King and Empire made by the men they were honouring that night and to wish them the very best of luck and a victorious and safe return to this country.

GOVERNMENT’S THANKS

Mr Robertson conveyed to the guests the appreciation and thanks of the Minister of Defence and through him, those of the Government for the services they were undertaking. Mr Jones had asked him that day to convey to them and also to the men of this district his appreciation of the splendid response that had been made in this district to the call for service. Mr Robertson said he would like to add his own thanks. He went on to refer ic the different spirit which prevailed in the present war compared with that in 1914-18. There was none of the wild abandon that characterised the previous war; there was a sober determination to carry on a job they did not like, but a job that had to be performed to the end. When they looked at the forces at work, which had caused Britain once more to resort to arms they realised that there was a conflict between two different ideologies, one set forth since Hitler came into power in Germany which taught and instilled into the minds of the people that force was the only arbiter to determine the relations between the nations of Europe, and the other the personal liberty and free institutions which characterised the British people. Making some reference to Samoa, Mr Robertson said the position there today was that the Sa-j moan pcopie, recognising the inherent sense of justice that was in the mind of British people, were one with them. He was thrilled to know that no fewer than 7000 Sarnoans had volunteered for service with the British forces.

EMPIRE’S RESPONSE

The friendship, love and bonds of comradeship amongst the British Commonwealth of Nations, said Mr Robertson, could grow alongside the granting of more and more freedom to that wonderful combination of nations. They found that every part of the Commonwealth was responding to the call. He was proud that when war was declared that little New Zealand was the first country that offered its services from all the Commonwealth: He expressed his opinion that the British people, with all their freedom, would be able to teach the German people, with all their organisation almost from the cradle, that they were able to do their task better than they could. The methods adopted in the last war would not prevail this time, Mr Robertson observed. New obligations were imposed on all the people and in ihis war all the people must be engaged. There were greater tasks for the people who were not in Ihe fighting lines. The men who were going today to fight for them and the British Commonwealth of Nations should not. when they came back, start to pay for the war too. The men who were going to the front were giving more than could possibly be given by those who stayed at home. It was the clear duty of everyone who stayed behind to imstintingly offer their services and do their best to be loyal to the men going to the front and to the ideals which were involved and to sec that when those men came back that there would be a different economic order here than was the case when the men returned in the last war. A pay as you go policy in war time might hurt some people, but no matter how much it might hurt it would never involve a sacrifice comparable to that of the men who went to the front. Unless they were prepared to stand up to that sacrifice and meet it uncomplainingly they would not be loyal to the men going away. They knew that these men would stand up to their job and.

let them remember that when they returned they wanted more than speeches of welcome. The people remaining had a job to do and they should not let the boys down. Let them feel proud when they came back that everybody had stood behind them and done the best for them.

TRADITIONS TO GUARD

Stating that he was suffering from a severe attack of Trentham throat and that in consequence his speech would be a short one, Lieutenant Hart, who was received with thunderous applause, said it was his privilege and pleasure, on behalf of the Navy, silent as usual, but very efficient, and members of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force to thank them very much indeed for honouring them with this civic function. They knew that on account of their age and physical condition, they had a particular job tc do in this war. It was only part of the job and they knew that the people they were leaving behind them would carry on their part of the job. support them and give them that confidence that they must have if they were going to do the job successfully. As far as the Navy was concerned it had a fighting tradition and service as clcl as England itself and had already shown that that tradition, hard-won, was going to be held. As far as New Zealand soldiers were concerned, they too had a tradition handed down to them from 1914-18 by the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, a tradition won on the fields of Mesopotamia, Gallipoli and Flanders, won in blood and hard work and handed to them to carry on. As long as all their people stuck together, they would continue to honour and to guard that tradition.

Acceptable vocal items were given by Messrs H. Dilnot Wales. Couper and Macpherson, Mrs W. G. Perry playing the accompaniments.