WAR DEMANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 April 1940, Page 7

WAR DEMANDS

MUST BE MET IN SPIRIT OF ANZAC MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND. DECLARATION BY NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. On the occasion of the commemoration of Anzac Day, the Governor-General lias associated himself with Ministers of 1 lie Crown and ot her representative citizens in g-iving to the people a message outlining those ideals appropriately associated with the spirit of Anzac for which the nat ion is tight ing at the present time. The message has been signed by his Excellency, all the members of Cabinet, the Leader and other prominent members of the Opposition, the Chief Justice, representatives of the Native race, the mayors ot the four principal cities, representatives of several of the principal religious denominations, the Chancellor of the University, and representatives of organisations such as the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Labour Party, the Municipal Association, Counties' Association, Farmers' Union, Associated Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Labour and Employers' Federation. THOSE WHO GAVE ALL. The full text of the message is as follows: — Twenty-five years ago tomorrow the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli. Their sacrifice and the sacrifice of those who went later was made to build a better world from which war would bo abolished. Theirs was an essential no less than an heroic sacrifice in order that Ihe foundations of a new world order might be securely laid in peaceful associations between the nations. But today we are again at war. Today our young men are facing the same sacrifice in the same spirit and to the same end as those who gave their all 25 years ago. The men of 1914-18 did their job and did it magnificently. But the moral and spiritual laws which should influence human life and action have been given no adequate place in the relations that have subsequently emerged between the nations. Truth, justice, tolerance—these have been denied, and in their stead doctrines of force, dictatorship and aggression have in later years been openly espoused. To free the world from this menace we are again at war. CHALLENGE OF THE HOUR. The memories of determination, courage and sacrifice which tomorrow's anniversary calls forth serve as both an inspiration and a challenge in this present grave hour of crisis. But Anzac brings more than reverence for the memories of those who have passed on —it brings also a realisation of responsibilities to those who are left.

Our responsibility in the present conflict is clear. It is not merely our own security which is endangered, nor merely the future of the British Commonwealth which is in the balance: it is not only our political institutions and democratic forms of government which are threatened —it is those very principles which have made civilisation possible, which give value and meaning to life itself, that are at stake. The rule of law. the search for truth, the protection of the weak against the' strong—these are the vital issues. On such issues there can be no compromise, from the defence of these principles there can be no turning back. The task we have set ourselves may be fraught with tremendous difficulties, may require heavy sacrifices. The immediate struggle will be arduous, it may be long, and it certainly will demand from our nation that it should withhold nothing that may contribute to our strength. We shall gather that strength only as we live and work, think and act, constructively, collectively, and unitedly, submerging with willing cheerfulness individual, sectional and national prejudices, not only for the sake of New Zealand but for the whole of humanity. However the war develops, one thing is certain: its outcome will depend upon the determination of the peoples of all nations, including our own, to unite in common purpose to bring into being the spirit of love, honesty .and unselfishness which alone can provide the basis for a lasting peace. The full list of signatures to the message is as follows: —

Galway, Governor-General. P. Fraser. Prime Minister. W. Nash, Minister of Finance. D. G. Sullivan. Minister of Industries and Commerce. H. G. R. Mason,. Attorney-General. H. T. Armstrong, Minister of Housing. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs. P. C. Webb, Minister of Labour. F. Jones, Minister of Defence. W. Lee Martin. Minister of Agriculture. F. Langstone. Minister of Lands. D. Wilson, Leader of the Legislative Council. Adam Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition. G. W. Forbes. M.P. J. G. Coates. M.P. Michael Myers. Chief Justice. A. T. Ngata, M.P. E. T. Tirikatene, M.P. Ernest Davis, Mayor of Auckland. T. C. A. Hislop. Mayor of Wellington. R. M. Macfarlane, Mayor of Christchurch. A. H. Allen. Mayor of Dunedin. W. Perry, Dominion President. New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. J. Roberts. President New Zealand Labour Party. T. Jordan, President Municipal Association of Now Zealand. C. J. Talbot, President New Zealand Counties' Association. W. W. Mulholland, President New Zealand Farmers' Union. W. S. Mac Gibbon. President Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. A. Mcl.agan, President New Zealand Federation of Labour. W. Machin, President New Zealand Employers' Federation. J. A. Hanan. Chancellor. University of New Zealand. Campbell. New Zealand Primate. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa. T. F. Connolly. Vicar-General, on behalf Archbishop O'Shea, Archbishop of

Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand. J. Lawson-Robinson. Moderator of lhe Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Leslie B. Neale. President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. J. Evan Smith. Lieutenant Commissioner. Salvation Army. S. Katz. Rabbi. Jewish Community.