ALL-IN POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1940, Page 5

ALL-IN POLICY

INTENSIFIED WAR EFFORT ADDRESS BY PREMIER TOTAL CALL ON NATIONAL RESOURCES. « COMPULSORY AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A definite assurance that he had given in writing to the Returned Soldiers’ Association, that the proposed emergency measure to be introduced by the Government meant compulsory universal national service—civil, military, and financial, as required, was quoted by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in an address last night.

It could be described, he said, as an “all-in” policy. The Prime Minister said he spoke that night . under the deep shadow of the war in France and Belgium, where British soldiers, the Air Force and the Navy, the bravest of the brave, along with our equally courageous and indomitable French and Belgian Allies, were endeavouring against great odds and under too obvious disadvantages to stem the onward rush of the enemy. The position while serious was not irretrievable.

“The feats of valour performed by our men of all services are prodigious,” said Mr Fraser. “The amazing exploits of the Royal Ah' Force, in which New Zealanders are conspicuous, have never been surpassed in enterprise and daring. The British Navy rules and will continue to rule the seas. In face of that fact any setback, even if serious, will be only temporary. AN UNDAUNTED PEOPLE. “In the meantime the British Government and the British people are facing the position, involving the greatest danger which Great Britain has ever faced, bravely and calmly. Never has a people in the hour of gravest danger, showing the greatest attributes of courage, risen to such great heights as the people have at the present time.

“In common with the rest of the' Empire —at the invitation of his Majesty the King—thousands and tens of thousands in New Zealand today met and joined in prayer. The prayers welled up from the hearts of the people and expressed the innermost feelings of their souls. All of us join in devoutly hoping that the prayers of our people will be answered speedilj'. The quiet, subdued but brave attitude of the crowds that gathered in the places of worship throughout the Dominion revealed a willingness to make any sacrifice necessary to maintain our liberties and our freedom. Today’s services held by all denominations were impressive and inspiring.” REPLY TO CRITICS. Discussing the week’s events in New Zealand the Prime Minister said the most disappointing feature had been the attitude of some newspapers and public speakers, who had exceeded all reasonable and even decent limits in their anxiety to discredit the Government. He was compelled to point out that those newspapers which had so excelled in vituperative abuse had always been and were at the present time the bitterest opponents of the Government, and had always objected to every reform enacted by the Government for the benefit and amelioration of the lot of the people of the Dominion. Every speaker who had attacked the Government had always been an opponent of the Government. Apparently such newspapers and speakers were more anxious to embarrass the Government in a most unfair way than help the Dominion’s war effort.

Some of the newspapers, said Mr Fraser, had been very fair if critical. Their leader writers had grasped the position regarding home and overseas defence, and had endeavoured to show weaknesses, if they existed, but they did so in a helpful spirit. - To those leader writers he wished to express thanks, but to others he wanted to say that the Government was returned by the majority of the people. Such a Government would not be overawed by clamour, nor would it give way to mob rule where encouraged by newspapers or from nondescript platforms. Every suggestion made, every attempt to help the Government, would be welcome. Co-operation was not only gladly received but cordially invited, and if suggestions were put forward in a helpful and cordial way, if criticism was fair, however adverse, there would be no complaint.

Some of the charges involved apathy, complacency, slackness and lack of vision. Not one of those charges would bear a moment’s examination. An arrogant attack that had been made on the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, in connection with his speech on Thursday, marked the apex of this onslaught. Not one word that Mr Nash had uttered had been controverted, not one figure disproved, not one fact shaken. Some of the remarks were unworthy, even of opponents of the Government.

RETURNED SOLDIERS THANKED/ Mr Fraser said he wished to thank the returned soldiers’ organisations for the help he had received from them. They had laid their proposals before the Government in a gentlemanly fashion. On seeing the statement issued by the Government they saw in great measure that their views were met. Nothing done in New Zealand could affect the onrush of events in Belgium, and France, but that did not relieve the Government from the necessity for doing everything possible to assist the Motherland at the present time. Let critics of the Government remember, for the Government had refrained from anything like party attacks, that they were not in a general election but in a war to determine the future of civilisation. Let them express as sharply as possible anything they could say to help the war effort, but let them be as friendly as possible. Events had moved so rapidly that stock had to be taken of the situation, and the result was that Parliament was to meet on Thursday and that measures would be introduced in Parliament that would enable the Government to pass emergency regulations requiring persons to place themselves as well as their property at the disposal of the war effort.

Mr Fraser said that apparently the reference to property had alarmed some people. There was no need for alarm. The term property as' applied to the war effort referred to industrial, commercial and other activities necessary to prosecute New Zealand's war effort to a successful conclusion. It had no reference to the personal savings of the people or their own homes. There was no necessity for people to show the least alarm about their savings in the Post Office Savings Bank. ..He regretted that it had to be stated that some had. taken alarm and commenced to withdraw their savings. Nothing more foolish could be done. The people’s savings belonged to the people and would be safeguarded by the Government. UNIVERSAL SERVICE. The Prime Minister said he had received a letter from the president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Hon W. Perry, M.L.C., asking if he could tell his executive that the proposed emergency measure meant compulsory Universal national service, civil, military, and financial. Mr Fraser said his answer was ‘‘Yes, definitely, as required.” The “as re.quired” meant that no steps would be taken unless they were needed, and that no step would be taken without

adequate consideration and organisation. so that there would be no danger of chaos or confusion. The policy could be described as an “all-in” policy for if those steps were not taken all our properties, liberties, and all we held dear would be snatched from us. The Government, said Mr Fraser, realised the grave anxieties of the people. It shared that anxiety. It felt that in facing up to the danger and in introducing measures to meet the situation it was meeting the wishes of the people. The British Commonwealth was threatened with the greatest danger, and in that threat New Zealand was included. He was not pleading for immunity from criticism, which was not only necessary but desirable, but the necessity for action and devotion to the great task ahead was too great to waste time in acrimonious controversy. The Government would not retreat in the face of attack, but it wanted to go forward with the people to a devoted effort to help the people in a united effort to certain victory. OUR CAUSE IS RIGHT. “We, as part of the British Commonwealth, may have some dark moments ahead, but there is no question of defeat,” said the Prime Minister. “We know that our cause is right—we know that it would be better for us all to pass out of existence than be subservient to the wild beast that is overrunning Europe. We need the greatest measure of united effort and sacrifice.

“Those who indulge in any kind of subversion will not be permitted to do so. Those who malign the cause of Britain and the Allies will be stopped. Anything likely to weaken our effort will be put an end to, any person who stands in the way of the effort to help the Motherland will be swept aside. Such conditions as hamper our war effort will have to be overhauled. “If longer hours of labour are necessary people will have to face up to the position. The ‘all-in’ policy means that everyone, every atom of the country’s effort, must be subordinated to the requirements of the Dominion and the British Commonwealth. The sacrifice may be great . . . but it is necessary for us all to do everything in our power. not counting the cost, foi - if we fail and Britain fails nothing but darkness, devastation and doom awaits mankind. Let us forget differences and not indulge in recrimination.”

In light of the Prime Minister's reply to the executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association about compulsory universal military training all meetings of its branches called for this week have been cancelled.