ALL IN EFFORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 April 1941, Page 6

ALL IN EFFORT

( NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR SACRIFICE CALLED FOR. / ADDRESS BY MR. J. ROBERTSON. "Workers and The War" was the subject of an address given in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms last evening by Mr. J.* Robertson. iVLP. The Deputy-Mayor. I Councillor W. White; presided over a! good attendance. The meeting expressed its sympathy with Mr. and H. Long and family in the loss of Flight-Lieut. F. H. Leng, D.F.C.. and stood in silence as a mark of respect. Mr. Robertson gave a short sketch of the events of the preceding ten years showing the steady deterioration of foreign relationships brought about by the unchecked aggressions of Fascist Powers. He proceeded to indicate the background of New Zealand conditions at the time hostilities began, and referred to what he described as the beneficent change that had taken place in New Zealand conditions and was in i existence at the outbreak of war. All this had been carried out against a bitter opposition, he said. He dealt with seme of the main objectives of that opposition, such as import control housing schemes, etc., and traced how New Zealand had swung itself into line in its war effort. Mr. Robertson indicated what had been done in pursuit of that war effort, emphasising that the present was an economic and civilian war to a degree that had not been the case in any previous conflict. Mr. Robertson concluded by appealing for an all-in effort and said people were called upon to make sacrifices with a full knowledge that they were a necessary part of the country's war effort. There was every reason for confidence, said Mr Robertson, who expressed his opinion that there was a long way to go before the war was won . "Talk will not win the war, action is essential." he said, "and action means sacrifice. Greater efforts will be required from all sections of the community- in the future than any that have been called for up to date." Mr. Robertson, stating that the first call on the Dominion was for men for the armed forces, gave details of the numbers now under arms. The second call was for foodstuffs and materials, and the third for the manufacture of muffs lions and war materials for overseas and home defence. All their troops were fully clothed and shod with products from New Zealand factories. The munitions industry was yet in its infancy and was growing rapidly. At the same time, while the Government was pursuing its war activities 100 per cent, there was no intention to sacrifice the social well-being of the people of New Zealand. A courageous advance in social progress was demanded by the war just as much as was military strategy. The example of England in that respect pointed the way. Britain had made more striking social progress and advance towards a juster social order during the past 18 months than had been made for many years previously. There were some people who would use the war as an excuse to liquidate much of their social and industrial'legislation. That would be a retrograde step and would mean that instead of upholding the ideals for which they waged war they would betray them and even when the war < was won, the winning of the peace , would then be more difficult and prob- , ably well-nigh impossible. , Mr. Robertson was accorded a hearty , vote of thanks for his address. i