TO PRESERVE LIBERTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 April 1941, Page 7

TO PRESERVE LIBERTY

OUR FIRST DUTY TODAY PROBLEMS FACING GOVERNMENT POSITION REVIEWED BY MR FRASER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Appreciation of the decision of the New Zealand Labour Party conference to recommend the Government, to stabilise at present levels prices of essential goods and services and rates of wages and salaries was expressed by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, speaking at a concert given in his honour in the Town Hall, Wellington, last night. “There has never been a better offer of assistance to any Government, ’ said Mr Fraser. “It is ample proof that the workers of the Dominion realise that their country, their lives, their homes, all they hold dear is at stake, and that other matters —hours, wages, all the rest —however important they may be, are not so important as to stop us from giving the utmost contribution to save what has been won by the fighters for liberty throughout the ages.” IMPACT ON INDUSTRY. The- Federation of Labour and the Labour Party, he said, had realised that the first duty was to provide for national security, with then as great a contribution as possible to the common cause; they had realised that this meant a tremendous impact on industry, with 70 000 to 80,000 men already withdrawn; they had realised that the burden would be heavier on those who remained; they had realised the shipping difficulties—that losses of ships meant lack of space for New Zealand’s products, and that Britain could obtain food more quickly across the Atlantic; they had appreciated the problems the Government was facing, and had shown that they were prepared to help by recommending the stabilisation of prices, beginning with the stabilisation of wages.

From the resolution of the Labour Party conference expressing confidence in the Government and its administration, members of the Government would receive encouragement to face up to the problems looming ahead, said Mr Fraser. “They are serious problems, but. with the same enthusiasm shown by the Labour Party in the past and a realisation of our duty to give everything to the cause at present, we can face any situation with confidence,” he said. “OUR JOB NOW.” ■ “Cur job now is to defend what, has already been won for the mass of the people. After the war, however dark the days—and they may be very dark —however hard the road, whatever the suffering and distress, we can be sure that, once having overthrown the tyranny that threatens mankind, the Government of this country will once more turn to the task of social and economic progress to build up a better state of society. “We have a considerable way to go yet to build, peacefully, slowly, surely a state in which social and economic justice will rule, and those who produce the wealth by their brain and muscle will receive the full fruits ol their labour. Meantime instead of using the spiritual and moral weapons we have had to turn to the sword, much against our will. because we must if mankind is to bo saved."