NEED FOR SERVICE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20951, 2 November 1939, Page 9

NEED FOR SERVICE

DICTATORSHIP MENACE HON. HAMILTON’S APPEAL “Get into the work; your country needs your effort in whatever capacity you are gifted to serve,” said the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, when addressing 150 delegates from National Party branches in the Raglan electorate at Ngaruawahia yesterday. Mr A. S. Sutherland presided. The meeting had been called to deal with the party’s organisation and to discuss recent political developments. It was the duty of every New Zealander to support the sacrifices being made by those who are joining up, Mr Hamilton said, to cherish the British heritage and uphold its principles. In defence of those principles the Empire was fighting against the attempt by aggressive dictatorship to spread throughout the world conditions which were the opposite of freedom and justice, and threatened a death-blow at the structure of Christian civilisation. The issue was clear. It was a war in which the common man of every democratic country was vitally interested. England to the Fore “As ever, England is already carrying the heat and burden of the day and the terrible shock of conflict,” Mr Hamilton continued. “I am appealing to you all to get into the work. This is the hour of service, not for vagueness or half-hearted-ness, or doubt. There may be much we see about us that we consider is not expressive of wholehearted patriotic support for which I am appealing. I agree that that is disturbing, but let us first remember our duty to put every ounce of effort into supporting Britain in this war.

“I have no doubt that subversive influences in New Zealand will meet with abrupt and summary treatment if they raise their ugly heads too high. It is part of everyone’s job to be on his or her guard against a stab in the back at home. The language and mischief of dictators will never be tolerated in this British democracy.”