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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 4, No. 4. April 24, 1941

Wake up, New Zealand!

Wake up, New Zealand!

The following article has been submitted, to "Salient" by a young member of the Merchant Navy, a New Zealander, who has just returned from England and the Middle East. We print it without comment.—Ed.

When one returns to this country from war-torn England one's first impressions are of the discouraging state of apathy into which the people of this country have fallen. Just sending a handful of men for the various armed forces and then sitting back and crying because they go is not enough. The full realisation of the fact that the British Commonwealth of Nations is struggling for its life against apparently insurmountable odds does not seem to have sunk into the complacent minds of New Zealanders. Your men are now in the front line protecting your homes and country, and believe me when I say that this war is not hundreds of miles away, a fantastic mirage so to speak. It is right here on your doorstep, and the only way to prevent it from entering your doors is to work, sacrifice and give.

Why are racecourses packed to capacity, theatres full, dance halls filled, hotels well populated, pleasure seeking crowds everywhere? Why is it necessary to have carnivals and raffles in order to raise money for our troops, to give the girls uniforms to bribe them to do war work?

Every man, woman and child in England is in the front line to-day, giving their money, their homes, their freedom, and greatest sacrifice of all, their lives, to save you and yours. You who have not had the great privilege of seeing the spirit and tenacity of the people at home cannot visualise or even imagine the horror, brutality, and terrible nervous strain through which these people are coming with flying colours.

There is obviously a certain section of the people here who have their hearts in the correct place, or these money-making festivals would not have been organised in the first place. To these few, on behalf of the English people, I extend heartfelt thanks, and commiseration that the majority of their fellow New Zealanders will not give freely and so eliminate the necessity for these projects so wasteful of time, energy, and even money.

It brings a lump to one's throat and tears to one's eyes to see the people of England, women and kiddies, smiling and taking it on the chin for us all. I say to you one and all that when the truth is ultimately printed, unless you take a pull now, you will live the rest of your lives eternally ashamed and go to your graves unable to look into an Englishman's eyes.

Do not think this is a lot of sobstuff. Unnecessary as it may seem, I am appealing to New Zealanders to wake up. Our nation is facing, the greatest crisis of all time, and you are too self-satisfied to be concerned. Give freely, give all, and then count the cost. Don't for the sake of those who are growing up to be citizens, let Britain and yourselves down.

Until I see New Zealand wake up, I shall not return to England to tell them there the truth, which is New Zealand is not trying. New Zealanders are not wholeheartedly behind their Government, and the British Government, in their war effort.

On behalf of those belonging to us who are serving in the field to-day, and those on the sea and in the air, and most important of all those in England, I beseech and say to you. For the sake of your conscience, Wake up, New Zealand.

F. E. Grinlinton.