Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 11. 1966.
Mr. J. J. Shallcrass
Mr. J. J. Shallcrass
On "looking back to Aucust 6, 1945." the vice-principal of the Wellington Teachers' Training College. Mr. J. J. Shallcrass. probably surprised most of his audience by stating that his immediate reaction to the bombing of Hiroshima was. "Good, it served them right."
He said he felt this, despite knowledge of German atrocities in Europe.
Five years of war had done a lot to dull our senses, he said.
In his address, Mr. Shallcrass outlined the immediate effects of the first atomic bomb used against humanity.
Sixteen hundred nurses were either killed or unable to work.
The only surviving doctor could only fight to stop people from bleeding to death.
At the time, the President of the United States. Harry Truman, stated: "The atomic bomb is the thing for them. We have spent 200 million dollars on a gamble and won."
Peter Fraser, the New Zealand Prime Minister, reacted to the bombing by saying. "We must create an organisation that will control these agencies of destruction." Mr. Shallcrass said.
Mr. Shallcrass concluded by saying, "In 1945 I rejoiced. For most of the time since I have had some faith in our ability to survive but fear our tribal instincts and power."