A radio address by the Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage at the outbreak of World War II. Broadcast by the National Broadcasting Service on YA stations, 5 September 1939, 7:00-7:10 p.m.
He is introduced by a male announcer (probably Director of Broadcasting Professor James Shelley), who makes reference to the fact that the Prime Minister has recently been ill.
Mr Savage begins by thanking all who sent kind messages to him during his recent ill health.
He then warns listeners the war may be a long one, demanding a heavy sacrifice, but he believes it is worth the sacrifice.
He describes the 'old culture' of the German people for which he has great admiration, but says the men who have seized power now in Germany are doing incalculable harm to their country and have cowed the spirit of many of their people.
He goes on to outline reasons why the Nazi government must be fought before its philosophy can be spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
He ends his address callling on New Zealand to range itself beside Britain: "Where she goes, we go. Where she stands, we stand. We are only a small and young nation, but we are one and all a band of brothers and we march forward with a union of hearts and wills to a common destiny."