GERMAN ATTACKS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1902, Page 2

GERMAN ATTACKS

RESENTED IN AUCKLAND

ENTHUSIASTIC PUBLIC

MEETING

TARIFF AGAINST GERMAN GOODS SUGGESTED

At a special meeting of the Auckland City i_x>uneil held last evening, opportunity was ta__eu to carry a vigorous protest against the recent virulent attacks made in Germany on the British Army and the imperial Government's policy in South Africa, The Mayor (Mr Alfred Kidd) presided, and the Councillors present were Messrs J. T. Julian, A. ftosser, C. J. Farr, J. H. Hannan, P. Dignan, John MeLeou, __'. E. Baume, C. Grey, J. Patterson, 11. T. Garratt, and A. E. Glover. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. Stiehbury, Court, and Masefiekt. .besides the Councillors there was a crowded attendance of tne general public, who manifested a keen interest iv the .speeches made.

The standing orders were suspended to enable the Mayor to move the following resolution:—"That this Council, in the name and on behalf of the citizens of Auckland, indignantly resents the slanderous attacks made m the German press upon the honour of the British Empire and upon the Imperial and colonial troops operating in South Africa, and desires to express its high appreciation of and thanks to the Right Honourable J. Chamberlain for his prompt, vigorous, and effective refutation of such uncalled-for attacks. The Council believes that the adoption of a vigorous military campaign with the object of speedily terminating the war in South Africa, is a policy dictated by considerations of humanity, and it regrets exceedingly that bloodshed has been prolonged by the action o_ a section of our own countrymen creating false hopes in the minds of tne enemies of the Empire."

His Worship, in moving the resolution, said that all through the progress of the Boer war the British nation, and especially the British army in the field, had been subject to calumnious statements on the part of a section of the Continental press. It was well-known that it was Boer policy to cause a tissue of misstatements and libellous stories to be spread broadcast, with the desire of alienating the sympathy of the Continental nations ana Governments from the British cause, and leading them to intervene to the benefit of the .Republics. It was equally well-known that this was done by newspapers well rewarded by l-ocr emissaries, and as the statements, as fast as they appeared, were refuted by all sorts and conditions of men and women who had been on the scene, and could therefore speak with authority, the British nation could afford to bear in patience all such would-be vilification. But when a member of Parliament stood up in the representative body of the German nation, and deliberately attacked a Minister of the Crown of the British nation as "the most accursed scoundrel on God's earth," and stigmatised the British army, Including, as it did, our own colonial boys, as a pack of thieves, and When the Chancellor of the German Empire replied in such a speech that it is described as little short of offensive, and when tho German press was applauding both speeches, then it was time for tlie British lion to show that even las patience can be stretched to breaking point. (Applause.) And that was what had happened, and was still happening, as north and south, east and west, throughout the wnole world-wide Empire stand up shoulder to shoulder with an unbroken front and unanimous voice to repel such slanderous attacks. A few weeks ago similar attacks on the army, and especially on the colonial volunteer portion of it, were amply replied to by the offer of more men, and the response by colonial youth in threefold numbers; and people here perhaps thought no more vilification would arise, but as ea«h lie is, exploded and put down (often on evidence of their own countrymen and and army representatives), another and yet another arises, and under such circumstances is it to be wondered at that Englishmen grew i,nuati'ent, and throughout the Empire raise their voices in indignant reply. The German press had expressed astonishment at tne irritation shown by the nation, and in making a retreat from the attitude before taken up by them tell Britishers to remember the language spoken by some of their own leaders. That is whe.e they show some little justification, but this nation had to show them in' response that notwithstanding the illjudged and unpatriotic remarks to which they alluded, they did not \cfiect in auy degree the great heart and mind« of the Empire, which was as true as ever to the constituted authority, and trusted in those at the head of affairs to steer the ship of State with wisdom. (_i.pplause.)

Councillor C. J. Parr seconded the resolution. He said it .was, if anything, too temperately worded. He thought it would have been better to have had a mass meeting of the citizens at some central position, say the Grey-street firebeU, to enable, the people of Auckland to express their opinions on the question. Germany had leapt into the position of a great commercial nation and a power in the world mainly through commercial liberality and generous fiscal laws of Britain. German}' was now England's most powerful competitor, through this assistance afforded her, but she had rewarded it all with abuse. However, there was one remedy, and that was to show that they would not have the products of the German Empire. It was for the Legislature to differentiate between German products and those of the British Empire. (Loud applause.) But what could be said of those Englishmen who vilified their own army, who accused their own countrymen of barbarity, and generally did all they could to harass the Government. It was only right that New Zealanders should show the proBoers in England that this country had no sympathy whatever with them —(applause) —that this country despised men who were traitors to

their King and country. (Aprdau.se ) Cr. A. Rosser said it was with very great pleasure that he endorsed the sentiments of the Mayor and Cr Parr. He spoke of the devotion to fhe Empire shown by New Zealand and to the fact that an Eighth and a Ninth Contingent were now going to the front, in answer to the Empire's call; yet this class of men were those included in the abusive t^rnx. "A .rang- of thieves. An Wricangeneral had said -War ■* hell"; but in the case of the Boer war concentration camps had been established, and a great deal had been done to soften the. lot of the conquered people. The colonies should md back a unanimous answer to th abuse of the German press, and show that out here the people were as one ,-vith the Empire, They must show that they would not have peace un lless it were peace with honour He j hoped the resolution would be car Iried unanimously to show the world lat large that' New Zealanders uere Britishers to the core . i _, lWip Cr. Hannan regretted that a public meeting had not been called bj the Mayor, to allow the people to give expression to their views. He char acterised Sir Henry Campbell-Ban nerman and Mr. Stead in very unparliamentary language. The _*?J£ here, he felt sure, were going to show that they felt very strongly on the matter, and he believed good would come out of it. There would m time to come be a great alliance of Eng-lish-speaking peoples, who would keep their money within themselves. Cr. McLeod applauded the energj and patriotism shown by New Zealand's Premier, Mr Seddon, in organising New Zealand's assistance to tne Empire in this war, and warmly supported the resolution. Cr. F. E. Baume said the Empire was under a debt of gratitude to the Boers, for to this war was due the development of the great Imperial sentiment. He referred to the conduct of the pro-Boers in England in strong terms of condemnation; their crime was treason to the flag. Once the country had taken on the war it must be carried to a conclusion; and no consideration should be allowed to interfere with this. As to German abuse of English methods, it was commercial jealousy* that was at the bottom of it. He believed that the Kaiser did not approve of the recent attacks, but he believed that he was powerless. Mr" Baume went on to say that he sincerely hoped the Government of New Zealand would pass a differential tariff against Germany; whatever duty the colony put on against English goods should be doubled against the rest of the nations. (Applause.) He had the ! greatest pleasure in supporting the resolution, and he" hoped it would be carried most cordially. If there were any people in Auckland who did not approve of it they ought not to be in Auckland, any more than CampbellBannerman and Stead ought to be in England. (Applause.) The resolution was then put and carried unanimously, the whole gathering rising and cheering most enthusiastically, "God Save the King" was sung with loyal enthusiasm, and loud cheers were given for the King, Mr Joseph Chamberlain, the Premier and the Mayor. Cheering lasted several minutes. The whole proceedings were characterised by the greatest patriotic fervour. Cr. Ilosser moved and it was resolved, "That the Mayor be requested to cable the resolution to the Secretary of State for tlie Colonies. Cr. Hannan urged that a public meeting be called to enable the general public to give expression to their views on the subject. His Worship said ' the resolution just passed would be cabled to England as the expression of opinion of the people of Auckland," and any second resolution would be superfluity.