EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO MOBILISE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 186, 6 August 1914, Page 4

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO MOBILISE.

7,000 MEN WANTED. SUGGESTION FROM IMPERIAL AUTHORTriES. PARLIAMENT ENDORSES PROPOSAL (By Telegraph— Parliamentarj Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. When the House resumed after tb< reading of the proclamation the Prime Minister intimated that he had a resolution to move, and one w> ich he was fully astured the House would agree to unanimously. He felt sure that the House was* not in the mood that day to discuss Ordinary business. (Hear, hear.) The Premier went on to say that "before going further he would move that the message from His Majesty the King as read by his Excellency the Governor be recorded in the Journals of tbe House. This was carried, and the Prime Minister then read the following resolution. "That, in view of the fact that Great Britain has become involved in war with Germany this House approve of the necessary steps being taken by the New Zealand Government to 'have in readiness an expeditionary force." WISDOM OF READINESS. After reading the resolution the Premfor remarked: "It will be recollected that when I was dealing with this subject yesterday I quoted a message from tlu Imperial authorities to the New Zealanc. Government, in which they expressed the opinion that the expeditionary force offered, subject to the approval of Par K.'amerjt 'to the Imperial Government was not required at present, and I called attention to the significance Of the two words, 'at present.' I don't say that stage lias arrived now, or that s-ucli a stage will arrive, but we shall have to be "prepared, as will be seen from the following telegram We received to-day. "Thougb there seems to be no immediate necessity for any request on our ■part for an expeditionary force, I think your .Ministers would bo wise, lv view of their very generous offer to take all legislative and other steps by which they will be a,ble to provide s-uch forces without delay in case it i 3 afterwards required." SEVEN OR EIGHT THOUSAND MEN. The Prime Minister went on to say that the seriousness and responsibility of moving such a motion as he had moved rested on the Government, but they had to consider their duty to the country and to the Empire in making preparation for such a force as circumstances might make necessary. The motion, therefore, required very little elaboration or esr 'anation. He'agreed thoroughly with the opinion expressed the previous day that this was a time for action and not speech, "We propose," continued Mr. Massey, "to mobilise a part of the territorials. I cannot exactly say how many, but, say, seven or eight thousand volunteers will be invited for service, whether it be in this country or abroad. It may be i n Egypt, in India, on the Continent' of Europe, or in this or some other country. My own opinion is that, in case the services" of an expeditionary force are accepted, it will take tho place of regulars in garrison duty, but Whatever they may" be required to do. or whenever they may be requtred to go, I am quite sure "they •MH give as good an account of them£tt At thry did in the *» ° f *>•* South African war. (Hear, hear) LARGE NUMBERS VOLUNTEERING. '*] am quite sure. also, that there will not be the slightest diffieultv in obtaining any number of people" who may oe required 1 have personally had scores of offers already from all parts of New Zealand from men Willi,,', to volunteer for active sendee in any place required. (Loud applause.) T could moreover, secure to-morr6w. raanv thousand* of young fellows of the native race anxious to fight for the Empire here or anywhere else. They may be required. (Renewed applause.) Of course the Imperial regulations may prevent members of the Maori lace frottl doing service abroad, but there is no reason why their services should not be utilised in the country of thci- b'.rtb.. PEACE, BLT WITH HONOUR. -vr" 1 - f m ?u i ; ta ***\ s,lmmed "P th « r»''mo Minister, "that, the motion will be azreed .o unanimously. We have arrived at a very serious crisis, not only i„ the history of this country, but in the history of the Empire. We are all anxious' for peace; we all detest war, but we do not want peace uncoaditionallv: we don't want peace et any price, we "want peace, w.tll honour. (Hear, hear, and loud applause.) I hope and believe that the ■unfortunate war Which has just broken out will not last long. I hope and believe that in a comparatively few months the Imperial authorities will be able to announce to ns that peace with honour has been secured for the British Empire. (Pfolbngcd applause.) NO DIVISION OF OPLMOX. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S ENDORSEMENT. "There is no room for division of o pi nion, in times of stress and diffieultv."' declared Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of the Opposuion; in seconding the resolution. It was he sai d. "in such a time that a praettfal step such as the House propos-i to take would be valued, not only on lareouiit of the prowess of the men ,-e----quired, but from the moral effect it would have in every portion of the world which would realise what a widely* scattered Empire of great resources ye were It was a time for the sentiments so well expressed by the Monarch, that it was only by consolidating, ,by union tn spirit indeed, that, we could make our opposition felt against anything whicl was going ou upon the Continent. So far as he and all the memoers of the Opposit.on were concerned. Whatever proposal was made by the Government in connect-on *"•"'* «« despatch of a „ expeditionary forcj, would receive iovat -and hearty support. (Hear, hear.) Nft recognised that all forces sent from this country were voluntary. A „ expeditionary force was by the freewill of the individuals who joined to go abroad, or "o fill the ranks to enable territorials to n?J CS^ ChCd t0 ° th " tne Em X7 er the number was to be, ovaT «H A °!!f ubs «il>ad by those loyal and derated at* wiut not

■ jingoists, not anxious for war, but anxious to' uphold tho prestige of. the country and the Empire." Tho. resolution was carried unanimously, and the Prime Minister moved at 4.10 p.m. that the House adjourn. It will meet to-morrow afternoon as usual. The Legislative Council subsequently met, and carried the resolution without discussion.