PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 186, 6 August 1914, Page 5

PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH.

CRISIS IN BRITISH HISTORY. A UNITED FRONT. (By Tele S r a pi I .^7 oorresponaen^ Uter the this day. W F Ma^f*2£&3s- *• K S ht Hon. a-emS^i d -^K h elar S--«*d ling announcement w£cn W l""" Stai ?- ---* his Excellency! TE^tta?^ £4&Siiaff2 , S& ttrt £%? ? «sMssvi ffls Majesty the King. We must %'VnA ing in God,' and I am glad to say that h£ °? lTin ffleW? eW do <* S feeling of confidence exist, but it obtains n every.partof tlefi , The whole British people are abl e^dav n J- reS « nt a u °*ted front enemies. "We hare done our duty on "every occasion in the past when the iS required'assistance, and w e will Z , duty on the present occasion in a wholehearted manner. That -we will be called upon to make sacrifices goes without saying, tat I am confident that those sacrifices will he made individually and collectively, willingly, and in a manner in-accord with the highest tractions of our race and the; Empi re "to . which we belong We must do: e verytJhmg possible to protect our country, and.at the same time to assist the Empire. When we have done all that'mortal man'can do, the rest must ibe left to ., th e •Hi'-her Power, 'Him who watcnea over Israel and slumbers not nor sleeps".' My advice at this most trying, moment. *s "to-keep c- 1. stand fast, do. your duty to Xew Zealand and the EnSplfe.* " ' "We will do that,"' replied manyi voices in the cowd " I am sure you will." answered the Prime Minister, earnestly. (Gheers.) SIR JOSEPH WAED'S SPEECH. Sir Joseph Ward then spoke r as fo-K lows:—''Tyrant to say ribleueve-finnly ilhat out of evil goodwill arise. Everyone recognises the horrors of war, but the time arrives in the affairs of nations, as of individuals, when they must fight in defence-of their honour and for their' existence, when, the (blessings of peace have to b e foregone, and all grief that sacrifice of human life entails has to be 'borne tvifeh fortitude and resignation. The loss of treasure wfll be stupendous, but that is a secondary consideration. The British Empire i 3 entering upon the 'greatest crisis inner 'history. Her rulers have done nothing to provoke or precipitate the war; on-the contrary they have done all that is humanly possible to avert it. It was impossible, in my opinion, for Great" BritaiVo stand aside and • ■to let powerful, nations go on without he r taking part. To have done this would Itave'been an act. of cowardice, a thing unknown, to Britishers. People in all parts of the "Empire, at this""" grave juncture, will, stand united, with •undoubted courage :and inflexible determination. They will leave nothing midone to defeat the enemy, which I earnestly ,pray. under the guidance of Divine Providence, may soon be fcronght about, and that the outcome of the unprecedented struggle may ensure lasting peace throughout centuries to-come." "My motto is Tor-King and Country,' and it -will 'be fervently; breathed by>the loyal people of this Dominion, as it will be t3vroughout our widely-scattered Empire. (May Gtfd bless and protect the British forces on land and sea, and make them victorious, is my earnest -prayer." I These sentiments were greeted with ■ another outburst of cheering, and again ! the 'Notional Anthem was sung..