RALLY OF DOMINIONS

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 32, 7 February 1916, Page 5

RALLY OF DOMINIONS

TO THE OLD FLAG. WONDERFUL EXPLOITS. TRIBUTE FROM KITCHENER. LONDON. February 6. The new High (.'ommi.-sioner for Australia (Mr Andrew Fisher) was entertained at a banquet by the Apents-Gen"-ral. ■> The large gathering included Sir Thomas Mackenzie.

Mr Bon.ir Law (Secretary nf State for the Colonies), in proposing a toast, referred to the important part played hy the Dominions in the war. Britain's ••neniies never expected them to render such help. Everybody throughout the Empire was proud of the. deeds done at Anzac, and (iallipoli was enshrined for ever by what the Australians and New Zealanders had done there. Gallipoli looked down on the plains of Troy, but nothing whereof Homer had sung could exceed the nobility and glory of the deeds of the gallant Australians and New Zealanders. The campaign had not succeeded, but had not been in vain, and would be remembered for ever as the beginning of the growth of the manhood of Australia and Xew Zealand. DECADENCE DISPROVED. "We waited anxiously to hear what Australasia would say regarding the evacuation," said Mr Bonar Law, "but though there has been disappointment, there have been no reproaches. It is not too much to say that the deeds of the Australians and New Zealanders are more familiar ,jto the people of Britain than the work of some of our own regiments. It has been said that we are a decadent people, but the fact that we are prepared to pay the last sacrifices for the honour of the. old flag disproves this. We shall see this through to the end, to a successful end, as at times past we have seen other things through. The issue is whether our free institutions and everything for which they stand can survive against the iron rule of a military despotism."

The principles for which this country stood were not naturally the best instrument for war. They have had to be adapted. It was because of this that theTe has been so much talk. He would not admit that the Government deserved the talk about "our-mnddßng .through," NOT THE TIME TO CRITICISE. Earl Kitchener paid a tribute to the Australians' and New Zealanders' splendid efforts to assist the Motherland, which had justified their defence policy. No troops had fought with • greater determination or bravery. After his visit to Anzac he felt the utmost admiration for their wonderful exploits. The Empire need never oc afraid while it had such men.

Hγ Fisher, in responding, said that Australia wanted not praise lor what she had done, but only to help the Motherland to win the war. Australia had two messages for the «nemy. First, from all corners of the Commonwealth recruits wero ponring in; second, the people weTc largely oversubscribing the war loans. He wonld gladly join with the representafivßs of otter Dominions

in giving his service and advice, either through consul tat ion -witb the -council or otherwise. The present -was not the time for criticism, but he suggested that the time had come when they should cease regarding the colonials as exotic They ought to tell the Dominions what they really meant to do. He thought the best results would come from one of those free talks whjch had done so nrach to weld the Empire.