SPEECHES ELSEWHERE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 313, 28 September 1908, Page 8

SPEECHES ELSEWHERE.

COLONEL DAVIES AND COMPULSORY SERVICE. ADVICE AND A WARNING. (BT TBLKGRArjT,—SPECIAL COHRESrONDENT.J . ... N?plpr,' September 27., At tho Dominion Day celebrations here. Colonel Dayics, addressing the.public school cadets, delivered; a somewhat outspoken'address, with a decided 'military ring. Ho said that as a. soldier he/"took the very ; warmest interest. in all cadets . because from these boys'were to.,bp got-.th© sbldiersvof thof uture. Judge Chapman, ,the; previous speaker, had' pointed out that we'were the : only 'nation not having some form; of compulsory training. This question. was one upon which he could not. speak, because it was a - policy question, and rightly they' wero' not allowed to express opinions on. a question of policy. What they had to do was to train tho forces and make them efficient with the means at their command.' • "" Trusting to Luck. He reminded them that they had never fought any nation since that'nation had had compulsory service. ' Britain had always been successful in tho long run, but had always started unprepared, and. good luck had seen them through. They, could not always trust to good luck, and every day found them less prepared. The cadets would always be a popular policy, because the people'shouldered thoir duties 0n..t0 the.children. An army of children,,however, could.not fight, and it had been proved that an army of men under 20 years of'ago could not stand tho stress of war. The men of the nation should be made to take a share in its defence compulsorily, if they wbuld not do so : voluntarily.

• Training the Women. . Peoplo said: " Let's train tho cadets,", and they would be training the women directly if the women would let them;'but'ho did not think they would/ Why should men expect other men to'protect their w'omenkind? And yot they were the only nation in the world that did it.').lt had long been a byword with the men of other nations that we paid soldiers to..protect our men arid wo.would presently want the cadets to protect our women ami children. Ho appealed to the ladies to look with deserved. contempt on any man who would not avail himself of an opportunity to prepare for tho defence of his country. Ho believed that much might be.' done by this sontiment. ■■

Prospect of War: It Is Needed. Colonel Daries. went on to speak of the population of the Empire, and said that our whito population was about equal to the population of Germany. He. did not say we were going to fight with Germany, but wo had not fought for a. long time, • and were going to fight with someone. The fact'that there had not been a war for a long time did not affect tho question, because every day brought it nearer. The Mayor had stated that he hoped the boys would never fight. He (tho speaker) did not. He hoped they, would, and quoted Ruskin to show the benefit of war; As a flower needed frost and an individual .needed hardship, so, he held, did a nation n_eed war to build it into a'- strong race.

MR. M'NAB AT CHRISTCHURCH. PRAISE FOR CADET POLICY. (BY TELEGRAPH —riIESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, September 26. Tho first anniversary of the elevation of New.Zealand to the status of a Dominion was celebrated in Christchurch to-day. With the exception, of tho review, of volunteers and cadots in Cranmer Square, tho occasion was marked chiefly by the display of bunting on the public oflicos and the numerous other buildings; and by tho fact that the majority of the Government offices were closed. The shops and places of business wore open as usual, the weekly half-holiday having been observed on .the customary day. Tho only indication of any illuminations in. tho city at night was at the General Post Office, where tho words "The Dominion of New Zealand" in letters of electric light were displayed. The North Canterbury Battalions and School Cadets paraded at Cranmer Square this afternoon. There was an excellent muster of all ranks, and a large attendance of tho public. The Hon. R. M'Nab, Minister for Defence, accompanied by Colonel Robin, C.8., inspected tho volunteers, and afterwards the various companies, led by Colonel Hawkins, performed the ceremony of saluting the flag.. The march past was a fine display—in fact, about tho best that has - been seen in Christchurch. Ono of tho principal, features was the 740 school cadets, who took part in the proceedings attired in the school uniform. Tlioy marched in a very, soldierly manner, keeping ah excellent line and step, and generally demonstrated the good effect of a little training. Minister Who Has Been a Cadet. Addressing tho cadets, the Minister said .that the prosent was tho first large gathering

~ ~v of cadots that ho had had tho .opportunity of seeing, and ho desired to congratulate Colonel Loveday, who .had beon connected with the school cadct movement since its inauguration till it had reached its present high standard of excellence', upon the display made. Ho hoped that Colonel Loveday would live .to see further ..development in tho cadet movement. Mr; M'Nab. pointed out to the cadets that while they, were young they should learn drill and- discipline, in order to enable them in after life to become good volunteers and useful in the defence of their country. Ho''had been' a' cadet himself, and knew the importance of these matters. After dealing generally with their duty as. boys to train themselves, the Minister said that it had-given him-great ploasure to witness the parade of tho_ school cadets, and he would communicate with' the Prime Minister and' tell him that he had seen tho cadets, and that they had carried out their part in a most satisfactory manner

Lyttelton woro a holiday appearance today. The steamers at the wharves were dressed with strings of multi-cqlour'ed -flags, and ensigns were flying from many buildings ashore.. No work except what was necessary at the two passenger steamers arriving early was done at the wharves. ■ Splendid Physique. On the occasion of his performing the formal opening ceremony in connection with the military bazaar at King Edward Barracks to-day, the Hon. R. M'Nab, had something to say on the question of Dominion defence. He was particularly gratified, ■ the' speaker remarked, to witness the turnout of volunteers at the parade earlier in the day. He would like to say in/reference t0.,.th0 Canterbury volunteers that nothing struck him, apart from the number of the men on parade, more than their splendid physique. Next to that ho was impressed with the splendid discipline of the. cadets,; and tho perfect marching hs -smr on the parade ground. The officer commanding the district told the speaker that- the number of defence cadets in the district was only> something like 470. In: both Wellington and Auckland tho number was .in excess of 1000. On his return to Wellington he would "investigate the question. With.the quantity of material at disposal and the splendid results following upon the', drilling of young fellows who joined the defence cadets, he said it was. a ,national. loss- that there were 600 or 700 young fellows who .should be in the defence force who were no£ represented that day.

Our Future Defence. At the present time, Mr.' M'Nab added, there was considerable difference of opinion as. to what form tho defence of the. Dominion should take in years to come. No one'knowing anything of the-need, of discipline arid command, and looking upon the gathering- of volunteers present that day, could fail to bo convinced that the defence scheme of the future must be largely developed from the point of view of the cadets. . The'sight of the cadets recalled the speaker's days in tho ranks of such a corps when, he and the Officer commanding the Canterbury District (Colonel Hawkins) joined a .cadet corps together and learned their drill and the best part, of their .discipline in its ranks. It was a noble profession to be able to confess knowledge'of'what constituted defence, to be able to bear apart in the defence of their country in ithe-time of trouble,..and to prove a usefpl;-unit-when that time-came. If lie had 'Contempt- for any ;oiie man 'in' this country, to-day i,t was for- the man who had neglected : tlie opportunity for. training himself for defence, but had' stood' idly by allowing .the advantages to ■ pass, and who, if called upon,., would prove- absolutely of no use, upon the field of. battle.-. He predicted, that the timo would come when-men who were not prepared to put aside their hours or days or years in qualifying for the-effi-cient defence of their; country would be ostracised by those who did. He congratulated Colonel Hawkins upon his command, on their^physique! and discipline. He hoped before long -that Colonel- Hawkins would in this district 2s fit :as saw before him.

VARIOUS CELEBRATIONS. * IN OTHER CENTRES. . Press Association telegams from - other centres, bearing on the celebrations, have been received as under:—. Auckland.—The review of troops on the Outor Domain on Saturday in lionour of Dominion Day proved a decided success, there being, 1000 men on parade. They wore first inspected by Lieut.-Colonel G. C.' B. Wolfe '■ (officer commanding the . Auckland District) and then followed a march past. Dunedin—Dominion Day was celebrated very quietly here. Flags were flown freely, and a number of business premises closed from Ito 5 p.m. .In a number of schools the. medals were presented on Friday, and in others tho presentation will, take place on Monday. The principal feature-of tho celebrations. was tho p*r*de -of volunteers and school cadets.

Napier.—Tho • Napier and Hastings infantry: volunteers, with the Te Aute and Napier Etigh- School' cadets, had a successful afternoon's field work .on Saturday. Colonel Davics gave out a scheme of attack and 'de--fenco' when tho troops paraded, and this was carried out. in ■ a manner ■ with which the Inspector-General expressed himself as well pleased. . There were about 160 troops on parado. Tho distribution of Dominion Day medals to children of the public schools took place, on 'the Marine Parade in the forenoon in beautifully fine weather, the speakers including Mi-. Justice Chapman arid ColonelDavies. • Invercargill.—About '200 citizens attended a banquet given by tho Mayor, Mr. Scandrett, on Saturday niglit in commemoration of Dominion Day. It* was' unanimously resolved at the outset, on the, Mayor's motion, to_ send the following telegram to the Prime Minister"This, gathering of representatives of local and public bodies,, past Mayors', and chairman 'of social' and industrial organisations, commemorating the anniversary of Dominion Day, very cordially tender hearty congratulations to the Right' Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Prime Minister' of New Zealand,, ,on tho twenty-first anniversary of his entrance into political life, and sincerely hope that he may bo spared for many: years' to assist ill tho government of the' Dominion and in the development of its 'representative institutions and its natural resources." Later in the evening the Mayor, received a reply from the Prime- Minister, conveying his thanks for the greeting, and asking the Mayor to express the same'- to' the meet l , iug. The banquet, at which were present numerous' ladies, was prolonged till nearly midnight by reason of the speeches, which were numerous and .of ' a patriotic kind. Some of . the speakers expressed the opinion that already the importance of' New Zealand had been enhanced in the' eyes of other counby reason of tho new'status , of the Dominion. There' was also some expression of view that a general commemoration of Dominion Day would tend towards the stimulation of patriotic sentiment. ■ Masterton.—Dominion Day was celebrated at the Masterton School, on: Friday, when tho medals were presented to the children by tho Mayor, Mr. P. L. Hollings. The children were drawn up in the recreation grounds of the High School, tho cadets parading. Tho Mayor and the chairman of tho School , Committee (Mr. . Brown) made speeches appropriate to tho occasion, tho former stating that ho had no sympathy with attempts to belittle tho importance of Dominion Day. He thought such attempts showed a lack of patiiotic pride, after the great things that had been accomplished in this young' country. The flag was saluted, the National Anthem was sung, and choers wero given for the King, the Prime Minister, tho Mayor, and others. Groymouth.—Dominion Day was. celebrated in beautiful weather, and the town was gaily decorated with bunting. - At tho State School the children assembled:and saluted the flag, singing the National Anthem. A large' crowd of tho public were present, and appropriate speeches wero delivered by tho Mayor, tho chairman of tho Education Board, the stipendiary magistrate,' the-' headmaster, and the Rev. It. Stewart. Three cheers were given for the Prime Minister and Lady Ward. The medals wero also presented to tho children. The schools throughout the Grey education district suitably celebrated the occasion. • Feildin^.— Regarding Dominion Day celebrations, Foilding is calm.

Blenheim.—Dominion Day. passed unoli. served hero, as the holiday medals were given to the children on Friday afternoon, so that their holiday ou Saturday should not be interfered with. _ A few business, places are displaying bunting: An excursion to Ship Cove was held in beautiful weather. Oamaru.—Saturday was fine. .It was not observed as a "general .holiday. A special display of bunting was .made, especially, on the post office building, which is gaily decorated, and gives, the signal: "Advance, Dominion of New Zealand." ' The steamer Waitemata, in port, was also gay with bunting. There was .. a . parade of the High and Town School Cadet Battalions, which saluted the Dominion flag at the Town Hall. Our Featherston correspondent writes:— The Union Jack, flying from the flagstaff of the .local school, was the only celebration, of Dominion Day in Featherston on Saturday.