CITIZENS' RECEPTION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1242, 26 September 1911, Page 5

CITIZENS' RECEPTION.

SPEECHES BY THE GOVERNOH, PRIME MINISTER, AND MAYOR. "A NATIONAL DAY." The Dominion Day celebrations in Wellington wero rounded off by a citizens' reception, held in the Town Hall last evening, over which tho Mayor (Mr. T. 11. AVilford) presided. Among those prosent besides the Mayor and Mrs. AViliord wero their Excellencies Lord and Lady Islington. Sir Joseph AVard and Lady AA'ard, tho Hon. I'. M'Konzic, Mrs. Jl'Kenzio and tho Misses M'Kcnwe (2), the Hon. D. Buddo, Mrs. Buddo and Miss Buddo, Mrs. Godley. Mrs. Guise, Miss Staplotoii-Cotton, and a number of members of both Houses of Parliament. Practically oven , seat in the hall was occupied when the proceedings opened. About a dozen veterans wearing Maori and other war medals occupied seats in tho front row. Tho Mafor, in a brief opeuinr .-'pcech, congratulated the people of AVellingtou upon their spontaneous expression of loyalty to the little Dominion to which they were proud to belong. 110 welcomed his Excellency ns representing tho King, and tho Prime Minister as the representative of Parliament. Ho also welcomed tho few old veterans who sat in the front row. (Applause.) The work dono in the past by theso old soldiers was apt to bo forgotten, but they had helped in no small degree to make' Now Zealand what it was. AVellington was a loyal city, and New Zealand was a loyal country. They had not met to brag about their loyaltv, but for the creation of a national "spirit for a na'.i mill dny—to lay aside all jwrr/ feeling in a common recognition that tluy belonged to a frco ami democratic wintry, which was determined to pregicoS and not to-stagnate. (Applause.) Address by Lord Islington, His Excellency tho Governor said hft thought it. might be hopefully anticipated that, as the years rolled on, this national dny of rejoicing would be retarded ns ono of tho beacon days in Iho calendar oj New Zealand. (Applause.) It was of advantage to a country and to its people to set asido a day in this way for rejoicing, and for introspection—-a day upon, which party feelilip; could bo laid nsidc. It was only in this way that past events could be soon in true perspective. As a day of recollection and a day of reminder of what had taken place in the past. Dominion Day was of value to all New Zealandcrs. On this day they might ioolc back upon what, had gone to create their common nationality. Human energy and enterprise had laid, tho foundation, of a civilisation of ,no small account in Newr Zealand. (Applause.) Dominion Day, apart from its value as a day of national retrospection, would have an equal or greater valuo in its influence on tho days and events to come. After a tt;xy of fifteen months in (Iris country! mid having scon something of its agricultural ami other industries, nothing had impressed him more than the quantity mid quality of institutions and of movements Junius as their object on the one side the provention. of evil, niul on the other the furtherance of social nrocress, . Both by their luimbar and by tho admirable manner in which so many of them -worn being controlled and conducted to-day, it was ovident that there were many groups of men and women in New Zealand who wore prepared and willing to devote thorn solves' to efforts for tho benefit of their .follows. (Applause.) Dominion. Day afforded an opportunity .of recognising the ability" and 'energy with w'liich these people laboured for the benefit of. their fellow-citizcus. In those daya

of strongly' democratic trend, it was allimportant that a true spirit of patriotism should bo inculcated which would stand above- and bcyonU all political questions.; It rested wtli those- who had had tho . host .education and ■training to extend } the".':'necessary spirit of help.ful- ' ness among their tellow-countryumi. fluv present generation,were the trustees not .only of the maternal wealth of tho '• Muntry but of tho intfral and political Welfare of its people. Ho gladly took that' opportunity of convjatukting £e v Zealand and its people upon tho patriotic : response- made to tho institution of the now defence scheme. (Applause.) Ho noted- with pleasure that those.who wero entrusted with the control of the scheme had not failed to exercise tho forbear- : mice essential to its success. By undcitaking .the-task" of building up a citizen 'army, -New Zealand was raisins . ami strengthening its position as a Dominion. (Applause.) Tho value erf this movement was not confined to its mifvtary value. I MUBt valuably affect tho .character and calibre of "those who underwent training. The', defence scheme would be recognised in days to come as .the most cherished possession of tho Dominion. After a brief reference to the" Coronatwn, nis Excellency remarked "that tho progress of New Zealand was indissolubly bdimd up ■ with" tho progress of tho Imperial system. '. Speech by Sir Joseph Ward. Tho Primo Minister said to-day the ; necessity was greater than ever before to impress not on the old pioneers, but ? • on-the younger people, the great heritage , they enjoyed, and wonld be responsible, , for'in tho future. (Applause.) It was true ■ that "a rose, by any other name ; would smell as sweet," but from his experionco in tho Old Land ho know that since the title of "Dominion had been conferred, many people at Homo nad como to recoßuisft that tho country and' Its people must havo done something to justify the distinction bang conferred. Dominion Day was not wanted for purposes of ostentatious display. Ho asked business people arid others to rej cognise its real importance. Aow Zeaknd, had grown from practically nothing to o'no of the powerful Dominions that ■'. made up the galaxy of nations known as the British Empire; ...(Applaiife.) There was no .-question--of New Zealand remainin" 4n" the'position that it occupied 15 years ago.. A match at any tim* might eet the Continent ablaze. New. Zealand was doing its part" in , the:matter-of internal defence, but had:. to_«ly in the , main for protection on the British 'jNavy. There was no question. of. party politics ; ; in connection with the■ .•defence .or a : country. (Applausa.) Some people in this country'opposed the .defence scheme .as- ■ being unnecessary. The.- first men to teel. • the n«d of defence if'war should como ' would bo tho men who earned thoir bread . . bytbo sweat of thtir: brows. .1 hey, dut i not want to have Dominion •■Day as, a : sentimental sham, but as ".a part oftJxe < national life for tho purpose of impressing . npon tho people of this country that thoy had samething to preserve. They had a • beantiful cov.ntry. rich in traditions,' to. : ■ maintain and protect. - (Applause.) New- . Zealand was worth' living in and worth ' preserving. Let them differ as they liked about political matters—that was of no consequence when the national life of tho country was at stake. Having briefly-re-ferred to the international developments which had resulted in.British ships being called in from- the outposts which they : had previously occupied,-'and stationed , around the coasffi of the Mother Country, the Prime . Minister remarked ' that it wonld be a .'■. glorious thins for Great Britain and. Ireland if they -, had in operation the splendid system of cadet training of which so fine an ex- . ample had been seen in Wellington that day. He would say to. traders, wholesale ""houses, and tho people . engaged in tho social life of this country,, that tliey : ought to do their ps.rt..to make ■Dominion Day a national day when "men and women, boys and girls, might assemble- in towns i;jKD and small to rejoice that they lived ' under th» British'"flag,- and.attached to the British Empire. (Applause.) " Mr. W. MTUnglilm's orchestra and a number of vocalist?, contributed a ; short musical -programme- during the evening. iU tho opening tho orchestra played tho National Anthem. ' Mr. C. Ckirkron was responsible for a spirited rendering of "Hearts of Oak," and Mr. H..-N. Fletcher was" 7, encored when 1 ho sang a. pretty little ballad, "Home, Littlo Maori, Home," written by Mr. Alfred " Hill. Mr. J'. F. Can- sung "Tho Englishman," and, as , an encore number, "The Death of Nelson." Mr. 1\ V. Waters was iksorvedly applauded for his rendering of "A Song'of Empire." Tho mnsical programme concluded with tho , singing of tho National Anthem. ' ' At.tho call/of the. Prime Minister, a vote of thanks was accorded tho orclies-' tra and vocalists, and cheers were givea for the Mayor.