WAR QUESTIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2484, 10 June 1915, Page 6

WAR QUESTIONS

ARE WE DOING ENOUGH? POSSIBILITIES LIMITED THE MUNITIONS DIFFICULTY SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR Questions which have lately been exorcising tho public mind more than a little were discussed by His Excellency tho Governor in a speech delivered by iiim at tho concert in tho Town Hall last night. liis Excellency addressed himself first to tho question of whether New Zealand was doing all that she should do | to meet her obligations to the Empire. In tho last seven or eight days, lie said, the Ministor of the now portfolio of Munitions had made a very definite pronouncement, and that pronouncement had somewhat loosed his (the speaker's) tongue. First of all he would point out tho position of affairs as it was at present. Tho Government of Now Zealand—and it would have been the same whatever the Government in power—had been in the closest pessifclo touch with the Imperial authorities since August 4 last. We had asked the Imperial authorities what they wanted us to do. They had told us, and we had carried out the task put upon us. We must not disguise the fact that the Empire was now most 6hort cf aims, equipment, and munitions, possibly not so short as some of us might think, but still that was where the Empire was weak. The British were not prepared to go into this struggle, and he did not think anyone could blame the Government for not being prepared to faco a struggle of this size. So late as July, tho month before war was declared, our fleet was invited to the Kiel Canal, and our navy was entertained in the guise of good-fellowship, wliilo all tho time the Germans were preparing for tho most gigantic war the world had ever seen. They were already preparing then, because the murder of the Archduke had taken place nearly a fortnight previously, and that murder was supposed to be the casus belli. As Affecting the Dominion. To cons der the case as it, applied uioro directly to this country, the Imperial Government had told us that they greatly appreciated the efforts of New Zealand, and, furthermore, .had 6aid they were extraordinarily gratified that all their suggestions had been carried out in the minutest possible degree. They had laid down for us a curriculum which thoy had asked us to follow out; they had prescribed a course of training for our troops _ in these islands, and a course of training in Egypt. That curriculum had been followed, and the result had been that those men had gone into the fighting lino highly trained men. (Applause.) And so far we had not had to ask the Imperial Government for assistance iu arms or equipment. He would ask those people who —with the very best of intentions, be was sure —were asking the Government to send more men, to recollect that in New Zealand wo hid only a certain quantity of arms and equipment, and that that supply would carry us on only for a certain period of time. In view of all these circumstances tho Imperial Government had laid down a curriculum, considering it was tho right curriculum, and he would imploie every man, woman, and child not to try to force the pace at present. In tho United Kingdom they were working to solve the munitions problom, and at present they could not help us in arms and equipment. If we tried to force tho paco here wo should not be able to do what the Imperial Government asked, namely, to send a perpetual stream of reinforcements. As far as soldiers were concerned, New Zoaland was doing exactly what the Imperial Government wanted. Time might a'lter the position of affairs, but at the_ present moment that was the position. By the end of December wo would have 30,000 men out of New Zealand on active service—(applause)—and Now Zealand at that period would be. he knew, a considerable number of thousands over her quota- according to population by comparison with the other Dominions. (Applause.) Food Supplies. As to recruiting, he had no doubt at all that we should not be short of recruits, but for all that he would like to see everybody who could go coming forward. He would also say, however, that the Old Country was looking to the DominionsCanada, Australia, aud New Zealand— to feed the armies. We must send provisons to the Old Country and to her Allies. All these points had to be considered. Colonials Who Co Home to Sorve. There had been something said_ about officers going homo to join regiments there, in preference to joining their own units here. But surely it made no difference whether these men were serving here with our forces or with the troops from England. The New Zealand people could have the satisfaction of knowing that they were "doing their little bit," Somo of these lads had gone Home, it was said, to get commissions, but he knew some who had gone into the ranks. ■ The Spirit of the Nation. H© was present to support the promoters of the concert, and to support their "Queen," and not only one Queen, but all the Queens. (Applause.) All were anxious to help. He did not care what Government was in power in. New Zealand, that Government would not lot the men at the front go wrong, but if all the care of our men was_ to be left to the State, then the spirit that brought all together—"For we have all got them there, I, as well as you," he interpolated—that spirit which bound all classes of the nation when it was in grief would be stifled. There might be those who said, ''It is not for. us to help the wounded; it is for the State to do it." His reply to such a contention was: "But you must do it-, because you want to have a hand in it.' The Hospital Ship. His Excellency went on to speak of the Hospital Ship, in connection with the equipment of which he has taken a very active part. Some _ might think, ho said, that he was asking the people for "a devil of a lot." But the facts were that the calculations had been based on Admiralty regulations, tho Wellington Hospital system, and common sense. The ship must go away perfectly equipped to meet all contingencies, and this was tho basis on irbich he was acting. He had seen active service, and ffo had equipped a hospital ship before. About the equipment of this slup ho could assure the people of New Zealand that ho was not going to skimp it, or be extravagant over it. Ho was jioins* to do His best to seo that t.liß ship would bo so equipped that those mi board, whether staff or wounded, would not laek anything that was necessary if lie could'help it. Tho money subscribed would be more than sufficient, and there would be a surplus after the ship had sailed. He intended to devoto the surplus for tho benefit of the sick aud wounded in hospitals, wherever they might- be. He would call in a committee to assist him. probably the Mayors in the four chief flf.ntrpa, and two other gentlemen, who, Jio had discovered, Tvere'eood financiers,

ill determining how to dispose of it. If it wore not all used in the war, bo hoped he would have their advice as to how to divide it up among the centres which had contributed it for tho benefit of wounded soldiers afterwards, in proportion to t-lio contributions received from tho centres. To Unkind Critics. "Try to be, if you can, a little kind in your criticism at this time," ho said ill conclusion, "particularly in regard to military operations, becauso I, who have worked alongside the officials of the Defence Department—l know how well they are working. ... Be generous in your criticism, because sometisios it falls heavily on the shoulders of those who are working, and they feel it most deeply, although they - don't say so." To relievo them of a i little of their work, he said, he had i" undertaken to attend to the hospital >' ship, aud he was going to go through . 1 evory single item of tho equipment himself. t He wished the concert success, and ■ all the Queens, and all tho people pre- ' sent tho very best of luck. At tho suggestion of tho Mayor, the 3 audience signified by acclamation their ; 5 thanks to His Excellency for haying 3 addressed them. ' ;