ALL FOR EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2787, 3 June 1916, Page 6

ALL FOR EMPIRE

-4 SPEECHES IN THE SCHOOLS

SUCCESSFUL SCHEME

11l connection with Empire Day several prominent citizens and members of Parliament addressed the children at the various schools in the City yesterday. The speeches were naturally ol' a patriotic nature, tho main points of which are given below. Girls' High School. Tho Hon. J. Ci. W. Aitken, M.L.C.. delivered a stirring address to tho girls of the Wellington College. Ho said that women could'do just as much in. tlieir own sphere of life as soldiers. The speaker went on to describe what the British Empire had done in this war, and ho skted that it would do more in the future to gain a complete victory. Mr. Aitken told those present that they could help materially in many ways, and ho gave instances of what could be done in this direction. In conclusion, he impressed upon tho students, thenecessity of doing tlieir utmost-to bring the war to a successful conclusion . by' doing all in their power as. ; women to help the men who are fighting at the front. ' At Kilbirnie, Dr. Newman, M.l\, addressed the children in the schoolhouse at Kilbirnie. He said New Zealand was a small country with few-people, and it could not by itself prevent being taken, by a big enemy, any more, than three of the senior football team could play a fifteen of another school: -The only safety for New Zealand lay in being in friendly association with their cousins, then- own raco in Great Brn-dn, Canada, and Australia. All the boys and girls should remember this all their lives, and bo enthusiastic and loyal members of Greater Britain. Newtown School. Mr. A. R. Atkinson,'speaking at Newtown' Schoolj said" this 'was an occasion for prido and gratitude—not for boasting. War, 'he said, was made great, as the samo things are great jn peace. What was g.qod in.war ivas' the scope it gave for -bravery and self-sacrifice and loyalty and discipline. The terrible side of war was its cruelty and hatred and crimes. Fortunately, there was not much chance of one imitating tho crimes of Germany, but it might be good for us to imitate Germany's good points—particularly their people's self-sacrifice and devotion to their cause. There was' perhaps just a littlo risk that wo might fall into tlie cultivation of hatred as a virtue. We were justified in hating the German crimes and the nation which organised them, but vro should remember, and not carry that out to individual hatred, especially towards iunocent and unoffending strangers within our own gates. The great lesson both in war and in peace was that learned in the great the lesson to play the game,- and to sacrifice oneself for the side. The gathering terminated with cheers for the King and the Empire. The girls asked permission to cheer, and gave hearty cheers for tho Queen. To Aro School. Mr.. T. IC. Sidey, M.P., addressed the scholars of the To Aro School. Germany, ho said, aimed at a world-wide empire, but it was to bo attained at the expense of other nations, by force of, arms,- and no consideration, moral or material, was to bo allowed to stand in her way. Sho had wrought untold ruin, suffering, and sorrow in tho world.- The British Empire had escaped . by the narrowest of margins, if, indeed, it was safo to say it' had' yet escaped. That Germany had been able to amass the wealth necessary to bring this evil upon mankind was in ■ largo measure due to the British people. Even the boys and girls of To Aro School may havo been helping her, for nearly all tho children's toys that had come to New Zealand'before the war had been made in Germany. He exhorted them to think of, | theso things in future,- and bb just to their'own people. ..In conclusion, ho reminded/them that if the Empire was to have tho great future they all hoped for it,-.it must have high ideale, and it could not havo high, ideals unless all its constituent parts, its men and women, and its boys and girls, had high ideals, too. Britomart Street School. Mf! 'C.; M. Luko, speaking at the Brito. mart Street School, referred to the circumstances leading up to the war and tlie frightfulness of the German methods, and tho ideals for. which' Groat Britain Btood. Ho dealt with the advantages Germany had gained by tho free-trade policy of Great Britain in the past in building up her industries and her trado throughout the British Empire, thereby enabling her to accumulate wealth out of which to provido armies and a navy ultimately to try and crush Britain: Mr. Luke' referred -to tlie reconstruction of the futuro trade and commerce, and the social and educational conditions of tlie future. He spoko of the flag of Great Britain, its history, and what it implied, also of our great and the services it has rendered. Tho speaker spoko of the futuro with confidence as to tho wellbeing of these outlying Dominions, and said that as a family the nation would be cemented together'even more firmly than in the past. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Luke, and the gathering closed with the singing of the National Anthem. Marist Bros. School. There were over three hundred boys presont at tho Marist Bros. Schools at Tasimtn Street and Hawkestono Street when Mr. J. J. M'Grath addressed them on behalf of tho AU-for-Empire League. They should, he said, bo proud of their honours board, containing tho names of 250 past pupils of their school. Their record would compare moro than favourably with that of most other schools in the Dominion. They were descendants of the Celtic race, which was .nobly doing its duty at tho front, and they might with profit study the history of the leaders ol' their race in the British Army and Navy. The.v could at present best serve tho Empiro by practising obedience to tlieir parents and teachers, and developing their young, minds and bodies, so that when their time camo they could, if necessary, bo worthy successors of those whoso names wero on their honours board. At the conclusion of an enthusiastic gathering, the whole of the boys cheered lustily for the King, after singing "Rule Britannia" and "God Save the King." Tho speaker offered the sum of as., to' bo applied by Bro. Egbert in prizes to the older .bovs, for thoso who nt the end of the term showed the best knowledeo of tho part played in the war by the "Celtic race. Terrace School. ill'. 15. P. Hudson, JI.P., spoke at the Terrace School on Imperial topics. Mr. Hudson dealt interestingly with various aspects of Imperial patriotism, dwelling particularly upon tho practical part that .every boy and girl could play, as time weiii: on, in tho trado war which would assuredly follow tho struggle of "armies now in "progress. Commercial enterprise and exploitation had enabled Germany to build up. tho resources upon which'sho was drawing in her bid for world domination, and it was very necessary that patriotic citizens of the Empire, and not least those of the rising generation, should do what in them lay to see that she iva.i not given .such another opportunity. There would be amnio scope for practical patriotism in tlie future in building up local industries. That was tho way in which we could sccure our own position and assist to safeguard tlie Empire. Mount Cook Boys, Mr. C. E. Statham, M.P., addressed tho upper standards of the Mount Cook Boys' School. Dealing with patriotism from a commercial- standpoint, lie asked the boys to remember that every time they purchased goods made in a foreign country, that foreign country had to receive payment for the goods, and, above all, that part of the money actually went towards tho maintenance of tho military and naval.power of that country. If they .bore this fact in mind they would certainly have no inclination'' to nurchase anything made in Germany. Wo wert nil proud, said Mr. Stathani, to belong to tho mighty British Empire, and believing that Britain' had a great mission to perform in helping to restore and preserve the peace of the world, and in giving protection to weaker nations, ho urged

that wo were justified in striving to make lier mightier yet. At the conclusion of Mr. Slut ham's address, the headmaster (Mr. Bnry) asked all those boys who had relatives at the front to hold up their lmnds, and fully 'JO per c'ont, responded. Clyde Quay. At Clyde Quay, the Rev. A. E. Hunt said tho strength of an army does not lio in. the number of soldiers under arms,, but in tho loyal and wholehearted sej--vice of every soldier, whether he. bo an officer or a private. And tho of a nation is not to be judged by tho amount -of territory it occupies, or its onovniouH wealth, or even in 'die strength oi ils army and navy, but-in the character and loyalty of every individual .citizen. Our. Empire is great, not because wo have, made it great, but because tlioso who have gone before us have made it 00. Every, one of us should reply to tho greal; clarion call of the past, and say, "You in the past have, douo your duly, ami wo of to-day will do ours.' And \ve can do it by seeking to cultivate thgso qualities which go to the making of good citizenship, "Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King—else, wherefore born?" Itenicmbcr, <tho Germans, the Austrians, and the Turks aro not our only enemios.- >our worst ■ enemies are to bo found within our own borders, in i our own counlry, in our own cities, in'our own hearts. Let every boy aim at a nohlo and true manhood, every girl to a gracious womanhood, so that, while we aro justly proud of our Empire, our Empire may be justly proud of- us. Wherever you are, and whatever you ore, seok always to "play tho game." Maranui School, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., iu his address to the pupils of tho Maranui School, pointed out that Great Britain was the Motherland und New Zealand was one of her soub. In her time of troublo all her suns had rallied to her assistance. This was truo patriotism. Aftor the arar was Over, Germany would pursue a commercial war against the British Empire. If wo were loyal to the Empire we would not purchuse goods made in enemy countries. If wo did, our foes would with our monoy build up armaments and further waTs would result.

Mount Cook Girls' School, At the Mount Cook Girls' School, Pro. feasor Hunter spoke to a gathering oi over three hundred of the pupils. He said the occasion was one on which they should try to call to mind what it meant when they spoke about being British subjects. What were their privileges and their responsibilities? Tho British Empire, from a small beginning, had stretched over the whole world, and they wera pro ad of it because it stood for what was called British freedom, tho right' of men and women to live and develop their lives in tho way thoy thought best. They must not up the idea of making monoy, and of gaining territory, but of helping those who need it. They wanted, also, tho freedom to allow them to work. Every individual in a team must work, not for himself, or herself, but for the good of tho team, and that was exactly what was wanted in the British Empire. ..It might be said that being "only girls," what oould they do? But iio neld that war was much harder, on the women and girls, ultimately, than on the boys and men. In Now Zealand, iilthougn not; iii the Old Country, this was recognised, and woman had an equal right with men to say who the people should be to rulo New Zealand, and ivha should say wo should, or should not, mitke war. It would bo .the business of tlie girls to train themselves to be abla to distinguish between the true and the falsb man or woman. The British Em. pire in the past had not, he said, done all it might have done, but it had always aimed at freedom. Thorndon School. At the Normal School (Thorndon), Mr. J. A. Young, M.P., made brief referent to, tho war,, and the unprincipled ambitions of Gerniaqy as against the traditional aims of Britain ,to encourago the happiness and progress of.free peace-loving people the world over. In Germany, tho school children wero taught to hat§. tha British.. Wo. were sorry for them, because, wo were lighting to win the war which .would ultimately mean the teaching of proper, ideas of love among,, ,tho children of the world, even, tho Germans. England aiid British rule' stoodfor.,lib-, orty and'happiness and the improvement of boys and girls everywhere, but before they could Tealise' the meaning of itliis they must learn to be obedient. Thoy should' be obedient to their parents and teachers, and do their best in all tilings, and as they grew older they would understand what it meant to bo obedient to the laws of their country. Hutt Valley Schools. In tho Hutt Valley schools yesterday 6pecial .lessons' were given in Empire history and geography. At Petono West, the Onion Jack was hoisted and saluted by the scholars, and in the afternoon a party representing the AU-for-Empiro League attended, and an address was delivered by Mr. A. Carr. At the Lower Hutt District High School, addresses were delivered V,y Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., and the chairman of tho School Committee (Mr. E. P. Rishworth). Mr. Wilford, who spoke at four schools in the Valley, on behalf of the All-for-Empire League, outlined the present crisis, and impressed upon the children tho valuo of keeping a promise." At the Petone District High School Mr. Wilford urged the boys to avoid as pals those who were untruthful, and prone to break promises. Scots College. A stirring address was delivered to the boys of Scots College during the afternoon session by Dr. Gibb, who dwelt on the vastness of tho Empire and on tho increased responsibilities which belonged ! to the British people in consequence. He paid a great tribute to the work dono by tho Army and the Navy in its upbuilding, anil not least to that agency which Queen Victoria once informed an African chief visiting England was tho. seoret of Britain's power, namely, the Bible. Dr. Gibb reminded the boys that they were the British Empire in* potentiality, and that what they were tlio Umpire would be, and ho exhorted them to remember that they could play their part by adopting there and, then the ideals of truth and justice that had made Britain's name Tespeclod. TO-MORROW'S CHURCH PARADE. The open-air church parade at Newtown Park to-morrow afternoon should make an impressive sight. Altogether ten companies and associations will take part, and seven bands will ronder appropriate music. The officiating clergymen are-.—Chap-lain-Colonel Tracev, Chaplain-Captain G. Ivno.wles-Smitli, and Rev. Archibald Hunt. Tho following companies and associations have been allotted positions in tlio" parade:—Members of tlio Returned Soldiers' Association, members of Reinforcements from Trentham and Peatherston Camps, New Zealand Veterans, members of the Territorials and Senior Cadets, Amokura boys, members of the Women's and New Zealand National Reserve, members of .the Red Cross and Order of St. John, and tho boy scout.?.