MOTHERS OF MEN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 27 April 1917, Page 3

MOTHERS OF MEN

ADDRESS BY SIR JAMES ALLEN

The Concert Chamber of the Town Hall was filled yesterday afternoon by "Soldier and Sailor Mothers of the Empire," who had assembled for reunion at the invitation of the Honorary Division of the Women's National Reserve.

The feature of the proceedings was an address by Sir James Allen (Defence Minister), who expressed his pleasure j at being able for a few minutes to get away from the routine of office, and. deputations, and strikes, into an entirely new' atmosphere—although he knew that to many of them that atmosphere was very grave and serious. He knew what must be the feelings of mothers whose sons had gone to the war and the feelings of those mothers whose sons had given up their lives in the war. He sincerely sympathised with those who had lost their dear ones, who had made the great sacrifice for home and country* That was some satisfaction, but it .was a greater comfort to feel that though one's son was lost in the body he was not lost altogether. He knew' from his own experience and the experience of mothers that the sons who' had passed away still remained. with them in. essence. Nothing could be more sustaining or inspiriting than such a reflection. Every New Zealander was glad to acknowledge .the heroism of the mothers who had aenl their boys to the front, in. the spirit that had actuated themselves and their forefathers in leaving the Old Country and venturing into the unknown ■of New Zealand.. As to the details of the fighting in. which bur men had been .engaged, he- knew no more about it than they did; but what lie did know he realised with pride, and he was particularly proud of the fact that wherever our men had gone they had behaved as gentlemen. (Applause.) In England, the name of a New Zealander was a name almost to be conjured with, and we had good reason to be proud that it'was so. . He knew how terrible it was that some of our boys, should have been absent for so long a period, and he could only express the hope that they would come back in full health and strength, to be the comfort of their fatheris and mothers in their declining years. ■ (Applause.) This war had, brought them all very much closer together; feelings had been mollified and modified by the trials they had had to undergo, but under the common title of "Soldiers' Mothers" all could combine in a common effort of sacrifice. (Applause.)