NOTES FROM THE MEETINGS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 45, 21 February 1918, Page 3

NOTES FROM THE MEETINGS

When Mr. H. X Holland was asked at his meeting last night the question, "Do you object to the singing of God Save the King?" he replied: "I do not object to anyone singing God Save the King, if he wants to. The King needs to be saved from persons who would ask such a question." This answer did not satisfy the questioner, who asked what was Mr. Holland's personal attitude. "I have never sung in my life," eaid Mr. Holland. "I could not sing a note if I tried. There is too much hypocrisy about many references to the King. Men who come "along to me and shriek, 'You are a pro-German,' and then ask, if J sing God Save the King, forget that the King is of German descent. A new system is developing, such as has taken place in France) Russia, and America, and that form will not provide for kings." Mr. Holland repeated that the King needed, saving from people who asked such a question, and added, "Personally I think the King is a fairly decent sort of person, but he does not come into this fight at all. The man who asked if he sang God Save the King should be in the trenches, but he was generally the man behind the gun 10,000 miles behind." Mr. Holland concluded by saying that the raising of a petty little question like that had the effect of dragging the politics of the questioner and the monarchy, itself, in the mud, and was an attempt to cloud the issue.

The questioner sought to make a personal explanation, but was ruled out of order by the chairman, on the grounds that the question was irrelevant.

"The Government of this country has been blamed in a good many quarters for failure in connection with the war," said Mr. Luke last night. He wanted to know whether they could imagine any body of men who could carry on such a. huge undertaking without making mistakes. Some 60,000 of our boys had been taken overseas without accident, just us thousands had returned without accident. Ho had heard no complaints about the overseas camps, and he contended that the interests of the men S.broad had been thoroughly well looked after. He also contended that the men were well looked after on their return, that every endeavour was made to restore them to health and strength.

"There is no such thing ;is conscription here," remarked Mr. Brandon at the Masonic Hall, lioulcott-street, last evening. "Conscription is used in a time of peace t( force men from their

daily work to take a period in camp or in barracks for training in the National forces. That is conscription. To-day it is self-defence; and it is the duty of every man who can to bear arms. It is a duty he owes to his parents. It is a duty he owes to his country to fight in defence of those parents and that country. Those are my sentiments." (Applause).

"Why didn't the Government buy tho Union Company before it was allied to the P. and 0.?" asked Mr. A. N. Poison last night. "They've bought it now— but it doesn't belong to them," was the prompt answer from a member of the audience.

"How about turning your coat?" asked an elector at Mr. Luke's meeting last night "I'm glad you mentioned that," said Mr. Luke, who added that at the election of 1911 there were forces working against him, and he had to stand as an Independent candidate. He wanted to tell them that the "independent touch" was no good. "If you get there as an Independent you will be the most miserable of men/ he added. At the next election he was defeated, as they knew. Months before the last election he was asked by a large deputation to contest the Wellington South sea* against Mr. Hindmarsh. That was a very stiff proposition for anybody, but he went into the contest and met his Waterloo. He was a member of the Reform Party, and fought the Reform battle, and lost, and took his licking like a- man. (Applause.) A little while ago lie was Invited, on more than one occasion, to contest the Wellington North seat, and now he stood before them as the accredited candidate of the National Government.

"On the question of liquor, I ttiink I may fairly say that I am a temperate man; and I aJU satisfied that temperance can be taught by example, but temperance will never be enforced by Act of Parliament. You cannot make men moral by Act of Parliament. An example of temperance will do more than twenty Acts of Parliament; and the community must itself call for temperance if it wants

temperance. . Start intolerance and you will get intemperance. Intemperance and intolerance are synonymous terms."—Mr. Brandon at Masonic Hall, Boulcott-fitreet.

Condemnation of the Ward party by the Massey party and condemnation of the Massey party by the Ward party in tho 1914 election campaign was the subject of remark by Mr Holland. "Wo were told, by Sir Joseph Ward what a disaster it would be if Mr. Massey vvero to win, yet immediately after the election Sir Joseph Ward wished to join a Coalition Government. Before the election, each party said the other was tho most corrupt party, the most incapablo party, ever seen. I have no doubt that much of what they said about one mother was true." (Laughter.)

"I do say. that it Is slightly indecent for two members of the National Government to throw their weight into the scale against probably the soundest suppbrter they have in the two candidates who are in favour of the National Government."—Mr. Brandon, at the Masonic Hal), Boulcott-street.

"There is fruit rotting under the trees in Nelson, but we can't get it here," said Mr. Poison at Northland. "They don't give any to the soldiers at Trentham," said Dr. Thacker, from his place on the platform. "An apple a day keeps tho doctor away. They'd get rid of Dr. Thacket. if they did!" came the voice of an interjector. "Tho Department says, 'Keep away from Dr. Thacker,'" said that gentleman.

"I have been out of Wellington nine days in five years," said Mr. J. P. Luke last night, when talking about the work he has had to do as Mayor and in connection with various phases of patriotic effort.

Speaking of soldiers' graves last night, Mr. Poison urged that there should be special provision for their consecration and care. This had not been done up to the present, and there had been no proper" care of the graves of men who had hitherto died in the country. Graves were scattered in various parts, There should be a special soldiers' cemetery at Karori. He understood that there had been a scheme prepared by tho Internal Affairs Department, but because the Defence Department had some little idea of its own it'would not allow it to be gone on with.