PALMERSTON NORTH NATIONAL RESERVE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1915, Page 3

PALMERSTON NORTH NATIONAL RESERVE.

ADDRESSED BY SIR JOSEPH WARD AiND HON. DR McNAB. 6'S TJDIiBGKAjfH—Ffcit I'KK&li ASSOCIATION PAUIERSTON N., August 16. A most enthusiastic rally of the Jral- - merston branch of the National Reserve was iield in Palmerston last evening. The principal speakers were Sir Joseph Ward and Dr McNab. Prior to the rally a large procession, numbering a thousand members of the Reserve, marched to the Square. Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of his address, urged the necessity for more men, and said that in the year 1911 the total population of New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 40 years, was 193,250, of which 110,000 were single, and necessary over 128,000 were still available for service. He also stated that 72,000 Unmarried women in New Zealand were able to take the places of those who had gone to the front. The speaker stressed the fact that lie had received several letters referring to the good conduct of our troops abroad, and said that a premature peace would be a catastrophe, which Germany would count as a victory. In his opinion, such a peace, would never be given. The war would draw us 50 years closer with our kith and kin in the Old Country. Dr .McNab, who on rising to speak was cheered for fully three minutes, said itwas his inclination to travel the country, doing what he could to induce men to •join the colours, but he had been recalled to take a seat in the National Cabinet. Speaking of the war, he said it was not so much that we were fighting the army of a great country, but a great country armed, and it was only now the people were realising that fact. A vote of thanks was moved to fche speakers by Mr D. Buick, M.P.