PATRIOTIC SPEECHES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 203, 12 August 1914, Page 4

PATRIOTIC SPEECHES.

DEMONSTRATION AT WELLINGTON.

Wellington, Aug. 11. A huge patriotic meeting was held in the Town Hall this evening. The proceedings opened and closed with the National Anthem, and the most noticeable feature of the meeting was the deep earnestness and sincerity with which the peopltj tJegarUed their duty in the present crisis in the affairs of the hmpipte The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) jAsided over the gathering, and the KtZ Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Miniate), the Hon. F M. B. Fisher (Minister for Marine), the Hon. A. L. Herdman (Attorney-General), the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes (Postmaster-General) the Hon. Dr. Pomare (Native Minister) and Sir Joseph Ward (leader of the Liberal party) were also on the platform. A resolution offering to assist the Government in every way and stand by the British Empire was proposed by the Mayor anil carried enthusiastically.

The Prime Minister was received with acclamation. He expressed his appreciation of the resolution agreed to. and. reminded the audience that the rest of New Zealand was thinking the same sentiments. Wellington Was giving them the lead. 'This was the most important occasion that had occurred in British history. He predicted a similar endir® to this war as in the case of the Napoleonic wars. (Applause). He predicted that in a few weeks the German ships would be at the bottom of the North Sea —(cheers) -or manned by Britishers under the British ensign. The enemies of the Empire had hoped to find it torn by dissension, but to-day all sections’ differences had been dropped, and the Empire stood united. The rulers of the Empire were not afraid to do what wtts right, and what had happened last week made one proud of being a citizen of New Zealand. The’ selfsac ri lice shown by New Zealanders had hardly a parallel in the world’s history. Poor men as well as rich had given, not only money but labour and in kind. • The Hon. James Allen said it was a time for action, not words: New Zealand had responded nobly to the Empire's call. There was no compulsion, and there was no lack of young tnen to give their lives jf heed be for New Zealand and the Empire. He knew that the thought of all would follow the contingent, and hr hoped that all would return safely. In conclusion, ho impressed upon the audience the fact that the Dominion is part of a whole that must stand, together or go to pieces. But it would not go to pieces. (Applause). Peace and prosperity would -follow the strain and stress, and he appealed to all to carry on the industry of the country ns though the crisis did not exist.

Sir Joseph Ward was received with a tremendous ovation, the cheers continuing for a considerable period. National honour, he said, knows no party. lie realised the, patriotic spirit that prevailed over nil the country. Ho referred to tho way the Irish people had dropped party politics .and New Zealand’s Parliament united at the first sign of danger to the Empire. Germany miscalculated the temper of the British people—the Irish, Scotch and the Welsh, as well as the English. Germany had hoped to- bribe Belgium. but the little country had put up a record in defence that would go down in history. (Prolonged cheering). No thinking person could object to Great Britain’s course when Germany flagrantly broke ite treaties in regard to Belgium. Germany had been a disturbing force for twenty years, and had thought tfiqt the mailed fist would have intimidated England. But she was mistaken. Nothing could disturb the unity of the Empire. The war had done good in bringing about the unity of parties in England, Ireland. Canada, Australia. and New Zealand, where Mr. Masscj’ nnd Sir Joseph Ward wepr> united. (Hurrahs). The Mayor announced that with a donatiton of £2OO from the. Wellington Provincial Industrial Association and one of £lOO from Mr. William Ferguson. £525 had been collected in the hall towards the defence funds. A committee was appointed to look after the fund for national defence.

At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Massey announced that money was coming to the Government at the rate ol £lo,tx)o a day. He believed that £lOO,OOO would be received to equip the Expeditionary Force. New Zealand’s ambition was to be the first to send men away to tho help of tho Motherland. That night there were 1200 or 1400 men afloat on Wellington harbour. He was sorry he could not say the day or th® hour they would depart, nut New Zealand would he the first of. the Dominions to come to the help of Great Britain. (Great applause).