KIT-GIVING CEREMONY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 354, 14 February 1917, Page 7

KIT-GIVING CEREMONY.

SUPPLEMENTARY DRAFT 2Gths

There was a very large attendance at the Napier Municipal Theatre on Monday evening to witness the ceremony of the presentation of kits to members of the supplementary draft of the 26th. Reinforcements.

Present on the stage were Messrs. J. V. Brown, Mayor, Defence Officers and Drs. Gordon, Lindsay and Jennings, of the Military Service Medical Board. The Regimental Band was in attendance and supplied appropriate selections. THE MAYOR’S ADDRESS.

Mr J. V. Brown in his address remarked that in the war zone we were pushing through and going along with high pressure, and h was becoming more, necessary than ever to strongly reinforce tne men. Our manhood is doing ail it can to win this thing through, but what about

tne oft-mentioned 'non combatants' .Money was necessary to bring the war to a successful issue, and these people who had wealth, must give freely. Many bodies in N.Z. were maing huge profits out of the war, but it would be no use to them if we lost. They must go on taking War B?>nd Certificates, many thousands in money were yet needed. Germany’s daily expense was over a million, what must England’s be when she was helping her Allie::. The. speaker further referred to Canada’s great efforts— sending manhood, money and material. She had uprooted miles of railways and sent it over to France to make up for the transport of our troops on land. . New Zealand was one of the wealthiest countries in the world, taking it as wealth per head, and we wished to continue independent, needing no support from our Mother Country. Referring to the matter of the Anglican Bishop applying for exemption from service of one of his clergy at Wairoa, Mr Brown, said he wished to make it clear that he referred to that church only and he was still of the opinion expressed at the last Presentation. He would ask the Bishop on next Sunday to preach on ’’non-combatants,” etc. from his pulpit and in that way if he did not give his clergy, he would give the cash from his congregation. He concluded by wishing the boys all future prosperity and hoped to welcome them back whilst they were still full of vigour. An. enjoyable musical programme was rendered as follows—Song, Dr. Keith ; Violin Solo, Mr C. Briasco; Song, Miss Young; recitation. Miss Maisie Russell; Song, Mr S. Prime ; Legerdemain, Mr Norman Tate ; ■ Rendezvous” Band.

Mrs J. V. Brown then presented the kits, and .the ceremony concluded with hearty cheers for the ‘’men” and the National Anthem.