PUBLIC SPIRIT IN HAWERA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 12 August 1914, Page 5

PUBLIC SPIRIT IN HAWERA.

LABGE MEETING OF CITIZENS.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING

A largely attended meeting of the citizens of Haw-era, convened by the Mayor, was held in the Winter ShowBuildings on Tuesday evening, wnon several patriotic speeches were rr:i<io Th© Mayor (Mr H. K. Whittini>ioit) presided, and associated with him on the platform wore the Borough Counlors, Mr Kenrick, S.M., Mr R. D. Welsh, Dean Power, Rev. J. R. Shore, Rev. E. O. Blamires, and'Mr E. Dixon (president of the Chamber of Cbm.merce), together with other prominent citizens—ladies and gentlemen. The j meeting was most enthusiastic, and the speakers were warmly applauded. The Mayor said the meeting had been convened for the purpose of bringing under the notice of ths citizens the necessity for raising funds to assist the Government in providing comforts for the men who were leaving with the expeditionary force. "We cannot all do very much, but we can all do a little," said his Worship. He then called upon Dean Power to address the meeting. DEAN POWER'S ADDRESS. The Dean, who was warmly received, said that he should appear before the ladies and gentlemen on this occasion might seem a paradox; he was a representative in this locality of the Prince of Peace, and yet he had come forward to commend to them the action of the Government in taking up the sword, and to ask them to endorse that j action. (Hear, hear, and applause.) ! But paradoxical though it may seem, his action was nevertheless well grounded, and not only so, but it came even more appropriately from him than it would from a layman, for the Prince of Peace Himself cast a sword upon the earth and religion blesses it for ! the patriot, and the patriot protests with it the Fatherland, and love of the Fatherland was not only one of the fairest flowers of civilisation, but also one of the sweetest gifts of God. Applause.) "It is a pleasant and a glorious thing to die for one's country," 1 wrote the Roman poet two thousand years ago, and there was not one spot in all this poor world so dull, so gross, so barbaric, as not to resound with thrilling echoes of that immortal verse. It was a sweet and glorious thing to lay down one's life for the Fatherland. The far off regions of Northern Russia were not bleak enough to-daj- to make these echoes chill and cheerless, nor had beauty's fatal gift the power to make them pall upon the ears of the fortunate dwellers in the fair fields of gentle France. Those echoes had become the inspiration of the art and of the literature of all the nations, and were the pulse of every hero's heart and the nostril-breath *by which he lives. "Ladies and gentlemen, I do not foresee the day of universal peace, nor do I long for it," declared the Dean. "When I heard the music of war's bugle-call, I beheld as if by foe. Let this be the unworthy task the timid becoming brave, the hand becoming sympathetic, the selfish becoming generous. I behold the weakest rushing with joy to defy danger and death to save their country's honor, and I rejoice because I now 'know that . religion must be for ever and that ! love must be for ever, and because religious love and patriotism are sharers in one and the same immortality." If England wished to sacrifice her honor and to hand down to posterity a heritage of shame as Italy as- j saredly will, she could have "found ! reasons as solid as Italy has i found for remaining outside this war, but to any nation worthy of the name disaster must be preferred hefore dishonor. (Applause.) And so she finds herself involved, not, please God, I to meet disaster, but to play a part conspicuous for right and for justice. But we here in New Zealand were a part of one great Empire. That Empire was like one great body etretched across the seas and over a'great part of the known world. Its head was in England, its arms stretch to Canada j and Egypt, and its feet to India and j Australasia. It had been lying peacefully, as it were, in sleep for some years, but now it had been aroused by the call of duty and of honor, and the thrill which rushed through the mighty form was felt at its very extremities, even here in our midst, and New Zealand sprang spontaneously to the i mother's side to share alike her trials and her triumphs, and when young New Zealanders sprang to arms and long for the life and the glory of the hero, it was meet and just that IVgium, the twin-sister of patriotism, should stand by them, to bless their ambition, and to cheer them on their way. (Applause.) Paradoxical though it may seem, it was only right that his brother . clergymen and himself should come and take part in the proceedings that evening. Only one word j of advice would he speak. Let there be ' no sneering or crowing at a noble foe. Let this be the pmvorthy task of the jingoistic press. The heroes of the battlefield were not now disputing as to who was the cause of this war, nor were they calling one another ugly names across their ramparts. They were more honorably engaged, and it were well were it so with all of us. Let every nation do its duty, that honor and valor" may be claimed by all, and that all mat know that they had fought with foemen worthy of their steel. Let Russia take advantage of the endurance taught her by her hard climate and her eternal snows! Let Austria emulate the heroism of Charles the Great! Let the Germans call up a vision of their ; beloved Rhine with its vine-clad hills ! ana feudal castles and lovely legends, the delight of every heart, and let i them vow to shed their richest Blood I before an invader's foot shall desecrate its banks! Let England once more make good her claim to stand for civilisation! Let his own countrymen heroes to a man, seek out a second j Spion Kop, and make for themselves ! such a name as their fathers did of i

yore on many a far, foreign field from Dunkirk to Belgrade ! And let the sons of this young and favored land prove themselves worthy of the noble heritage which was theirs. (Applause.)' Already the war had given us two facts j wnicli would become history. One was England's action in coming to the as- i sistance of that brave little nation Belgium, and the heroism of Belgium (applause)—and the other, the al) but inspired phrase of the Kaiser, our opponent. Belgium, the most industrious., the most prosperous, the most enlightened, the most gallant, the hap- ) Piest and mast Catholic little country m Europe had made good her title in the face of a mighty opponent, and what delights him most was to see hastening to her aid England, the most l^rotestant country in the world. So 1 that we had honor and chivalry join--1 ing together two countries; one the ; most Catholic, and the other the most • f^ rPt^ tant country in the world. We behold the Kaiser, deserted by his : sworn ally, and face to face with" foes i multiplied beyond all reasonable forecast, declaring that the Fatherland , give its last man and its best blood rather than yield to overwhelming odds. , There was no better measure of valor , and patriotism than the ability or the will to stand" alone and to face what- , ever fate or fortune may bring. Let us all do our part manfully, recognising the valor of our for,, that valor and

honor may be the chief results of the mighty conflict in which we were now engaged; let us work for valor andpatriotism, recognising that we have | met a foe- worthy of our steel, who would bring U3 not disgrace, but honor (Applause.) REV. MR BLAMIRES. The Rev. E. O. Blamires desired to express his personal pleasure at the ' opportunity anorded of showing the • spirit, in regard to the outburst of war wnich had called all to the exercise of their best for the sake of the Empire and their own country. (Applause.) lney had been appalled by the suddenness of tiie marcn of events which tad transpired during the past week. Piobably never had such a tornado of events come upon any people as had come tipon the people of this generation during the past seven days—Austria declaring war against Servia, Germany agam&t Russia, and England agaiust; Germany and a dozen other nations i repared, with their hands upon the sword to strike should there be the call. It was a time of sudden action a tune for quick decision. Whilst all were conscious of the tragedy of war, whilst all realised to some little degree the awful Buttering occasioned by war, ah felt after due deliberation and after weighing the reasons, that the sword of the Bntisn nation had been unsheathed in a just and honorable war. (Applau:,©.) ±16 had been struck with the magnificent readiness of our Empire to respond to the call of duty and one was pleased to notice how all classes of the community all kinds and conditions' of people had been ready to sink all political, all religious, and all other deferences and stand shoulder to shoulder m the presence of the common enemy j (Applause ) Who would have dreamt j three weeks ago,, when all were v.onckr- ' ing whether the British nation would be plunged into civil war that within j threo weeks the Nationalists and the | Unionists m Ireland would stand shoulder to shoulder and say "We are Britons." (Applause.) And in our own ' i couutry the same spirit possessed us. : lhey ail remembered the keen tk-ep feeling that was in the hearts of the ! workmen m Wellington on the occasion ' or the recent strike, and how the waterside workers' band paraded the streets almost every day. Only las*. Saturday , that same band marched through the , streets of Wellington playing patriotic music and finishing up with God Save ! our Gracious King. (Applause.) And , he believed that rich and poor, old ?.nd 1 young, cultured and uneducated i : iesi of . all classes and conditions showed the same spirit to-day and were conscious , that this indeed was an honorable war, , a war that called for the exercise of all . the strength they possessed in oidtr \ that victory may be secured. This was not an occasion for lengthy speeches. It was a time for action and quick de- l cMon. They had been already remind- y ed of the readiness of our own Em- ( pire; of the readiness of the little Bel- - gian nation in the pr^se^o* of sudden ', danger to face the fee. "We may lot \ have the opportunity for action that the ] Belgians have; we may not have the ] opportunity of those who are at the seat i or war, buc we all have the opportunity ( of doing something." said the speaker. Let ench one help forward the preparations that are being made for the rare of tne men and the'sending cf comforts f to the front to those who renresent us there. I trust vr<- shall spell out ompatriotism in action rather than in words ready by deed and in truth to our patriotism a reality." (Applause). THE REV. J. R. SHORE. The Rev. Mr Shore said his piestnce « at the meeting that evening vas siffici- 1 ent evidence that he was in sympathy « with it, and as he was there' against I doctor's orders, his speech would have f to be short.. However, he would baAe heen very sorry indeed had he not been « present at so unique a gathering. No- i thing had gripped us so much as the J sudden call to arms. This vas surely a f grand testimony to the patriotism of the British race aiid to the unanimity of the * Empire on this occasion. Tho nation { was one Empire and one spirit thrilled «' through the whole of ;t—-a. sun it of loy- i alty to the figure so ably put before-the citizens by Dean Power." We the Britons of the South, had bwen found ready to do our duty and were already send- ' ing men across the sea, and we v.ould be making sacrifices for our Kivpire. A strong bond of love existed between Britain and her colonies and he desired to ' say something of the [niviieges which we enjoyed under Ihe liritis ilag. Some < years ago he had spent 18 months, uhile J studying, under the German flag, and although while be was > noc i olested l.c ' felt that ho did not c ljoy the same freedom as that enjoyed under the lintish flag. He remembered spying to a German student ''Why are you so jealous of Britain r" ;'\Yeli, ' replied the studr ent, "I tell you frankly: 3011 have got ! too much and we have got too little." j "Well, Germany's not going to have New Zealand," remarked the speaker, amidst applause, 'and 1 am very glad to see that she is not going to 1 have any of the French colonies." (ReI newed applause). Mr Shore wnt on to say that ho hoped we would all do what we could to show our gratitude and loyalty to England, but ;:t tho same time we should not, forget those vho would suffer as the result 01 the war. There would be a great de/il of distress ly the war, and we should leinenber those who would be left hchiitd by those who had gone to the front, and' -uho '• ould be dependent upon tis. (Applause.) With the other two clergymen he felt that we must support Britain, who stood for peace but not peace at v.vy price - only peace with honor. (AuplaiTse.) The clergymen believed that iVitaiK bad a just cause, and that Bvitann had gone back to her old Standard of defending I the weak from rhe ambitions powers — I slie had gone to Ihe support of that j brave little country, Belgium. (Api plause.) Mr Shore, in ci nclusion. told I the story of the iiH.ti.-3h and Ar< t-rica-n I Consuls wrapping their banners around a man who was to be shot., arcl added that Britain was wrapping her barrier around Belgium, and if a .y Power at- } tacked this little country tlit-y t. ust do so from behind the power of Great Brii tain. OTHER SPEECHES. Mr R. D. W Telsh said that that ! night's meeting was the mode of ex- | pression by the municipality of their I entire support of the Government of j the Dominion in its common cause in I the defence of the Empire. (Applause.) j England's obligation, her obligation to j honor, to treaties and to justice, was \to little Belgium. That treaty was ias inviolate to Germany as to all the j other Powers in Europe, and it was j only when Germany broke it upon j that territory that England drew the ■ sword. Had she not done so all would ! feel that she had not played her part i and that she would have been guilty \of national dishonor. (Applause ) Eng--1 I land had stood not only for England - '•■ —her little self —but for the whole • Empire. Foreign nations took leave •to hone and believe that that was not > j so, niul that-, with her domestic ' j trouble>s. England stood alone. But ' ! events quickly brought about their | 1 j disillusionment. Ireland rose as one j ! j man —(applause)—and aeross_ the At- j ■ ; lantie in Canada whole regiments ofI fered for service. Men came in so I 1 quickly that tho volunteer ranks had •; to be'closed. "In the Pacific I think " Iwo are playing oar part," said the j > speaker. Australia was equipping and j - ' sending twenty thousand men —(api i plause)—and in New Zealand there C was the Premier standing in the House I announcing the decision of the Gov-

» eminent to send an espedition- ' ary force to the front, and the she has over and over a^l/Se it Kladly have drawn the s.7ord But the time had come now when peace w-n !cL nOt be at that mice. "TheS Mr We4 lO''° f, SUfferin-" ooncffl the lives of some of our dear ones will accept the responsibility and ffe " D ™ apSfaSlr* °f °Ur -lolioUs EmP*™.» Mr E- Dixon said he believed La said that he deeply regretted the war, and he wished, after all these years of civilisation, that there was some other wav of settling international disputes than by the shedding of Wood Jet we were face to face with perhaps the greatest war that had ever X fought , n the history of the world Ihe nation had shown itself ready at a moment's notice, and had taien un arms in defence of the coun™l; r ouf ht to be proud of such men as Mr AsQiiith (British Premier) --(applause)—and Sir Edward Grey— and Lloyd George—(further applause) lhose were men whom we felt we were safe, in leaving to direct the destiny 1 7 th£ - Sr e*t j Empire. (Applause.) Had Britain not taken up her stand in protecting the weak she would have been discredited in the eyes of the nations of the world. Mr Dixon went on to refer to the responsibility of JNew Zealand in assisting to protect the Empire, and said England must at all costs uphold her naval supremacy tor the protection of her highways of commerce. If Britain once lost" her naval power, then she would have to take second place in the nations of the world He felt certain that Britain would not lose her power, because every Britisher would stand to the Union Jack. (Loud applause.) He spoke enthusiastically of the ready response of l^ew Zeijankers to the call : "To Arms." and s;ud we were proud ot our boys who wor? going from our shores. At the same ti-n'e the war was going to cause sr.fforinL-, and we ■ as a, people should to it that no workers or their families were in want so long as we have the wherewithal to tT 1V(IL 1 * cause. Hke tbis h should be the glorious privilege of every man, woman, boy and girl to do what they could so as to help those in distress"; and if needed we should be prepared to give again and again so as to assist < those who need help. (Applause.) He hoped as fellow citizens of the great Empire to which we were privileged to belong we would unite together and 1 do our duty. (Applause.) , THE MAYOR'S RESOLUTION. The Mayor moved the following re- > solution: "That the citizens of Hawera offer ; their support to the Government of ' the Dominion in the common defence of the Empire; that a committee be appointed to collect funds and to : hand over the same to the Govern- < ment." Cr Bono seconded the motion, and ' said the committee who had made a ; hurried canvass in the afternoon had succeeded in collecting £167. (Ap- * plause.) This with sums promised or since given brought the amount up to £300. (Renewed applause.) It wa<s ' expected that £1000* would be raised i in Hawera and district. There was ' nothing in having a high ideal so far 1 as money was concerned. (Laughter.) Mr Conroy had £?nerously placed the Opera. House at the disposal of the ' committee, and had promised to give a benefit for the fund. It was hoped to raise £100 by this entertainment. The motion was carried unanimously. On the motion of Crs Morrissev airl • Stevens, it was resolved that Messrs Kirn bell. Blair, McCarthy, Dixon. Blamires Kenrick, Halliwell mid Bone be appointed a committee, with full power to add to their number and also n<wer to act. The Mayor thanked the manni/oment of the Mission Band for the use of the hall. Hearty ohoers for the King concluded the meeting.