TRIBUTE BY LICENSING BENCH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 8 June 1916, Page 8

TRIBUTE BY LICENSING BENCH.

Before the ordinary business of the 3£gmont Licensing Committee <3omanenced yesterday, Mr T. B. Crump, on behalf of the bar, asked (says our JEltham correspondent) permission to ■refer to the great loss the nation had •sustained by the death of Lord Kit«Jbener. The death of Lord Kitchener wafi indeed a great blow to the Empire, though it would be futile for him to .attempt to estimate the value of the services Lord Kitchener had rendered. nation was fortunate that the loss *lid not occur twelve months ago. The -anembers of the bar wished to make this recognition of a faithful .and distinguished servant of his King and

Mr Haselden (S.M.) said he was not prepared to make a speech on the spur of the moment on such an important matter as the death of Lord Kitchener and the services he had rendered to the Empire. There was still a ray of hope that he might be saved. They all cherished that hope, but they lad to steel their hearts for the worst. THiey had had many severe blows durang the last two years, and they must look forward to many more. There never was in the history of the war a xaatir vested with so much power as lord Kitchener had been with the unanimous consent of the people, and trusted by them. He not only had supreme power for the Organisation of "the forces, the creation of new armies, the accumulation and distribution of munitions and supplies, but he also liad iuil Ministerial power as well. He iad practically absolute power, and he worthily fulfilled that trust. We were "feeling very sad now and suffering greatly. it, showed the manhood, courage and indomitable will of the Empire to pursue the course of the war to a successful conclusion, notivithstanding the tremendous loss. We were in sackcloth and ashes on Saturday when the first news of the naval tattle came through, but the veil had fceen lifted since,, and instead of de"feat we had gained a victory. Let theni hope to hear of similar news alleviating in some degree in this disaster. However great our losses and however heavy our hearts, we amist take courage and'carry on. The Erench were still holding Verdun after months of fighting, and our own men were keeping the' enemy back. We must trust in God and the brave learts that are defending us.