CITIZENS' DEFENCE CORPS BAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17264, 4 September 1916, Page 9

CITIZENS' DEFENCE CORPS BAND.

e CONCERT IN CATHEDRAL SQUARE. PATRIOTIC ADDRESSES. ' Tho weekly concert of the Citizens' Defence Corps Band was held on Saturday evening. In addition to popular music by the baud Mr Glubb was heartily applauded for his recitation "Gailipoli/ and Master Hector Westwood for liis recitation "Tho Lauding of the Australasians at the Dardanelles." Tho sum of £lO 7s 5d was handed m for tho Lad)' Liverpool Fund as the work of tho lady collectors, and a donation of 7s t>d was received from Mr T. Bray, of the 12th Regimental Band. Tho Rev J. Cocker spoke on the question, " Has the Empire stood the test:- 1 " Mr Cocker quoted the magnificent support given by the colonies and said that that was one of the mistakes the Germans mado in summing up England's possibilities. Tho Gern.ans thought England's day had gone and that her race was degenerate. but Germany had been proved" sadly at fault. No greater deeds had been done and never had been ti-cn such noblo sclf-sacrifico as in this present, great war. The race was not degenerate, bur had proved worthy sons of thoso who had gone before. (Applause.) The war had been a test of the British ideals of freedom mid liboitv and'-justice, and her son-? h.'id stood tho test splendidly. It bad also tested politicians, and they had groat men at" the head of the Empire today. Above all it had tested the women of the Empire. Nobody had paid a greater price than tho women, especially the mothers, who had given up their sons with smiling faces and loan in (heir hearts. They had given their sons to tho Empire and had proved its salvation. (Loud applause.) The Empire had stood the test far bettor than anyone dreamed two years ago and the prospects were never sobright as they were to-day. (Applause.^ Tho Mayor (Mr IT. Holland) touched on the intervention of Rumania and j the present satisfactory position, and i said that although Germany was un-j doubtedly beaten there should be no relaxation of effort to provide_ men and money to win the final convincing ! victory. Hero in Now Zealand t!:ose j who could not go to the front should j do their utmost to contribute tho j victory by taking up War Loan Cert-i- j ficates. It was the host possible in- i vestment and ©very working man j should take up as many as he possibly , could. j