IN NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17861, 6 August 1918, Page 5

IN NEW ZEALAND.

MEETINGS OF CITIZENS. Yesterday the fourth anniversary of the declaration of war Against Germany by Great Britain was. celebrated by gatherings of citizen's Convened by the municipal authorities in city, suburbs and country at which the following resolution was carried:— "That on this fourth anniversary o£ the declaration of a righteous war, this meeting of citizens records its inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle in maintenance of those ideals of liberty and judticte which are the colmmon and eacred cause of the Allies."

IN CATHEDRAL SQUARE.

PATRIOTIC ADDRESSES

The meting of Christcburch citizen* conveneii by .the Mayor took plane shortly after non yesterday, in the south-west comer of Cathedral Square. Motor vans, in which chairs had been placed, formed an impromptu platform from which speeches were delivered to r crowd which filled a quarter-circle space bounded on tho eastoy the telegraph office entrance and on the north by the Worcester Street corner of tho Royal Exchange Buildings. The Mayor presided, and with him on the platform were Coionel Chaffey (Officer Commanding the Canterbury Military District), the Rev P. N. Knight (Durham Street Methodist Church), Mr P. Horrell (chairman North Canterbury Hospital Board and Rangiora County Council), Mr J. 0. Adams (deputy-chairman Canterbury College Board of Governors), Mr J. R. Hay ward (member of City Council) and Mr H. R. Smith (Town Clerk). THE MAYOR'S ADDRESS. The Mayor, in moving the Empire resolution expressing the inflexible determination of the citizens to continue to a victorious end j;he struggle for the common and sacred cause of the Allies, said that the members of the Victoria League, Lady Liverpool Fund, ■ and Overseas Club, had asked him 'to associate theii respective organisations with the resolution he had proposed. GERMANY'S CRIMES. On this, tho fourth anniversary rf the declaration of this war, he asked to be allowed, in a few brief words to remind the citizens' of the outstanding outrages against humanity and eivili. sation with which Germany was charged, Germany had introduced into warfare tbo use of polwaous gas and fiamo throwers. Germany had disregarded .the Red Cross and the white Hag. Germany had defiled,the manhood, womanhood and childhood of Belgium and France. The German soldier was not often called a coward, but the speaker wanted to brand as cowards those German forces that made for themselves a screen of defenceless women and children against tho guns of the Allies. Germany had bombed defenceless towns in Franco and in Britain; Germany had murdered Nurse Uavill and Captain Fryatt; Germany was guilty of the indiscriminate sinking of hospital ships, and of tho murder of helpless ship s crews by means of her submarines; Germany poisoned wells in evacuated territory in France and Belgium by filling them with cartloads or manure; Germany crucified. Cuudi&a itrotoher-bearar*; Germany

buried wounded British officers alive in Mesopotamia; Germany looked on and smiled with fiendish glee while the Turks massacred half a million Armenians and drovo another half million naked and without water into the desert to perish. Germany was responsible for tho deportation from Franco and Belgium of hundreds of men and women, to endure captivity—a fate worse than death. . Tho world's jury had examined these charges, had found Germany guilty of these abominable crimes against humanity, and had sentenced this moral outcast among tho nations to suffer the penalty of its crimes. America had been forced irresistibly into the world war by tho weight of evidence against tho German tyrant, and President Wilson stated that Germany's enmes cut at the very root of civilised human life. THE TURN OF THE TIDE. And now at this stage of tho long war the balance of power seemed to be definitely shitting from the Central Powers to the Allies. The German granite was being pounded into powder in the powerful mortar of a world in arms against her. At such a time, as Mr A. J. Balfour had recently said in tho House of Commons, any weakening of our war aims would be criminal. A peace by negotiation had been tried by Russia, and all the world knew how Germany had ignored that peace. Any peace savo one based on lasting right, and justice would, in the words ef Mr Lloyd George, mean the suicide of Europe! the utter bondage of Russia and the deathknell of Italy. In tho interest of the futuro peace and progress of the world they must carry on this war to a successful conclusion. WAR RESTRICTIONS.

The restrictions under which the people of British-speaking countries were placed at present were accepted by them because they, were necessary totne effective prosecution of this war- When tho war was won they would fling these restrictions aside with a sigh of relief, but if the war was not won, then the people of theso countries must live for generations under Prussian despotism. If Germany won, New Zealand would stagger permanently under a stiff, unbending conscription and an eternal burden of militarism. (Applause.) THE MILITARY VIEWPOINT.

Colonel R. A. Chaffey, in seconding the motion, said there was no question that the motion must be carried unanimously, but at tho same time it was his duty as the representative of the military machine, to say a few words on the' subject. Ho could not imagine any relaxation of New Zealand's efforts now. They had entered the war with a determination to win. and they wero carrying out their part of tho war with tho same determination. There had been no relaxation whatever bo far. This little country had done well- It had sent practically 100,000 men to the front. What had New Zoaland suffered compared with what the people of tthe Motherland and of Allied countries had suffered? There was only one common plane in which thev had shared alike, and that was in regard to the lass of their finest manhood. Had New Zoalanders gone hungry or thirsty? Had they even had to forgo tho ordinary luxuries of life ?. '' You see that noble pile." continued the speaker, pointing to the Cathedral. "In the northern part of France there is not one cathedral left standing. How would you feel if your Cathedral and Post Office were in ruins, and if you did not know where your next meal was coming from?" Ho oould not- imagine any man, woman or child, under the circumstances, advocating that New Zealand should send no more men to the line. REV P. N. KNIGHT'S SPEECH.

The Rev P. N. Knight said that tho proceedings might in some degree sugguest the lines in Kipling's " Absentminded Beggar "—''When you've shouted ' Rule Britannia,' When you've sung ' God Save the Queen; When you've finished killing Kruger with your mouth " It seemed to him that these resolutions wero very like killing the Kaiser with their mouths, but unfortunately most of those around him were born too early to get a chance of killing him in any other way. The reason for these resolutions was not, however, to shove the Kaiser and his staff under with words, but to strengthen the determination of the people to see this thing through to the' bitter end. They had very cheering news from the front that day, and the experts, both military and political, stated that tho tide. had turned. It seemed to him that this was the most dangerous stage of the war, for on the assumption that tho Allies were bound to win now, the efforts to win might bo relaxed and the cause lost. Germany to-day was still unrepentant. Before forgiveness could be thought of th*ve must bo repentance, reparation and restitution, and as Christians they had no need to think about forgiveness until Gurmanyl showed repentance and made full reparation and restitution. It was easy to say that a peaco might bt* made by Germany evacuating Belgium and Franco, and that the fate of Russia need not concern Britain, but Germany, if allowed to control Russia, would soon control Europe and the world. He believed that Germany's peace offers were engineered bv the German General Staff as a part of military tactics, intended to divide thu minds of tho Allies as Ludondorff's storm troops were intended to divide their armies.

A member of the audience at this proposed an addition to the resolution expressing appreciation of America's help in men and money. The Mayor refused to accept the addition remarking that Britain was just iib much indebted to France and Belgium and other Allies. The motion was nut and declared carried on a show of hands. There was a perfect forest of hands. The proceedings concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

MEETING AT WOOLSTON. AN AMENDMENT REFUSED. At a meeting of'Woolston residents in tho Oddfellows' Hall, Ferry Road, last night, the Mayor (Mr M'Gregor Wright) x>residing, Mr J. C. Hobson moved the Empire resolution, which was seconded by the Rev F. Copeland. Mr G. H. Burrows asked the chairman if he could movo an amendment. The chairman .said that ho could not accept an amendment, and advised Mr Burrows to be guarded in his remarks. Mr Burrows said that he wished to state the reasons for his proposed amendment. In view of the awful slaughter entailed by the war he could not vote for the resolution. After careful consideration ho had come to the conclusion that tho conflict could not be ended by fighting but by arbitration. Ha said that they should resort to peacs* negotiations. This speech was received with many expressions of disapproval. Mr P. Harrison said that as Britain had entered' the war for a just cause she must not lay down the sword no matter what the cost until a just and lasting peace was secured. Mr Harrison's speech was received with loud applause and on tho motion being put to tha meeting it was carried unanimously, except for Mr Burrows, who voted neither for nor against. The meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem and cheers for the boys at the front).

OTHER MEETINGS. The Empire resolution was passed at meetings of residents at various centres of Canterbury, and was carried unanimously. At Lyttelton the motion was proposed by the Mayor (Mr W. T. Lester), seconded by Captain J. A. H. Marciel, and supported by the Rev W. T Todd; at Papanui Mr S. A. ■Staples, chairman of the Waimairi County Council, moved the motion, which was seconded by Mr W. Keith, and supported by M*sar» A. Vi-m and O. Ai-

lington; at the Riccarton Town Hall the Mayor (Mr John Brown) moved the resolution, which was seconded by Mr J. Hannah; at tho Paparua County Council Chambers Mr J. Leslie, chairman of the council, moved the resolution; at the Spreydon Borough Council the resolution was moved by th 0 Mayor (?.ir W. H. Winsor), seconded by Mr J. Hadfield; and supported by Mr H. C. Lane; at the Sumner Town Hall tho Mayor (the Hon J. Barr, M.L:C.) moved the resolution, which was seconded by Mr H. Buttle, sen.; at tho Amberley saleyards the resolution was moved by Mr G. A. M'Jjoan (chairman of tho Kowai County Council), and seconded by Mr J. D. Wyllie.

At the invitation of tho Mayor and councillors of New Brighton a united service of intercession was held at Joyland Theatre last evening. Prior to tho service the Senior Cadets, headed by the New Brighton Marine Band, marched from the Scout house to tho theatre. Tho Mayor (Mr F. Kibblewhite) moved the Empire resolution, which was seconded by Captain A. W. Owles and carried unanimously. Tho Rev H. H. Mathias, of the Anglican Clmrch, and the R-ev W. Walker, of the Methodist Church, took part in the service, and tho Rev J. B. Bickorstaff gave an address. Appropriate hymns were sung, tho Marine Band accompanying the singing. A collection was taken up in aid of the Red Cross Funds.

At Ashburton the motion was proposed by tho Mayor (Mr R. Galbrnith), and was supported by the Rev Nelsion Wright, Mr John Cairns (chairman of tho Ashburton County Council) and Master H. W. Beaumont, a pupil of the Ashburton High School. Members of the Bth (South Canterbury) Regimental Band wero present, and thore was also a big muster of the pupils of the Ashburton High School and the' Ashburton Borough School. Telegraihs recoivod last night record crowded meetings in all the centres and townships of the Dominion.

Sir James Allen, who is in Nelson, was the principal speaker at the meeting there. At a crowded meeting at the Town Hah at Auckland tho resolution was carried enthusiastically. An amendmoved by Mr T. Bloodworth, advocating that tho opportunity should be taken bv the Allied Governments of securing bv diplomatic methods a nence ensuring tho ideals of liberty and instic<\ met with a storm of interactions and lapsed for want of a seconder.