THE ANGLO-AMERICAN SPIRIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 5 November 1917, Page 3

THE ANGLO-AMERICAN SPIRIT

"WE MEAN TO SEE IT THROUGH." Bro. B. F. 'Ledford, writing from Eureka, California, on September 27, makes these comments on "the war cpirit of the United States : The eastern part of this country is buzzing with war work, and hundreds of thousands are now in war work. Millions more soon will be, while in the west (except in a few of the 'big cities) the people have not awakened to the i'act that we .are involved in the greatest struggle in history. But when it is brought home to them by some great calamity to their sons—now assembled in training camps—they will fall in line, md will make all the sacrifices that may be required of them, so that supolies of food, ammunition, and men may be raised and sent forward until Prussian autocracy says "We have had nough of war." It has been truly said 'hat "blood will tell," and the record >f the Anzacs certainly bears this out, md proves to all the world that some •f the best blood in Europe courses through the veins of Britain's grandons, who have willingly left the peaceable land of the Southern Cross for the blood-stained 'battlefields of France, •■here to die for the tie that binds them o the Mother Country—a tie that iss nvisible to one who has not lived ?mong you; a tie that proves Britain '.o be the most successful of all ,ries when it comes to dealing with .hose who need a""friend who has symoathy for their aspirations for freedom, .nd for the right to govern themselves. While the people of the United States ire of many minds, and' hail from all he countries of Europe, their hearts 'iave ever been with England and France; and while it was a hard thing : or them to set aside a law that, alhough unwritten, was practically a oart of the Constitution, which d) 1 ;- ■lares that they would never take part n a European war, they have finally lecided that further patience would be -riminal. and have gone into the war ■vith all they have —of food, munitions, md money, not to mention a few million . nen—until, with their brave Allies, hey see the end of Prussian tyranny." Bro. Ledford, who visited New Zeaand a few years ago as an organiser of he 1.0.0. F., in acknowledging the Te:eipt of a copy of the Evening Star if August 1, containing a full report )f the jubilee reception of and presenation to Grand Secretary) Bro. Wm. leid, remarks : Ihave received, and read with great -ileasure, the account of the reception hat was tendered to you on the comiletion of 40 vears' service as Grand Secretary of the 1.0.0. F., and I am ndeed glad to know that your wonder"ul record is appreciated by those for vhom you have laboured so faithfully. Four record as G. S. will not be surlassed by that of any other member of he Order—in or out of New Zealand. Vou had handicaps that would have •aused any other man to give lip in lespair, and your field was limited, '->utr you made trie most of it. The reult is a financial institution that has 10 rival in the Order; and as for the ? raternal part—well, I have had some experience with fraternity, and I have not vet found a brand that surpasses the \ T ew Zealand article. I remembered the of many of those present on the ■.bove occasion, and that your example if steadfastness has caused others to tand with vou. year in and year out, "or the unbuilding under the Southern Cross of the L0.0.F. ... In visit'ng lodgs in this country I ut " f on many occasions talked about <C " ' "ellowship it is conducted in New Zer.>'vi, and r know that there are many members of he Order in the United States who vish that we had some of your financial I stamina.

THE WHEAT CROP. PLANS FOR DEALING WITH IT. (Ukited Press A t-soci action. x ; CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 2. A conference called by the Board of Trade ito consider plans for dealing with next season's wheat croo met to-day. The Hon. W. D. &. Mac Donald presided and 50 representatives of tiodies and industries affected attended. Committees were set up to represent different sections with instructions to go into details. Speaking this evening the Hon W .D. S. Mac Donald expressed him self ?s pleased with the admirable spirit/ of the conference, which clearly \ i?hed to overcome difficulties and *.a ,e ilie scheme on a sound workable 'orn'rg. Delegates had instructed the '.rmmi/,ee to give the Government every r ossil le assistance. He was confident, theiefore, the Government would have the co-operation of all concerned vith the wheat business. The Govern n ?nt .as out to do its best to prevont the .jrice of bread rising. The amendments suggested so far were merely connected with minor points of detail. Tire re had been very little disagree notifc v ith the proposals of the Board • f T'.&de. j i