NEW ZEALAND’S DETERMINATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9045, 17 May 1915, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND’S DETERMINATION

MORE MEN WILL BE NEEDED,

. Some interesting remarks relative to the war were made by the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister for Justice, at tne first club night of the Wellington Orphans’ Club in the 1915 session. Thar, session, said Mr Herdman, would be one of the most interesting and raomen toUs'in the history of the club. Important events bad happened since the members last met together, and still more important ones would happen before the session closed. Fifteen or twenvy members had offered their services to their country and some of these were fightihg in the splendid and magnificent battles at the Dardanelles. It was inspiring that such a great number ot young men in a small country like New ‘Zealand should offer their bodies, brains (and wealth to their Ring. The rate of recruiting was, according to the authorities, satisfactory at present, but greater demands would be made in the months to come. He was certain that if theicall were made there would be no holding back on the part of the young men. Some of them were too old to go—he himself was only a private in the National Reserve—but if the opportunity Offered there were very few of them that would not go. It was the finest thing in the history of New Zealand that 15,000 or 16,000 young men had gone away to fight their Empire’s battles. That fact would always live in history and be remembered by Englishmen ns long as the language endured. Our very existence, - continued Mi Herdman, was at stake, and our liberty in danger. Our privileges were in danger of being taken away, and our very notions of civilisation must perhaps be reconstructed. Unless we fought, what our statesmen and soldiers have suffered to obtain would disappear into air be fore a relentless enemy that employed clouds of poisonous gas. Englishmen smiled outwardly, but inwardly they steeled their souls to remove from the world the curse that existed at the present time. While the situation was ot such gravity, this was no time for petty squabbling and bickering. It was no time for paltry complaint, hub a time for doing. We were fighting for all that was high and mighty in life. The German teaching was quite wrong. We believed in peace and a happy, contented ana free-life—the Germans in war. The Germans believed that might was right, but the Englishman that those that possessed the might should see that the weaker had the right. An Englishman's word was his, bond, but Get many’s contract was not worth the paper it was written on. ■ “But,” said Mr Herdman, “a word of encouragement. I believe that the war has reached a stage at which we can have confidence in the future. In my secret soul I know that wo ore going to win in the end. The Allies’ position is to-day much stronger than when war broke out in August last. The wealth of the Allies, scattered as it is over the entire world, is greater than that of the Dual Alliance. There is no German vessel in the Atlantic or the 1 Pacific.’ And, above all, our cause is right. Englishmen all over the world are in deadly earnest over this business. I look forward with confidence to victory for our side. We can’t all fight; everyone cannot be a soldier or sailor: But there are hundreds of services that' each can render. We must stick together until this thing is ended, in the woids of an old Athenian‘Go yourselves and every man of you stand in the ranks, and either victory will attend you, or, falling, you shall fail greatly and he worthy of your past. Farmers, commercial men, clerks, everyone will all stand together in the ranks.” - \ :

The Minister’s remarks were loudly applauded by the members of the club. i