NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9173, 13 October 1915, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

MEMBERS FOR THE FRONT. The Prime Minister (Right. Hon. W. F. Massey) moved that “Mr Speaker convey to Messrs T. E. Y. Seddon, member for Westland, and W. Downie Stewart, member of Dunedin. West, the recognition of this House of their patriotic action in joining the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces to assist, the Empire in the present great war.” Mr Massey said that'he was pleased and proud that Messrs Seddon and Stewart had seen fit to offer their services to the Empire during the serious and troublous times through which it was passing. (Hear, hear ) There were other members of the Legislature who had offered their services, and to whom, although they were not included in this resolution, he would like to refer. Mr W. H. D. Bell was the first member of Parliament to offer his services, and accompanied the expedition to Samoa. He was now on the Western front with his regiment. Dr Te Rangihiroa had accompanied the mam body of the Maori contingent, which had done such splendid work on the Gallipoli peninsula. P The Hon. Dr Collins was the medical officer in command of, the hospital ship Maheno. He was sure that many other members of the House would like to go to the front, but they were not of military age. Many of them, however, had sent sons, relatives, and dear friends, and several had lost sons; brothers, and near relatives. Whatever happened he was sure that Messrs Seddon and Stewart would do credit to themselves and to their country, and he hoped that they would both come back safe and sound. (Hear, hear.) c; r Joseoh Ward endorsed all that the Prime Minister had said. It filled them all with admiration when they recognised that sons of two former members of Parliament were shortly to leave. Slew Zealand to do battle in the interests of the Empire. Who could, think of the name of Thomas Seddon without thinking of his father, who in his day generation did so much to maintain the integrity of the Empire. That a voting man such as this was going away from all the attractions that surrounded his life, in order to face the Vsks of (•he battlefild was a great thing for his country and for himself, especially as ho had joined the ranks and”trusted to His own abilities to work his way up. \ I] old' members ■ would remember Mr Stewart’s father as a distinguished lawyer who did his duty as a public man. and rendered valuable aid in the framing of much useful legislation. On the threshold of his Parliamentary work.

Mr Stewart was going out as a soldier to fight tho battles of the Empire, xie wished to say how much he appreciated the action of these two young members m going out to bravo the dangers of tho battlefield. (Hear, hear.) An important statement had been made by the Minister for Defence —a statement which would strike a chord of sympathy from one end of tho Dominion to the other. (Hear, hear.) Anyone who had Heard Mr Allen’s words would know how great a task had been undertaken by New ■ealand and how cherfully and efficiently it had been so far carried out. All who bad . seen the march of the 5000 soldiers on Saturday last could not-but ;he ncelection rf their training, which aotico not only their fine physique, but was the work of the great department controlled by Mr Allen. . At -first he (Sid Joseph iViirdi bad had considerable doubt as ro whether, there should not ba four camps in the various centres of the' Dominion, with a central camp for final training at Trcntham. As a result 'of close examination and personal experience of what had ben done, be was satisfied that training was being carried out in the most effective manner, and in the best interests of the fathers and the mothers of the boys who were offering their services. That the New Zeeland training system was excellent was prpovyd by the high encomiums which had been passed on the Dominion’s troops by General Hamilton, General Godley, and.other officers. To his mind it would, bo a great mistake to Institute a new system of training, tie hoped that one and all' would do their best to have the unity and cooneration which were vital to tihe buc-•r-s v-Kich the whole Empire houped for Sir James Carroll said that the. resolution showed the outside public into tbe Parliamentary world. , Even from the Legislature there were those who were prepared to go forth and make sacrifices for tho Empire, in this great and awful time through which it was passing. Recruits were drawn from all classes of the community, . and were joining toff Sth or to form the British expeditionary forces. The motion was carried. BRAVERY OF OUR SOLDIERS.

The Prime Minister, : then submitted the following resolution "That this House warmly congratulates the military forces of the Dominion on the splendid conduct and bravery displayed by New Zealand troops in the operations at the Dardanelles and other places, and expresses a deep sense of appreciation of their gallantry and soldierly qualities.”. There was no doubt,'said Mr Massey, that -the New Zealand troops had in what they had done exceeded the most sanguine expectations.: (Bear, hear.; Their good' conduct, soldierly qualities and! heroism r in. the field had attracted the attention and excited the admiration of every section of the British' Empire. ' Congratulations had been received from His Majesty the icing, fihe Secretary of State for the Colonies, the First Lord of ! the Admiralty apd' Sir lan Hamilton. So far as New Zealand was concerned there had been a magnificent response to the., call of the Empire. (Hear, hear-) Soon after the,war started he was communicated with by a former Governor,' Lord Piunket, who asked how many men could be sent from iNew Zealand. and he'replied 35,(KXh,men. Up to tne present 28.000 men‘had gone'from New Zealand, and there were more to follow, 8000 or 9000 men being now in camp. No one could see the troops swinging through, the .-streets of. Wellington witnout having-' his heart stirred by- the eight. ■ (Hear, hear.) ■ The system of training had been erticised, but it had to .be judged, by results, and X/ord .Kitchener himself had said it was admirable, and the results Were particularly satisfactory. He hoped when, members returned to their districts they would act as recruiting agents and support the present system. Be hoped tney would continue as they had commenced, and wnen Aho . history -of the war . came to be written New Zealand would bo round to have played no unimportant part in the 'great struggle' through which the Empire was passuug. (Bear, hear.) , The: Minister for- Finance (the Bight .Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) seconded the motion. He left sure that, every section of the people were-proud of the .way in which New Zealanders had. fulfilled the onerous duties • devolving on them. They had done ail in their power to maintain tne supremacy of the British Empire—they had:'gonei out- prepared to-give up them lives, and in every instance > when they had been put to the test they had sustained' the high traditions of . their forbears; and made their countrymen proud to belong to the British Empire, in conclusion, cir- Joseph expressed his deep sympathy with those who had Tost relatives and . friends at the front. , Mr T. 'hi- Wiltord. supporting the motion, remarked that those leaving for the front went to uphold. the. greatest fairest and.most just'Empire .the world had ever known. If in view of the hellish methods adopted by the Gormans Britain did not succeed -in the present struggle his faith in a hereafter 'or Providence would be impaired. He was satisfied that no, finer troops had been sent forward than the New Zealanders. His earnest wish was, “May God protect our boys." ' (Hear, hear.) The motion was carried with enthusiasm. and tne National Anthem was sung.. .- ■ - ■■ ■