“THE EMPIRE PARADE”

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9174, 14 October 1915, Page 7

“THE EMPIRE PARADE”

ALL MUST BE THERE CALL TO THE PATRIOTISM ol* NEW ZEALANDERS. The inaugural re-union of tho Wellington subsection of the Auckland Grammar School Old ; Boys’ Association was held at Godber’s rooms, Cuba street, last night. Mr Barry Keesing presided over a gobd gathering, among those present being the Hon. A. M. Myers, M.P., Dr. Barclay, and Messrs V. K. Meredith, Aleck Newton, K. N. H. Browne, W, S. La Trobe, E. R, Brabaason, E. C. Kirk. M. F. Luckie. and F. E. Ward. -Mr A. A. Martin, president 'of the Auckland Association, sent his congratulations on the formation of the Wellington sub-section, and hiA best wishes for its success; Mr W. Tibbs (headmaster of .the :Auckland Grammar School) sent his “paternal regards” and beat wishes; and Mr F. T. Ayre (secretary of the Auckland Association) sent the best wishes of the... parent body; while letters of apology for unavoidable absence were received, amongst otbeis, from Professor Kirk, Mr C. J. Parr, M.P., and Mr Hugh Poland, M.P.

SPEECH BY HON. A-M. MYERS. The -toast of “The King" having been duly honoured, the chairniab called upon Mr Myers to address the gathering. Mr Myers, he said, was not an bid boy. but he bad been connected prominently with the old school, having been a member of the Board of Governors while Mayor of Auckland. As' Mayor and otherwise Mr Myers had done so much for Auckland that all Aucklanders had a kindly feeling for him.. (Applause.) Mr Myers’s brother, Dr. Bernard My ere, now a major in the R.A.M.C.. and . in charge of the main New. Zealand hospital in England, was an old boy; and they had all watched with interest his progress. (Applause.) '. .‘ Mr Myers, who was received with cheers,-thanked tho meeting for its cordial reception. As the chairman had said, it was not his privilege to bo an old Auckland Grammar School boy. His Alma Mater was-. .Wellington' College; but his youngest brother, Bernard, had finished - his, education at Auckland Grammar School. ' It was to him a matter of sincere gratification to find himself amongst a lot of erstwhile citizelns of Auckland, the queen city Of the north of which they must all have such kindly remembrances. (Applause.) Naturally, of course, the first thought , in .all'their minds at the present time was whether there was any justification for having reunions in any shape or form- just now, \mt he to say that it was desirable that reunions of that kind should take place, especially as they anight help to remind them all, if they needed any reminder, of their duties and responsibilities to the Empire and ■to the cause of freedom and justice. (Applause.)

THE CALL OF EMPIRE. Tho calif of Empire had" been sounded and it was necessary, for every citizen, of the Empire to respond to the call. (Applause.) -He felt, therefore, that at such a gathering .if was almost a bounden duty to refer to the crisis .that the British Empire was now passing through: Of course, he was quite aware of tho fact that ‘ a largo ■ numbed of old boys—he could, not give just how many—had already gone to the front and paid • the price of Empire. Ho hod seen a. statement by. JMr Tibbs, the 'headmaster, some time ago, and. he whs glad and proud to find so many had offered their services. (Applause.) -He .thought that Auckland was fortunate;in having hod for so many years at the head ,of - its Grammar- School such a personality as that of Mr Tibbs. (Applause.)', They all knew the influence' that a headmaster had on a school, and With a full knowledge of the old hoys who had already in various walks of life rendered great service;to New Zealand and the Empire, he was convinced that that was largely duo to' Mr Tibbs. (Applause.) It Was a matter of gratification to know that in a few-months* timie the. new Auckland Grammar School at Mount Eden would be opened. (Applause). A SPLENDID EXAMPLE:

Threo-fourths of the' students of Oxford and Cambridge Universities had enlisted, and there was no doubt, that their services were urgently neededThey had mental training and had had opportunities for . acquiring military training and knowledge whiph made their services most helpful to the military authorities. : (Applause.) That was a splendid example for them in ’. New Zealand. The time had now, come for cvery 'man in, the Empire to come to-a decision as to what part he was going to play. Borne people contended that there' must be conscription; but the National Register that waa shortly to ho made throughout New Zealand would, he felt convinced, show when the papers were sent in that there .was no need' for Conscription. It would bo a revelation to - the Empire and to the' world, though not to them in New Zealand, because they knew, the spirit of their people, when they found that there was practically a unanimous desire amongst . all. those of military age to offer their services to the State. (Applause.) , NEW ZEALAND'S VERY BEST WANTED.

Thera could bo no doubt as to the necessity for the- call. on v behalf, of the Empire. As the Defence Minister- had Said the previous night, what- wo* wanted of Now Zealand . was; not - only her best, hut her very best; and he was sure that Now. Zealand could bo depended, upon for that. (Applause*) Now Zear land was greatly favoured. She was tho brightest gem in the British Grown, and that carried great responsibilities with it. There was only one thing to do, and it was to join what he might perhaps call "the Empire parade.” (Applause.) There were some who for phy r sioal and other reasons could not see their way just now to enlist; but it was the duty of all young men who could do so to put down their names- and he prepared to follow the grand example set by so many thousands of their fellow colonistsi (Applause.) THE PRICE OP EMPIRE.

They had paid a heavy penalty. The I casualty list was; over 7000, and they must eee to it that the blood had not been shed in vain. (Applause.) They would not care to live in New Zealand if they thought that there was any possibility of its coming under the ! domination of Prussian militarism, and to prevent that tbfy must be prepared to make the full sacrifice required in the interests of New Zealand, the Empire and humanity. The way that the citizens of the Empire had rallied round the flag showed how greatly the liberty enjoyed under the British flag was appreciated; and he hoped that their effort., their sacrifice, would not be in vain. New' Zealand was a small nation, and the war was a war to secure tho rights of small nations to exist. Therefore, in a very real sense, it was their war. (Applause-) GALLANT LITTLE SERBIA.

It was a matter of satisfaction. to see in the paper that night that gallant little Serbia had again succeeded in driving some of tho enemy back over the Danube, and he hoped that she would bo as successful in her resistance to the combined armies of Austria, and Germany .as ehe had twice previously been against the armies of Austria, (Applause.) The attack on Serbia was a menace to the British Empire in Egypt, in India, and in Australasia, and they should realise therefore the more clearly what their duty to the Empire demanded. He hoped that they; would rise to their responsibilities and show the whole world what -New Zealand could do. It might be said that - New Zealand was a small country, and that it did not mat-

tciT much what New Zealand might do. But ho would say that it mattered a groat doal. He hod boon in tho Old Country two or three yeans ago when tho question o£ a big navy and of tho defence of the Pacific was being discussed, and many of the men in high office in. Britain hiwi told him 1 how great was the influence -at Home ,of .what Now Zealand had done for tho Umpire. (Applause.) nhbd HAVE NO MISGIVINGS.

They need not have any misgivings ae to the result of the war, because they were prepared- to fight to their last man and their last shilling. (Applause.) But they oould bring this terrible war to .a more Speedy conclusion if they were able to throw; into the fighting line the biggest possible body of fighting men, (Applause.) He felt that he would not be doing his duty if he; had not spoken as he had, because, while thoy_ oould enjoy a song and various games, it was. nevertheless, a time for serious thought and action. (Applause.) He _ was very glad to be present at that social gathering of old Auckland Grammar School boys—(applause)—and'' he hoped they would have a very enjoyable evening. (Applause.)

On iho motion of tho chairman, • a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Myen. "OLD DOTS AT THE FRONT-"

Mr Martin l/uckio gave the toast of "The Empire and her Allies/’ Mr W. S. La Trobe that of "The Old SchoOl ; and Mr V. R. Meredith, in an eloquent speech, asked them to drink to ‘‘The Old Boy® at the -Front." Ho epoke in high terms of tho brave, end..made by Colonel Baiicho'p. tip to four months ago, ho said, 1 600 old Auckland boys had gone to the front, and ho thought that that was a very honourable record indeed. (Applause.) Tho. toast was drunk with musical honours; and the chairman remarked that their sohool lion rampant —was particularly- appropriate at the present time, (Applause.) The lien—the Bom throughoutthe Empire—was rampant; ’and it would continue to bo so until victory crowned their arms and the cause ; o of/'right, ’and of f recdcrnC-was/ sccur o. CApplause.) ■ ' , On tho motion of Mr C. E. Hammond, seconded by Mr (J. Leighton, it was decided' to form a Wellington "branch' of the . Auckland Old Boys' Association, and' the health of the association. ■ was drunk, with enthusiasm, at. tho-oill of Mr R. C. Kirk. During the evening some excellent songs' Were contributed by Messrs PTwiss, V. R. Meredith and Koesing, while some amusing anecdotes - wars well told by Mr Aleck Newton. , '■...