COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS’ TRIBUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9955, 26 April 1918, Page 7

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS’ TRIBUTE

ADDRESSES BY MR MASSEY AND SIR JOSEPH WARD. SOME ELOQUENT SPEECHES. Members of bo Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, gathered together in large numbers at midday yesterday to pay their tribute to the heroes of Gallipoli. Mr W. J) • Outhbertson presided, and the garnering was addressed by the Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey), Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for. Internal Affairs), and the Hon. A. M. Myers (Minister for Munitions). . Mr Outhbertson, in a short opening speech, spoke eloquently of the great deeds which that day they were commemorating. Ho said it, was rot a day for special rejoicing, but rather an occasion for expressing pride that New Zealand was capable of producing such soldiers. Their hearts went out to those people who had lost men near and dear to them in that memorable landing om the Peninsula. Mr Massey eaid that if there were ever a sot of men who deserved honour they were those gallant soldiers who fought at Gallipoli. He was not talking of, these soldiers only as New Zealanders, for other gallant soldiers wore also present. Admiration went out to each and every one of those who had taken part in the great event. He had no hesitation,in saying that if ever there were heroes in this world they were those who fought at Gallipoli. As British citizens they must take off their hats to them. This admiration was no mere Up serVioe, hut the celebrations that day wore dictated by their hearts and consciences because tho men who were being honoured had , proved that they were worthy of it. (Applause.) Mr Massey said he wished to give credit to the members of tho club for the fine stand they had taken ever since the outbreak of war. They had at all times shown their patriotism. When the volunteering system was in operation they had splendidly backed it up. They had done great work for patriotic funds, and now, lately, they wore seen assisting the Finance Minister in his efforts to secure loans to carry on the war. He was confident that the members of tho association! would continue in tlieir patriotic efforts right to tho end of the chapter. (Hear, hear.) Ho took this opportunity of thanking thorn on behalf of Parliament for what they had done. NEW ZEALAND’S PART. Indeed all New Zealand Had risen to tho occasion in regard to the war. Who would have said at the beginning of the War that over 100,000' men would have worn ,tho uniform in the present fight; He thought this was a very creditable performance. When it was remembered that our small population had not only found these men, but Sad also paid for their training, their equipment and their transport it could be seen what a great part the country had taken in tho war. Further there waa a firm determination to continue on in these endeavours until the war came to an end.. (Applause.) He was not reflecting upon any other portion, but Now Zealand had every cause for pride in what it had done. The extraordinary fighting qualities of New Zealand soldiers had also to bo acknowledged. They had shown their prowess not only on Gallipoli, but on tho Western front in Palestine and everywhere else whore fighting was in progress. Everywhere thqy had done credit to themselves and honour to us.

Oin Bastor Monday lost an appeal had come from tho Imperial Government for more men, and that very evening a reply to it was in the hands of tho Governor-General tolling them that everything they asked for would ho given if possible. (Applause.) Ho did not say that Now Zealand was tho first to answer tho appeal, hut it must bo admitted that the reply was a prompt one. True New Zealand had not been called upon to make tho sacrifices that Groat Britain, Belgium and Franco had had to make, but Now Zealand had dono everything it possibly could. New Zealand know little, however, of tho realities of war. Tho country was prosperous, and generally speaking wo had not experienced any of tho real hardships of war with tho exception of tho loss of our fighting men. This fact jvas one of tho biggest

reasons for the country to do its duty wherever possible. TWO GREAT DANGERS.

: Referring to the naval raid reported in the papers that morning, Mr Massey said it had evidently been successful. Ho believed it would help to a large extent to check the submarine trouble. The men of the British Navy and t.ic British marines wero entitled to _ the sincere admiration of every British citizen. : Wo were faced with two great dangers at‘the present dayj the first was the submarine trouble, and tno second was the campaign that was being carried out on the Western front. The campaign there was not at an end by. any moans. That day nows had come through, that the Germans had commenced another push, this pusj was expected, of course. It was plainly evident that Germany wished to smash the British forces hribre help could come from America. He did not believe that this would over (Dries of “No.”) Ho considered that long before the European summer had come to an cud there would be an in dication of , victory. Massey, Heaven forbid, said Mi y'basscy, that wo should allow the world to he dominated hy Germany. What a -world it would hoi It made on ° slu }, dd think of it. The outrages the Gormans had perpetrated were to ho seen x every country she had entered. Th had shown the character of the German people. God forbid that Germany should ever dominate Britain. (Great applause.) AN HISTORICAL DAY. Sir Joseph Ward said that thisday, as far as New Zealand a nd v Au were concerned, would never he g ten in the years to come. It was a day that would bo commemoiated throughout the ages. Why did one say this? For tne reason that the men who wont on the Gallipoli Peninsula were called upon to do the impossible. These, men .attempt to do the impossible, and .never swerved or turned back. The enemy had said that the troops could never land there, but not only' did they land there, but they remained there for nearly ten months.* (Applause.) They could speak of the bravery of the New Zealand soldier without derogating the bravery of the other soldiers who took part. This day throughout this country there must be many sad hearts, however, for it was a day - that would bring back the remembrance of the factYhat many gallant men fought their last fight on April the 25th, three years ago. The bravery-of these gallant soldiers would stand out written indelibly in letters of gold, and this must have a soothing : effect on the hearts of the relatives of those who liad fallen. There was a regrettable feature about Anzac Day, however, and that was the knowledge of the terrible blunder that had been committed. Only for these blunders the war would have been over by now. Commissions had sat in England to endeavour to discover ywho was responsible for these blunders, but these Commissions were mighty little good to those nine hundred men who went down at the landing. The landing and the evacuation of Gallipoli were two noteworthy feats, and a splendid tribute to those men who were there. > BERLIN WILL YET BE BEACHED. There were Gallipoli officers at the gathering that day, continued Sir Joseph, and ho congratulated them. (Great applause.),. One of these officers had given an example of cool, deliberate bravery at the landing of Gallipoli. While the shells were falling around this officer was coolly serving out jam and eatables to those around him. (Laughter and applause.) Anzac would remain for all times as a, name that weaves around itself lovo, affection, and gratitude. Three anniversaries had been commemorated, with the firm, determination that wo would do all that was required in the war, and wo would keep this pledge until victory came to the Allied armies.'"-The bravo' soldiers now fighting at the front would not rest until they had marched through Germany—not until the TTritish ensign was flying over Berlin itself., (Great applause.) PREPARATION AND ORGANISATION. The Hon. G. W. Russell said that the event they were commemorating that day had shown, to a most remarkable degree that the British race had hot deteriorated. (Applause.) As with the case of the men at Balaclava, “Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do or die.” The men of Anzac had left behind them an imperishable name. Anzao Cove in times to come would bo regarded as a sacred place. In future ages many would pass from these young countries in the South Pacific to see the . place ■whore their brave brothers fell in 1915. He trusted that after the war Anzac Cove would not be regarded as belonging to one particular country, but to the whole world. As to the big blunder associated with Gallipoli, the time would come when the history of that effort would he written. The time had not come yet, however, but when it did come history would pass its verdict on those responsible for the mistakes. However) no matter what opinion would ho hold on this matter, there would he no doubt as to the bravery of those who had fallen at a Gallipoli. In the future there were two groat things that wo must fix our attention on, one was preparation and the other was organisation. This war had taught u s a stern lesson on the necessity for preparation. BLOOD THAT WILL ENDURE FOR AGES.

The Hon. A. M. Myers said .ho must heartily associate himself with. the remarks that had fallen from tlie previous speakers. It had keen said that Gallipoli was-a failure, hut all'would agree that the men who fought there were not failures. It had shown, that the men of the Dominion wore of, the same fighting blood as Britain .oversea. The blood that had been shed on the heights of Gallipoli would endure for ages. Ho would urge upon, all those present that the safety of the State must bo the first consideration. They would not bo justified in celebrating Anzac Day unless it was realised that the war must bo pushed on with the utmost vigour. .As Lloyd George had said, wo were either in the war or out of it; there must bo no halfway house. Now Zealand was hy no moans at the end of her resources. There wore still many men capable of bearing arms, and he sincerely hoped that we would all recognise the obligations that wore upon us, (Great applause.) Mr F. W. Mantom also spoke eloquently. He moved a hearty vote of thinks to the three Ministers. The gathering was brought to a conclusion by the singing of “Rule Britannia” and ‘‘God Save the King.’’- . . ~,