PATRIOTIC MEETING

Otago Witness, Issue 3168, 2 December 1914, Page 81

PATRIOTIC MEETING

ENTHUSIASM IN DUNEDIN. GARRISON HALL CROWDED. MANY RECRUITS FORWARD. AN IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION. Thursday night was wet, but the patriotic ardour of the people of Dunedin and suburbs was in no way damped by the atmospheric conditions, and when the proceedings in connection with the patriotic and recruiting meeting commenced in the Garrison Hall the spacious building was filled in ail parts, upstairs and downstairs, while the platform was occupied by members of Parliament, city councillors members of the National Reserve, members of the Women’s Patriotic Association, and well-known citizens. The chair was occupied by the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. B. Shaddock). At the request of the Mayor, the audience rose and sang with great lustiness a verse of the National Anthem. The Fourth Regimental Band, conducted bv Lieutenant George, played the national airs of Belgium, France, and Russia. The Mayor, in a brief and neat -speech, said they were there that night to launch another aspect of she patriotic work in the city. —(Applause.) This was a “more men" campaign. More men were required at the front. The enemy was massing in large numbers to oppose the Allies, and w'hile there were trusted leaders on our side it was our cuty to stand by them and meet the common foe. —(Applause.) Lord Kitchener was aiming at putting such a force in Belgium in the early spring that the war would be speedily brought to a satisfactory end. — (Applause.) It would mean putting in the field the largest army the world had ever seen, and in Dunedin, he was sure, the people would do what they could to help on the great campaign.—(Applause.) Gtago had done nobly. The percentage of its population to offer for service would compare more than favourably with that of the other provinces. His Worship read the following letter from the Hon. Mr Allen, Minister of Defence, to Mr E. S. Wilson, secretary of the Patriotic and RecruitingCommittee, Dunedin: Dunedin, November 26, 1914. Dear Sir, —Our Now Zealand soldiers have served a considerable time in Samoa, and many of them have alreadf signified their desire to volunteer for the front. To enable them to do so it is necessary that they should be relieved. I have noted with deep satisfaction the great enthusiasm of the members of the rifle clubs, the National Reserve, the Legion of Frontiersmen, and others, and realise howanxious these members are to serve the Empire" at this critical time. It is my intention to offer to 500 men throughout New Zealand, between the ages of 40 and 47, an opportunity to enlist for service at Samoa to relieve part of the garrison there, and I feel sure that many men ot this age will be only too glad to volunteer for this duty. Tho reading of the letter was greeted with cheers." A spirited rendering of “ The Death of Nelson ” was given by Mr W. H. MacKenzie. The Rev. G. H. Balfour said it was a serious thing to ask young men to offer themselves for sacrifice, and perhaps death, in the service of their King.— (Applause.) For himself, ho was glad to range himself beside men of the highest possible" standing in tho )ld Country who had requested their rnen to come forward and serve their country, their King, and their God in this terrible war.- —(Applause.) It was not a war ol aggression, but of self-defence and for the defence of those who were -weak. —(Applause.) “ We thank God,” continued Mr Balfour, “for our success so far, and that the indications arc that the Gormans have been checked, but the war is not over yet. At the beginning Lord Kitchener raid it might be throe years or more, and wo must realise that the sooner w'e got our men into training and the sooner we get them to tho front the sooner is it likely the war shall come to an end.”—(Cheers.) Mr E. Drake was vociferously applauded for his singing of “ Let Me Like a Soldier Fall,” andi on being recalled repeated oneverse. Miss Gard’ner sang a new edition of “ It’s a Long Way To Tiuporary.” This was the song, said the Mayor, the British soldiers sang as they marched through France. — (Applause ) The audience appreciated the appropriate words of the song, and joined heartily in the chorus. On being recalled'. Miss Gard’ner sang another verse, and "was applauded to tho echo for her effort. Mr W. 0. MacGregor, in the course of his speech, said that at present in Germany one person in 10 was bearing arms, while in New Zealand it was less than one in 100. Mrs Power and party sang a recruiting song with chorus, and the audience insisted on a repetition of the item Mr J. A. Park mentioned that in the last few days the stigma placed on patriotic Otago and Southland in connection with its quota had been wiped out. —(Applause.) The Minister of Defence had stated on tho previous evening that when the allotment was made an unfair quota was asked from Otago and Southland in comparison with the population of other districts. As a matter of fact Otago and Southland had not only sent their quota, but many more.—(Applause.) He was sure that the larger quota the Minister of Defence had stated would bo required in tho future would bo forthcoming.—(Applause.) The recruits who have come forward were invited to the stage, and as they took up their stations they were received with enthusiastic cheers. Mr Park took an opportunity to suggest that a “ bantam corps ” should be formed from tho dominion. —(ApElause.) He also thanked the men who ad come forward so nobly.—(Cheers.) Three rousing cheers were given for the recruits, and the audience sin.'J “For They are Jolly Good Fellows.” In response to an appeal from the Mayor other recruits came forward to enrol. Whi’o the enrolling was proceeding tho

band played “The Marseillaise” (the audience standing), “Soldiers of the King,” “The British Grenadiers,” “Sons of the Sea,” and other stirring airs. As recruit after recruit made his way to the front to enrol the audience cheered. Mr S. H. Osborne recited “ King Henry V’s Address to his Soldiers,” and was recalled. Dr P. Marshall said the response made to the appeal that evening was stimulating, but he believed it would be greater on the following day, and greater the day after.— (Cheers.) He made an appeal to young men to take part in this noble fight by the Allies for freedom, liberty, and honour.(Applause.) Events were happening today that would be talked of through hundreds of years_ to come, and the great victory to be achieved in this war would be observed in that hall year after year, as Trafalgar day was now observed, and the men who had returned from battle would be the honoured guests at those occasions.— (Applause.) This was certainly a day when “ England expected every man to do his dutv.”—(Cheers.) Mr S. Angell sang “God Save the King ” (a new National Anthem), and was cordially applauded. Mr H. D. Bedford, in an. eloquent address. said that never in the history of our race bad men failed the nation at the time of the nation’s peril, nind they would not fail it now.—(Cheers) “Already there have gone 10,000 men to fight th'ej battles of the nation at this her time or crisis. When they realised the way in which the independence of Belgium was threatened, when they realised the challenge the German Emperor gave to the supremacy of Britain, when thev realised thero was a design to invade Britain and destroy its liberties, 10.000 men sprang to the front, and now when day by day we find more confirmation of the terrible designs on the liberties of Europe, I think I see the glitter of the swords of 10,000 more men in this country—(cheers) ; swords that will ‘ lean from their scabbards to avenge the insult ’ that is put upon Belgium and the threat that is cast against our Empire.’* —(Cheers.) Votes of thanks were accorded iho speakers, the singers, the accompanists, the bands, and others who bad helped to make the gathering the great success it was. and at a quarter past 10 the meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem. Miss Lizzie M‘Laron and Mr A. Martin acted as accompanists during the evening. The quota expected from Otago and Southland for the next reinforcement is 700, and of this number about 200 have come forward in Dunedin, including those who volunteered in the hall last night.