WHEN THE EMPIRE CALLS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 4946, 21 September 1914, Page 4

WHEN THE EMPIRE CALLS.

SPEECH BY THE KING. PARLIAMENT PROROGUED. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. London, Last Night. Parliament has been prorogued. The King’s speech was as follows. “1 address you in circumstances that call for action rather than for speech. After every endeavour had lieen made by my Government to preserve the peace of the world 1 was compelled in the assertion of treat}- obligations deliberately set at nought, and for the protection of the public law of Europe and the vital interests of my Empire, to go to war. My navy and army have, with unceasing vigilance, courage and skill, sustained in association with our gallant and faithful allies, a just and righteous causeFrom every part of my Empire therehas been spontaneous and enthusiastic rally to our common flag. Gentlemen of the House of Commons : I thank you for the liberality with which you have met a great emergency. My Lords and Gentlemen: We are fighting for a worthy purpose and we shall not lay down our arms until that purpose has been fully achieved. I rely with confidence upon the loyal and united efforts of all subjects, and I pray that Almighty G-od may give us His blessing.” The Commoners, led by Mr Will Crooks, sang the National Anthem and cheered the King. NAUSEATING CANT. MR ASQUITH ON THE KAISER. London, Last Night. Mr Asquith, speaking at a recruiting meeting at Edinburgh, said Britain had no direct concern with Austria’s quarrel with Servia, and a settlement was actually in sight when Germany deliberately made war on Britain. It was a well-founded belief of leaders of German thought that domination carried with it- the supremacy of German, culture and that the German spirit was the best thing that could happen to the world. Of German culture .and spirit the Kaiser’s armies are now missionaries in Belgium and France. That which has been specifically the German world movement for the last thirty yeai-s has been the side development of the doctrine of supreme ultimate progression of human affairs from material force. In pursuit of this doctrine Germany believed that treaties are only pieces of parchment and all talk about the rights of the weak and the obligations of the strong is only nauseating cant. This turned out to be very purblind philosophy, and led the Kaiser into grave miscalculations regarding the British Empire. After six weeks of war full supplies of food and raw material are reaching oar shores, our industries, with one or two exceptions, maintain their activities, unemployment so far is not seriously in excess of the average, the monetary situation has improved, and every effort is being made to re-establish foreign exchange. Meanwhile Britain’s supremacy on the sea is not seriously questioned. Our fleet is still patiently waiting to try conclusions with the Gormans. Onr army has revived the most glorious records of the past, and has been equally splendid in retirement and in advance, and Sir John French and his gallant officers and men will long be remembered.

MAORIS’ DONATION. | (By Telegraph—Special Reporter.) Wellington, This Day. ; Mr Massey has received from a number of Maori chiefs the offer of a donation of a half-year's rent- of Ohutu and other blocks of native land, equal to about a thousand pounds, as a contribution to the Empire Defence Fund. LIVERPOOL FUND. A further donation to tin- laidy Liverpool Fund is Mrs Lea 2s fid. The Mayoress, Mrs J. D. C. Crewe, acknowledges with thanks a l*ook from Mr P. Thomson. The following ladies have made and given Balaclava ceps, cholera belts, scarves and mittens:—Mesdames P. Thomson. O'Malley. Tulloch, Fay. Inglis. Karnes, Scott, C. Avery, Wakeman, Chas. Parsons (Coonoor) Tosswill and Misses Falconer, Ferris and Whitta (Ooonoor). A donation of cake lias been received from Mrs Hull, Kohinui. Tlie total amount to date of tlie Lady Liverpool Fund for the Expeditionary Force is £231 8s 9d. Ballance district has subscribed £27 14s 7d towards the above fund in amounts collected and two social functions.