EMPIRE DAY

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11581, 23 May 1916, Page 7

EMPIRE DAY

I THE PREMIER'S MESSAGE. Per Press Association. Wellington, May 22. Recently the president of the Caledonian Club of Los Angeles, California, yvrote to the Prime Minister of New Zealand asking for a message to be read at a great British Empire Day gathering to he held on May 24th. The president mentioned that the gathering would include Englishmen, Scotsmen, Welshmen, Irishmen, Canadians, New Zealanders, Australians, Frenchmen, Belgians, Italians, Servians, Montenegrins, Russians, and Japanese, and that it would give the people of the United States an inspiring proof of British solidarity. Mr Massey replied as follows ; Message from the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, P.C.—Though separated from America by many leagues of ocean, New Zealand joins most cordially with the sons and daughters of Britain who are cele bra ting British Empire .Day in sunny California, In whatever part of the world British people are to be found to-day, they are one in heart and sympathy, one in love tor the laud of their fathers, one in pride of Empire, one in their desire to keep flying the grand old Flag—the emblem of “liberty and freedom and righteousness—which to day waves over a people more closely united than at any time in their history, and more determined than ever to stand together for all the sacred privileges banded down to them by heroic ancestors. To-day, after two years of the bloodiest and most exhausting war tbe world has ever known, tloy are more keenly’ resolved than ever to do their full share in securing victory for their Empire and its gallant Allies, New Zealand, though one of the youngest members of the great Imperial 1 family, has freely given of her best and bravest for the great causes in which we are engaged, and tonight sends the message across the Pacific to the huge gathering of our kith and km assembled in the shrine auditorium: —Stand fast for the right! God bless the Empire! God Save the King!—(Signed), W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.” The following telegram was re ceived recently by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon, W. F, Massey, from the editor of “Land and Water,” London: —‘‘‘Land and W 7 ater’ will publish a special Five Nations number on Empire Day, and is arranging for individual messages from the Prime Ministers of the Jive nations. Should greatly’ appreciate a message from ymu on what New Zealand is doing to win the war am! consolidate the Empire ” In response to this request, Mr Massey has despatched the to)lowing message :—“ln tbe cause of liberty and freedom, tor which Britain has drawn the sword our Dominion’s sons are taking their place in the fighting line, and will continue to do so until final and decisive victory comes. Fifty two thousmd sturdy New Zealanders have already responded to the call of duty, more are coming, and reinforcements will regularly go forward. On this anniversary of Empire Day, the world beholds the Britisli nation more firmly united than at any time in its past history. Reverses, when they occur, serve only to strengthen our determination to win this wai at all costs, and New Zealand, along with the other Oversea Dominions, taking pride in tier loyalty and devotion to King and country, will not relax her efforts "now or after the war to ensure for all time the safety and integrity of the Empire.—W. F. Massey, [Prime Minister.”