NEW ZEALAND'S PART.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 151, 1 August 1914, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND'S PART.

WILL ASSIST MOTHERLAND. EXPEDITIONARY FORGE TO BB OFFERED. --. SCENE OF. ENTHUSIASM.' * ■ [From our own, Parliamentary Beporter.} WELLINGTON I^ JuIy 31: ../ i That the Government of the does not- intend to be behind hand il the defence of the in, the east • of Great Britain -becoming involved' ii ' r thc European trouble, was- made, mani fest in the House this eveningj-whenrthK. Plfme Minister delivered" an- importanl ' statement .which was received with tht" utmost enthusiasm by members in al! - parts" of the House. It is-clear thatMlit fine traditions of New Zealand in re> , gard to the Boer war are to be main- : tained. . Immediately after the dinnei adjournment, Mr G. M. Thomson (Dui*> - edin North) asked the Prime MinisteJKi whether, in view of the present vej|Pg serious situation in "Europe, the (s&m yernment would offer the services of--wi expeditionary force to ,the -Motb&£*| Country in th« event of her requiring H^ , THE COUNTRY'S OFFEjR.'* -fi§j Mr Massey: In reply to the WaM gentleman I have to state that so. farfSfcS; It Is possible to judge from the infq'rijjPp tion that has reached us there W-|tw| 1 reason for serious alarm. Under sto®! (. circumstances as now exist, howe } we have to prepare for ! if the occasion arises, and it may, • fblipf; Government of New Zealand will skso. Parliament and the people of land to do their duty by offering f§pj§l services of an expeditionary force the Imperial Government. I have x no fear of volunteers not being forthcoming, and an understanding has been come to as to the number which will fit in with* requirements. I trust that a settlement will be arrived at which'will enable the citizens of the Empire * to 1 stand together as one man. With regoril to Canada 's offer, I shall sum it up in three words: ''Well done Canada." Impulsively all within the Chamber then rose .and joined in singing the "National Anthem." _'. ;z^r—~'' The occupants of the crowded galleries jointed heartily in the singing. ]£|| was a most unique display of enthusiasm. H§s GOVERNMENT'S ACTION 7 ! fc| APPLAUDED. , "'" hfejfl Sir Joseph Ward said: Mr Speaker„J|i|j , would like to add that I have heard tlMf statement of the Prime Minister wi™l§ ths satisfaction, and I hope there may be no occasion for portions of the Empire to have to" cjfeji operate with the Old Country which seems to be fraught with a ; cej§f| tain amount of danger to the world fsPf large. I trust that the wise of men in the different parts of world may be able to prevent the'polf*s sibility of a widespread war. I'cansay very sincerely, on behalf of this side of. the House.'that in everything that is necessaiy in the matter of sending an expeditionary force, or otherwise, we will very heartily co-operate with the Government of the day in.defcnding this our own country, and the Empire as a whole. /"Cheers, "v