SIR JAMES ALLEN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1293, 5 April 1918, Page 4

SIR JAMES ALLEN.

CITIZENS' PRESENTATION. Some considerable time ago a movement Teas initiated by the Mayor of Christchureh to make a presentation to the Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen, in recognition of his services to New Zealand and the Empire during the war period. It was decided by the committee which had the matter in hand that the presentation should take the form of an illuminated album, and the function of handing it over to the recipient took place at Warner's Hot J l last evening, prior to the Minister's departure for Wellington. Those pre-j sent included the Mayor, Colonel' Chaffey, and Messrs Wm. Reece, 11. F. Wigram, R. C. Bishop, J. W. Beanlanl,! A. E. 6. Rhodes, Andrew Anderso.i, John Anderson, J. Grinunond, and W. H. Triggs. The Mayor said that the citizens of] Christchureh desired to make some small; recognition to Sir James Allen of the| services he had rendered to New Zealand and the Empire duing the 10 months that he was Acting-Prime Minister while Mr Massey and Sir Joseph] Ward were in England. It had fallen] to the lot of Sir James Allen to intro-i duce the Military Service Act, and the I burden on his shoulders was as heavy and arduous as thai carried by any Prime Minister. It was inevitable that the introduction of such a drastic reform should have awakened hostility and criticism, but it was comparatively small, a fact due to the tact and ability with which Sir James Allen had administered the Act. By those of them who were fathers and had sons at the front, the Minister's determination to see that they were adequately reinforced and given a chance to rest was very much appreciated. Some people had said that there had been over-reinforce-ment —that, too many rren had been sent away; but the facts of the recent offensive had proved otherwise. The Mayor concluded by thanking Sir James Allen for the sincere and fatherly sympathy he had always shown to those who had suffered loss. The Mayor then read the address contained in the album as follows: To Colonel the Honourable Sir James Allen, K.C.8.. V.D.. M.P., Minister of Defence, New Zealand. Acting Prime Minister of the Dominion from the 24th August, 1916. to 24th June, 1917. Sir, —We, on behalf of the subscribers in the Provincial District of Canterbury, desire to express our high appreciation of your services as Acting Prime Minister and Head of the National Government of New Zealand during the absence in England of the Prime Minister (the Bight Honourable W. F. Massey) and the Minister of Finance fthe Bight Honourable Sir Joseph Ward, Bt.. P.C., K.C.M.G.) on an important mission of State. While acting in that capacity you were called upon to face problems in connection with the great war requiring judgment and statesmanship for their solution, and to carry a heavy burden of responsibility. Some of us may differ in matters of domestic politics, but we are united in our desire to pay a tribute to the ardent devotion to the Empire and the courage and singleness of purpose with which you have discharged the duties of your high office. We desire further to congratulate you on the distinction recently conferred upon you by his Majesty the King, and to express our sincere hope that you may be spared many years to enjoy your honours, and to do further service to the State. We have the honour to subscribe ourselves.—B. C. Bishop. John Anderson, W. H. Triggs, Henry F. Wigram, William Reece, Arthur E. G. Rhodes, John W. Beanland, H. Holland, Hy. R. Smith. Mr Holland explained that it had been intended that the address should be signed by all those who had subscribed, but this had been found impossible owing to distance, and the committee had signed it on their behalf. MINISTER'S REPLY. Sir James Allen, in reply, thanked the Mayor for the invaluable kindness rendered by him as Chief Magistrate of the city in times of difficulty. He was very grateful, and desired also to express his thanks to others who had felt appreciation of his work. Any work he had been able to do he had done willingly for the country and the Empire. He had just been doing his share in the great struggle, and was grateful for the good health and strength that had enabled him to do it. The present was a difficult period for any Minister of Defence. He was bound to find himself up against someone. The only thing to do was to try and see the right road and follow it. (Hear, hear.) If he had given offence he was sorry, and it had been unintentional. The' gift of the album inspired him with confidence, and he would value it all his life as a memento of the troubles through which the Empire had passed. The heart of the people of New Zealand was sound in the matter of the Military Service Act. There were great possibilities for New Zealand, and the experiences of the war were very valuable. Our men had done nobly. They had made great sacrifices, and if he had appeared sympathetic it was only what he felt. They might mourn the loss of their -?ons and wish it had been otherwise, but they had bright hopes that sacrifices had not been in vain.