UPPER MOUTERE SETTLERS AND THE WAR.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13783, 2 June 1915, Page 4

UPPER MOUTERE SETTLERS AND THE WAR.

PATRIOTIC MEETING

AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING

HUi I OUIIS REFUTED

People from all parts of the Upper Moutere district attended the patriotic demonstration at the Public Hall last evening, and the proceedings throughout' were most enthusiastic. Mr Thos. lli.nve.tson presided, and among those on tho platform were Messrs R. P. Hudson and T. A. H. Field, M.P.'s, and Mr 11. Everett, County Chairman. An apology for absence was received from the-Hon. A. T. Maginnity, M.L.C. After tho National Anthem had been! sung, The chairman explained that the object of the meeting was to raise enthusiasm in the district with a view to inducing people who could afford it to make a monthly contribution to some fund until such time as peace was proclaimed. Although the district had done as much as neighbouring districts, tiie people realised that something more should, be done, and Mr 11. Bensemann had organised the meeting. Mr Hewetson said that since the war began, many statements had been made detrimental to the district—statements that were vindictive and absolutely contrary to fact. He referred to rumours tihat had been circulated, in regard to the alleged disloyalty of the people of the district, but ho (the chairman) declared that the residents of Upper Moutere were as loyal as those anywhere else. (Loud applause.) When volunteers were called for at tho outbreak of the war, three young men offered their services, and two were accepted. They were entertained, and a loyal toast list was gone through and spoken to by residents of German extraction. One of the men required a horse, and within a few minutes the amount required to purchase one was subscribed in the room. Besides that, the volunteers received presentations. At this gathering certain statements were made concerning the loyalty of the district, and a declaration of loyalty was drawn up, and ptiblished in the Press. He believed the same sentiments existed to-day as then. (Applause.) The school children, instead; of having their prizes, had. an entertainment, the proceeds of which, at their request, were handed to the Bel!gian Relief Fund, with the result that some £8 was realised. Then a sports meeting was held, at which £37 was taken in aid of tho fund. The chairi man then referred to what ho described as a "scandal" in regard to an alleged hissing incident at a picture show in the district,. Although he was not present, he had it on the best authority that no such thing occurred. He called upon Mr Horton (a new arrival in the district1), who was present, to say if such a thing took place.

Mr Horton stated that there was no hissing at tho pic hire show. On the other hand, the audience was most en thusiastic and patriotic when war scenes were shown. (Hear, hear.)

The chairman said that Dame Humour was always a lying jade, and this was another proof of it. Then there was another rumour that parts of the uniform of a Territorial had been trampled under foot at the Upper Mout.nro Ffotol. ■ That was also untrue, and \|v '!'•<■. MM;-*, V'lin '.r;iS prCPl'lt, SOid t.i... •,' . -I-■ ! \!->\ni< :■■■ "" trui.h in the

;,'.,:'. «■ iUMvff^in said he desired liijit thVse facts suouiii ho made public. Mr X, P. Hudson, M.P., then addressed the meeting;. He said that, _ although many of them were now doing much°, they hoped to do more in the future to smooth over the terrible unhapptness *:i»' k cT misery that was being brought to •"•«> '.ii'-iny thousands of the inhabitants of *'!h- world by the present war. It struck him that few

people realised the position—if they! did ho belieiod they would try and dot !: more. It was their duty to try and smooth tho paths of those who were helping us. • Going back to the begin- r ning of the war, Mr Hudson said they, could not -forget the manner in which that gallant little nation, Belgium,, which.had 'boon trampled down by her powerful neighbour, Germany, had. fought for. her liberty. Belgium had nothing to fight for in the way of increasing hei- territory , she had no quarrel with her neighbours, nor was she compelled to fight by any■■ treaty. She stood up to protect her land from the indignity of being marched over by a ruthless foe. What had been the "result? Her magnificent buildings, records of pioty and learning—some ot: the most beautiful monuments in thej world, had been desecrated, her manj hood had been slaughtered, and her j womanhood subjected to cruelties beyond the power of human language to describe. li' it had not been for Bel- | gium, there was no doubt Paris would ! have fallen; and our own beloved | Motherland would, have been invaded. If that irad occurred how would it. have affected us? They had seen what occurred in ' Belgium, and the same thing would have happened to us. He had a wife and daughter, and he would rather see them in their graves than that ihey should suffer the indignities the Belgians had suffered by the invasion of the Germans. (Applause.) They must confess that Britain was nob as fully prepared as she might have been when war broke out, and France must confess j the same. Tho short delay caused by gallant Belgium meant life or death to them. Therefore, he said, let us I try and pay back a little of what we owed to that gallant nation—no matter ' what we did we would nob be doing half enough. Now, what were our people doing ? They were fighting a most terriblo war against a powerful foe equipped with fearful inventions of the devil, who threw the recognised rules of warfare to the winds. Our own boys were at the front, distinguishing themselves and making a name for New Zealand. (Applause.) What were wo doing for them? Many of uscould not go to the front, but it was in our power to help, and he believed there were- many willing to come forward to back up the old flag. , .(Applause.) There was a weak spot in the present system of contributing—the liberal man was giyina;, and giving liberally, and his neighbour, who could perhaps afford to give more, hung back and did not give any tiling. Some scheme .should be evolved to get over that. That day a suggestion had been made to him that evory person on thoelectoral roll should contribute not less than one. .shilling per month, and that the money should bo collected by tho Post Office. .Many persons would contribute more- than the shilling, and thus everyone would give. Although tho meeting was in no sense a recruiting one, he asked that all young men present should think of those brave men who wero at tho front and in Egypt; 'let them think that their mates wero i fighting for them and their people. Let !ihem ask themselves, "Am I going to. let my mate fight in the trenches, forme when if 1 were alongside of him it would double the power against the enrmy?" Every man who went to thofronti'mado it better for the Now Zealandcra who wero fighting for us, and ix, increased their chances of coming back alive. Would they see a neighbour m difficulties and not go to help him / JNo - Surely then, they should volunteer to help their comrades.. (Applause.) Mr T. A. J-t. Field, M.P., said that !in regard to tho war, they must have noticed the comment on the way the New Zealandere fraternised with the Maoris while they remained aloof from tho natives in Egypt. The reason for this was that New Zealanders always admired a generous foe. Some of the enemy had shewn a generous spirit and they -were generous fighters, but, on the other band, unfortunately a spirit of militarism had risen in Germany, within the past few years, and their policy was one of frightfulness, as bad been evidenced in Belgium. Germany was trying to terrorise the civilised world, and Britain was now fighting for liberty and freedom. (Applause.) They were thankful and proud that the New Zealanders were taking part in that fight, and 'fighting as bravely as | the other brave soldiers of the Empire. ' (Applause.) It was also very gratifying, to find how all parts of the British Em- ! pire had come together, including tho , ; Boers of &outh Africa, whoa few years ago were their enemies. When Parliament met he hoped the welfare of ther Empire would be the first matter considered. (Applause.) The matter of the war-tax and the wounded soldiers should be considered before party politics were fought. (Applause.) Tho fight Britain and her Allies were fighting was for freedom and for liberty, and the spirit in which the New Zealanders took part in the fight was,the spirit in which the patriot said, "1 don't know what the others says, but give me liberty cr give me death," (Applause.) Mr. Everett, made a stirring speech. He spoke of the horrors of the barbaric wars of the past, but said they were not to be compared with the gigantic struggle at present in which civilised nations wero arrayed against each other, and sending victims to death by millions. Each nation no doubt believed that it was engaged in a just and honourable fight, and the enemy wero probably swayed by the same emotions as ourselves. We believed wo were doing that which was right. (Hear, hear), and he defied any man to say that wo were not fighting for freedom.

We were niidm one flag, and when danger threatened that flag, it behoved all men to consider how far they might help to keep the flag flying. (Applause.) The Waimea County Council was contributing its quota to the Belgian Relief Fund, but the sick and wounded would also need their assistance. Compared with the Belgians the people of this country were absolutely affluent, und he asked them out of their abundance to assist those who needed it. Our suffering boys might never come back, but their names would for eyer be enshrined in the tabernacles of our hearts. (Applause.) Even if they lost their sons, they would know they had; died in a noble cause. In the name of humanity he knew their assistance could be relied upon in this desirable work. (Applause.)

As the result cf a canvass of the room £15 per month was promised, the committee to decide the particular fund to which the money is to be devoted. It was also announced that arrangements "had been made to canvass the district, and canvassers were appointed.

Mr. Charles- Thomas, in moving a hearty AYito of thanks to the visitors, said he felt sure great benefit would be derived from tho speeches they had heard. Ho said they were all proud to feel that they were under one flag.

(Applause.) . Mr. J. Pugh seconded the _ motion, which was carried by acclamation.

During the evening patriotic songs were sung by a choir of residents, the audience taking up the choruses most enthusiastically. Recitations were contributed by Messrs. H. Everett and T.

A. 11. Field, Bongs by Mr Kelling, and a pianoforte solo by Miss G. Bockmann. I\Tr-s. C. Br>ekmann played the accompaniments. Mr. F. Stallard was present on behalf, of tho Recruiting Committee, and explained the- arrangements that werebeing made to enrol volunteers. The proceedings, which were most enthusiastic, concluded at 10.30 with the singing of the National Anthem.