REMARKS BY MB, T. A. H, FIELD, M.P.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14395, 24 April 1917, Page 4

REMARKS BY MB, T. A. H, FIELD, M.P.

"PATRIOTISM BEGINS AT HOME."

Speaking at the Anzac gathering at the Church Steps yesterday afternoon Mr T. Al H. Field, M.P., gave .outspoken expression of his opinion of those responsible for industrial strife during the war. He paid: We have in Jsew Zealand men who call themselves Internationalists—lnternational Socialists. Their patriotism begins internationally, and seoms' to end there. Judging from their speeches and utterances, it does not seem even to extend to the Belgian workmen groaning under the slave whip, of. the Hun; it. does - not ■'reach, to France :Orr *to but -i& embrace^ the, extreme1 a.narchists,; whf>:ai-e endangering, the'- tritunph ■ Democracy rv in liuJpsi'a-^it does: not 'reach tc^ttheirr r own counti-y 3 j'ci^to.. their own- soldiers^^vho are fighting for them-at the front Tins is thereason wify we naive men stirrinV up labour troubles and strikes. -The other day these people called the loyalist labour nationalists of Australia-can-didates "unfortunate Labour rats." | The real "unfortunate Labour rat," in |my opinion, i s the man whose patriotjism does not begin at home, who1 has no loyalty to his own Dominion, his own .Empire, or his own comrades :it thG front. If a man's patriotism- begins and ends in Germany, let him live thore. We do not.want him in the British Empire. Among the men whose deeds we are commemorating were many miners from the We:/.- Coast. J low" great a contrast"between thoir action and that of those who are causing trouble. Mine out'of ten of the men on strike; are as loyal a,; those who took part in I the .landing on Gallipf.li. A small iium-1 ber of men have led them into this position, and these are men whoso patriotism does iiot begin at home. I believe that there is every possibility within the next few days of the strike being ended. (Applause.) During the las-; few

days we have witnessed a great historic events—a great nation, the' United States, stepping into the arena of war. She has nothing to gain by ; war, but she sees that freedom and democracy are at stake.. When the.storm of war is bye* and tjie sun of peace shines onco more may the conquering Allies iemember and put into practice the great ideals for which they •■■have, fought—lsat right is greater than might, that justice is moro than power, that the things that are unseen are greater than the things 'that are seen, and that the only lasting foundation of national prosperity and happiness is ba*se«i on that golden rule—r"To do..unto'others as wo would that they should do unto us," j and may each of us remember that the basis of al| good citizenship is the patriotism that"begins at home.

Mr Field's remarks were frequently applauded.