WAR DECLARATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12067, 24 July 1917, Page 5

WAR DECLARATION.

THIRD ANNIVERSARY

LETTER FROM PRIAIE AILNISTER TO LOCAL BODIES.

As on the- two previous anniversaries of the declaration of Avar, the Prime Minister (the lion AY. F. has this year sent, a circular letter, enclosing a resolution, to all the local bodies of New Zealand. At last night's mooting of the Woolston Horough Council the followina' letter and resolution Avere received from tim Prime Minister:—- " On behalf of the Government of this Dominion I have the honour to request thai on Saturday. August 4, the third anniversary of ihe declaration of "war witli Germany, you avill call a meeting of citizens of your borough, and submit, to the. meeting the attached resolution of de.terminai ion to continue the Avar to a victorious end. The same resolution will lie submitted to public meetings throughout, the rest of the Empire. "When last year the people of this Dominion gathered to celebrate the second anniversary our feelings wero divided he; ween our belief that tbo war Avas then approaching its crisis, our sober realisation of Avhnt that meant, our hopes that the struggle would terminate long before the end of this third year, and our profound satisfaction i hat our sons had proved their right, to, and had been given, the opportunity of taking their places Avith the Allies on the AVestern front. •'This year avc shall meet (our hopes of peace not yet realised) Avith the knowledge that sacrifices have yet to be faced and our hearts filled with honourable pride at, the thought of how nobly our sons, by their endurance and valour, on the Somme. at Messiuos and in Palestine, have sustained tho gloiy of Auzac.

'•With tlio memory of what, tlioy have done and our deepened knowledge of what wo arc lighting for nnd what Gorman victory would nioiin, that carrying of the * resolution is this year more than over our sacred dutyLargely hy the manner in which we celebrate this third anniversary will ho .judged our deferniination to maintain those ideals of liberty nnd justice, which our resolution truly states are the common and sacred cause of the Allies.

" I shall be glad if, on August 6. you will telegraph to me the fact of the meeting having been held pud j of tllfi resolution having been carried." The resolution attached was as follows :

"That, on this third annivorsiry of the declaration of a righteois war tins meeting of citizens of ■ records its inflexible, determin.ition fo continue to a victorious end the

struggle in maintenance of thoi-e ideals of liberty and justice which are the common' and sacred cause ol

the Allies." Oil the suggestion of the. Mayor (.Mr MaoGregor Wright) it was decided to accede to the request.

OBSERVING THE ANNIVERSARY. The .Mayor has decided to call a public meeting in Cathedral Square at, 12.10 p.m. on Saturday, August 1. to observe the anniversary of the declaration of war by Great Britain. IT the* weather is nor. favourable, the meeting wW be held at the en me time in the) King Edward Barracks. The Minor will preside, and Bishop Julius, Jiishoiv Brodie, the R.?v J. Pa torso n and'Mr A. W. Beaten havo been invited to give short addresses. PUBLIC MEETING SUGGESTED. [Pek Press Association*.! WELLINGTON*. July 24. The Prime Minister has sent out a. request to public bodies that Satnurday.XAngust -1. being the. third anniversary of the declaration of war with Germany, a meeting of citizens should be called in order that a. resolution be passed expressing New Zealand's inflexible determination to continue, the, struggle in maintenance of the ideals of liberty and justice and the sacred cause of the Allies.