PATRIOTIC SOCIAL.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17472, 5 June 1922, Page 3

PATRIOTIC SOCIAL.

In the Jeiiicoe Hall there was a large attendance of members of the Canterbury Justices of tLo Peace Association and their friends at the patriotic social over which Mr H. Holland presided. The singing of the first verse of the National Anthem opened and cloathe .National Anthem opened the proceedings, and turee verses were sung at the conclusion. i'he chairman in extending a welcome to those- present, also welcomed justices recently appointed, and stated that the Association's membership now totalled 205. A similar Association existed in \7ellington > and anotaer was in process of formation in Taranaki.

Mr J. J. Dcugall gave an interesting address on "Imperial Loyalty." It was not, he said, his intention to lecture the Justices' Association on loyalty: in that respect no one was more certain than he was that the Association was the essence of loyalty to King-and Country. (Applause.) After reference to the world unrest—the aftermath of the Great War—the speaker said that never

__ L.„. • in the history of the Empire was unity more de.lirable than it was to-day: and never wero the peoples of the Empire needed to work more whole-hearted-ly to reconstruct the ruins left by the war. England and the nations comprising the British Empire were the freest nations the world had ever seen. No nation and no empire was ever held together by such slender threads: the one dominant element that bound the nations of the Empire together was the figure of the King. Mr Dotigall contrasted the "barely concealed contempt'' with which, ten years ago, the Kaiser looked upon the British pi onarch y, with the enthusiastic reception given to the Prince of Wales not only in British dominions but in Japan and the United States. Tlie Prince to-day was, he said, the most honoured, the most loved, and the most popular man on the earth. (Applause.) Mr Dougall rapidly and interestingly sketched the rise and progress of individual libertv in Britain and also the manner in which Britain had assisted in maintaining the balance of power in Europe. Britain's intervention in the great war, he said, had consolidated the Empire into the greatest and mightiest structure the world had ever known. Wars might come again, or might not —if human nature changed they might not —but they should, in any event, be prepared. Liberty had to he defended. It tvas the greatest mistake in the world for people to say that methods of defence should be swept away. It was said that as tho result of the Washington Conference, Australia and New Zealand were safe for a generation: thev shoi'ld pray that the world might be as safe for centuries as they in Austrnlia and New Zealand were to-dav. (Applause.) On tho motion of the Hon. G. W. Russell, seconded by Mr S. E. McCarthy, and by acclamation, votes of thanks were accorded Mr Don prill and to those who had made the gathering a, success. During the evening songs were given hv Miss Dver, Messrs W. H. Prescott, G. Williams, and F. C. Penfold; a duet was given by Messrs Prescott and Penfold; and a recitation was given by Miss McGruer. ! The accompaniments for the vocalists were nlayed by Mrs F. 0. Penfold. Mrs W. H. Prescott, and Mr A. M. Owen. Mr Penfold was responsible for arranging the programme. At the conclusion of the programme refreshments were provided and the proceedings partook of the nature of a conversazione.