THE PEOPLE AND THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2222, 7 August 1914, Page 7

THE PEOPLE AND THE EMPIRE.

THE MAYOR'S APPEAL.

, "GOD SAVE THE KING." , ' When the Wellington City Council assembled for its fortnightly meeting last, evening," the Mayor made a brief_ reference to the'fact that Great Britain was now at War." His Worship thought' that the time, was a fitting one tp say'a lew words 1 regarding tfe momentous happenings of the last few days. It was sixty years since Great Britain had.been ongaged iniwar against a European --Power, : and .although" those present around the council 'table wero not personally acquainted with- that period, they had had the story of it handed down to them by their parents, and,-in, 'the'form of literature. They ail knew of the great sufferings which had to bo endured during • that war. Since then, however, a great measure of peace had been' mainlined, and this largely due to the' splendid' spirit' manifested by Great Britain, whose object had always been to further • ■ the j interests of : the'- people and -■ spread happiness in' every direction, and, to-live in harmony with every nation which desired the progress of the civilised world; Iri the- 'present case, however, circumstances had arisen which made it necessary', for. the Empire' to go i to war, although every effort had been made by Britain to avoid being drawn into the-strife.. No. men nor means would be spared to assist the Empire to emerge successfully-from its undertaking. Hefe.lt it a duty to make these references to the situation, and ho felt sure • that everything would be done for. the honour of the flag, and to ultimately bring about a world-wide peace that would' endure. (Applause.) • ' ; " The councillors rose and eang "God 'Save the King." There were ngaia patriotic demonstrations in. the City streets last night. The Centrnl Mission Band and Juppjs Band, headed-by the,national colours, paraded from Vivian Street to Lambton Quay, and were-'followed, by several, hundreds' of ■people. The inarch was enlivened with tho>strains of "Rule-Britannia,", "The -Red, White and Blue," of the Queen," "The\ British- Grenadiers," and 'The Marseillaise." At intervals tho crowds sang the National Anthem with and, without, band accompaniment, and cheers; were given/ for the- King, for France, and for Russia.. ' ■ ' . OTHER "REFERENCES,..', At a full meeting of ,the. New Zealand Football Association, held last evening, a resolution was.:.paßsed unanimously • to -the effect'.that the Council: and Association players -in New, Zealand would give the King and Government loyal support in - aiiy direction'whatsoever in the present crisis.;: The motion .was > carried -amidst-enthusiasm, and the National Anthem'was,.sung.-, ,■ BIG/DEMONSTRATION IN CHRIST. - , - j-. c -' CHURCH. ''"' (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ' " '.. ■ Christchurch, August 6. -The Mayer has granted an application for permission for a .procession to assemble in Lichfield.Street, near the Clock Tower, on. Saturday 'night, and march via High Street and The,Square,.to Victoria . Square, - .where 'it is proposed to hold' a united ,-patriotio meeting. ' TheMayor will, preside, and those v»ho have been invited to speak'are Bishop Julius, Bishop Grimes, Mr.' Geo. T. Booth, and Mr. W. Reece. ....', ■ X. OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS. , (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, August G. At an enthusiastic meeting held in.the Garrison Hall speeches were delivered by the Mayor'andVpr^minent '.citizens.'' Three hundred', and "4he National Reserve; and at the conclusion, of .the.meeting..thousands of'citizens, men, ■and women, paraded.in procession around' ;tho town,'amid intense' enthusiasm,.'-led by the band. Thousands outside the hall Were uhai>ie to Jj'fct in, .and an overilow meeting was held in the Early Settlers' Hail..; . ■;.;..,.;.,. Timarii, August 6. A: public meeting of both sexes packed the Olympia- Skating Rink to-night, the Mayor presiding. vEx-xontingenters,.hon-orary Territorials, Mayors of other boroughs,and public s meri'were prominent on the stage. Three bands enlivened tho proceedings, and- played the Marseillaise, among other tunes. The speakers included ministers of churches, representative _citizens," aiid country men. Severs* patriotic,'resolutions wero carried,, with cheers, expressing loyalty to the Throne, approval of the action of the Home Govern,menlt,.and;determination to assist-in every possible -way. A, Committee of Public Safety: was organised to assist the Be-' '.fence'. force; - Donations were invited for the. purchase of .horses for. the mounted riflemen volunteering/for abroad. A meeting of bankers and commercial men Will be held' to-morrow.' morning to consider tho position,- and: to decide if anything is -to;: do.'done'in view of the crisis, ;•,'■• : .Marton, August B.' At; a meeting of the West Coast Provincial Council, the Licensed Victuallers' and Wholesale Licenses Trade to-day, a resolution, was passed unanimously o'ffering to assist- the Government in every way. possible'in the present national crisis. ',':.'.:'• TO OUR KINSMEN ABROAD; ..-.'.'. ..PREMIER'S MESSAGES, The- eclitor of the' "Daily Chronicle.' - London, 'sent a cablegram -to the Right Hon. W; E. Massey yesterday asking for a message in regard to the feeling in New Zealand as to tlio present crisis reaching throughout the Empire. Mr. '■ Massey replied as follows: , "New Zealand to-day, in com nio'n with other.Doniinions and . Dependencies, stands true to . tho best N traditions of Empire. ■','.■ and will loyally shoulder in J ' this hour of national' crisis ' ■' her share of Imperial responsi'bility. Tho Dominion to a mar> has. one. motto: Tor King, Country, and-Empire. " '• "MASSEY, ■ ■'.. ..- "Prime- Minister." Tne editor of the well-known Montreal journal, "The Star," cabled to Mr.. Massey, .'asking him for a messajo:, to the people of Canada on the common obliga; lions of the Dominions in the light of the declaration of war. Mr. ■ Massey's reply was as: follows:— "The interests of the Doinin- .',' 'ions of ami '' . inseparable. Wo have, put our hand to tho plough, and there '■• will bo'no looking back in this hour of national crisis. New Zealand stands hand in hand with her sister Canada and'the • other Dominions and Depen- . den'cies of the Empire. '■"..' VMASSEY." . " . TRIPPERS ABROAD PASSENGER TRAFFIC-.DISLOCATED. It is woll nigh impossible to say how far thn passenger services to and from Now Zealand are going to be affected by the war.- Already many people have been incommoded. Several New Zealandershad been booked to sail from Sydney by tho North Germnii Lloyd steamer Seydlitz, which left Sydney suddenly on Monday last (and was reported to have Leon captured by an Australian destroyer). As they had already left the Dominion to join tho liner, they will either havo lo try and arrange- passages by. British steamers,, or return to New Zealand. There are a few bookings for forward . steamers leaving Sydney .within (he .next few .weeks, but in tho majority of eases clients seem-, disposed to cancer their ar; rnngeme'nts until the air is a little clearer; The present is the slack time for the Homeward passenger trade from New August, and September arc the dead months of the year. After that tho trade begins to liven up, and gradually increases until one finds it exceedingly difficult jo secure berths, in the , March and April steamers without having -booked months ahead.