EMPIRE TRADITIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2377, 5 February 1915, Page 7

EMPIRE TRADITIONS

UPHELD BY BOYS YOUNG AUSTRALIANS' MISSION The boys of the Yotmg Australia ■ League were tendered a civic reception in the Town Hall yesterday morning. There was a good attendance of councillor aiid the public. 'i'ho Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) sent- an apology, for-' absence, statingthat he much - regretted not* being able to attend. In the absence of the Alayor ,(iUr. J. P- Luke), who has .iuliered the loss, of a brother,. Councillor barber presided. Councillor Barhar extended' to Mr. Simons and the members of the league a .cordial welcome, The boys were fortunate, he said., in having such a league in Australia, to advance the interests 'of - the boys there. The educational: advantage to be gained was great,- ■ and it was very satisfactory to that the boys were bcin& trained to such a status of proficiency. 'They represented Australia, "our brothers, a sister colony,'' ? and. as such i\ T ew i Zealand welcomed them. New ilea landers would- follow tile tour with interest, for it was realised that they could not advertise Australia without to 'a - certain • extent adverising New Zealand ■ . . ■ Councillor A'. H. Hindmarsh,'M.P., said that the boys, as representing Australia, occupied a- semi-official position, and they welcomed them' on .that account. He hoped that ttie trip would be pleasant ■ . Councillor F. ,M. Luckie said that it gave him groat pleasure to add a few words to what-had been said. The boys were, the evidence, of-an organisation which was training the young people of their great country for the duties which lay. before them. At the present time it was a very encouraging thing to realise , that the -young men just leaving school wero forming part of an organisation, the members of whicli might bo called . to. take, a more active part to defend the community should the necessity arise: In New Zealand they had similar bodies of young men, who, in times of peace, were trained to defend the country should the need occur.. The visit of puch bodies would givei. seme idea of iwhat" might be' expected' of Australia if she was called on in after years for further assistance to the Empire. Councillors. Thompson and MUenzie Supplemented the remarks of other fcouncillors.

Responsibility of Empire. Mr. J. J. Simons, tie leaded of the - league, in replying, said that.'it was delightful to hear such words of encouragement from the representative i men of the City. They had. heard a lot about New Zealand's hospitality, but that morning' they had: realised to the "full the meaning of' the words "Kia ora." They felt that as they went abroad they would not only have _the privilege of learning, but of teaching. In . a previous tour they were able to demonstrate the obligations resting on the different parts of the Empire as regards military training. On that tour they had been ■ deluged with literature from, peace societies, holding up, amongst other countries,' Australia and. New Zealand as lands of tyranny on ncoount of their military, training system. They consigned that literature to ■ the flames. and through the boys were able to show - that responsibilities rested_on all parts of the Empire.. Through this' tour they hoped to show how sensitive all parts were to (the central call of 'the Empire. The Germans were saying that Australia and New /fell,rad were chained to a' despotic Empire. He admitted they •were chained, but it was a garland of flowers of friendship and love. (Applause). They were going to try and make themselvaß the medium of such a message. He was sure they would heach a great message in the United states. They would tell how they 'had built up here in the Pacific, not the servile colonies, but a free demooracy enjoying a perfect autonomy, and yet remaining a faithful) dutiful, and willing partner to what'might be called that great, Empire of nations, under the sign of the British Empire. .■ : . . Fostering Cood ,Feeling. There was a time, some six :or seven :years ago, when Uncle Sam was looked •on"as a very warm friend to that Empire; but at present the States seemed to be under a temporary cloud. He. thought it was because we were all inclined to jump at .the shadow, and, c orget the substance. At the death, if' Bver such a thing occurred, the. United States would be there. When a previous party of his boys went through the States he was surprised "to hear them referred to as; having sprung from the same Motherland as the United States. That had t.aught him that they might 4ave a different flag, and a different constitution, but the basic characteristics could not be altered. Although the United Statos might be a little backward in seeieng the same way as the English nation, although they had not thought it time to unsheath the sword, there were many indications th at American feelinp in. this great difficulty was on our side. He believod they could still further enhance those sympathies, an 4 show how much' in common the British people had with those of America. It would be the •prifilege of the: boys to carry tho flag of the Empire and of Australia to the Panama Exposition. He believed they were the only organisation from: any part of the Empire which would have that privilege.

Tha Young Cub's Work. Coming as they did from Australia, they haa for the people of New Zea,a specially friendly messago. That friendly message had been accentuated by the developments of the past few months. New. Zealand was with Australia in adding fresh laurels to the Uiitisn Empire. , • Zealand took Samoa and Australia took New Guinea, showing that these cubs which had planted their claws in the Southern 1 acific had all the dash aiid spring of the old father lion living up in the North. ; (Applause.) The boys would be a bio to toll that to America too, In conclusion, ho thanked those present very kindly for their well-wishes, and also for the goodwill shown by tho pcope of New Zealand. (Applause.) _ A member of the party Mr. Martin Scott, added a few words to what had been said by Mr. Simons. It had been an extreme pleasure, he said, to seo what they had of Wellington. While they were in America they wero going to do all they could to uphold tho glory of Australia . The . gathering concluded with a. rousing party call from the boys In the morning the visitors went to Day's Bay, and fully explored the bush lands there.' rho.v were afterwards entertained at morning tea by Mr. Allan president of tho Y.M.C.A., and Mrs! Allan, and they contributed a numbtr of songs.' In the afternoon an instructive trip was taken to Petone, whore tho Gear Meat Company's works and the Wellington Woollen Company's mills -were inspected. _ The party left by the Maitai for 'I'risco in the evenng- '

All the nren hitherto employed there having gone to the front, the work of the Camberwell Public Library is now being carried on by eight girls. England has a lighthouse to every 14 miW of coast.