SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2451, 3 May 1915, Page 6

SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR

RUMOURS AND SCARE TALK DEPRECATED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, May 1. Speaking at a civic dinner at which the retiring Mayor (Mr.Parr) was enter* tained, the Governor said: — "I know everyone in the Dominion is asking whether I can give them any news of the Dominion's troops on active service. I regret to tell you I have no further news beyond what I have given to the Press." > They were anxious, His Excellency added, to hear details of the doings of those they held dear to them. "I can' assure you," he said, "that 'at the first opportunity, whether it comes to me or whether it comes through the channel of the Army Council 'to the Minister of Defence, the news will be given as early as possible and at the first opportunity." The Imperial Government had given him instructions that on no account was the departure of : the troops i from Egypt to their landing to be divulged. Neither the Government nor the censor was responsible for the fact that these things had not been made public before. He himself had simplv_ carried ! out the orders of the Imperial Government, and he hoped he had done so to the letter. He would carry out every order that onme in future in the same manner. (Applause.) News could not be given out until the manoevures and strafeev of the Allies' troops were 'completed. His Excellency derirecnted the spreadinn; of rumours regarding the troops. He said no.ono had any right to offer conjectures as to what had taken place. Tf anything of imnor+.nnce occurred -he believed he would be the first person in i the Dominion to know the particulars. Statornpnts had been made that canities lind occurred among the men of the Expeditionarv Force. He strongly Heorecated the snrcading of most unfortunate rumours. He earnestly trusted that the losses were not severe, ■but he thought that the sooner soandalmoneers got their due the better it would be. No ono had any right to conjecture as to what, had taken nloce. His Excellency added that. Auckland had subscribed noblv, not only to the welfare of the neople serving the Dominion in assisting the Empire, but for those who were in lees fortunate circumstances than ourselves. The efforts of the people of New Zealand had made' •n. r»rent imnressioh on the world at large.; They Tiad written, in letters which were not going to he hlotted out that the British Empire, although it might be tied by very slender cords in manv respects, was tied wi+h cords that would not be broken. . He believed the war would teach the young neonle of New Zealand tho meaning of tho word discipline. In that way the war would do good. He earnestly hoped that in the course of the next few days they would hear news of a great and glorious . victory for the New Zealand troops, and that the news would not ho of a nature to sadden the hearts of tho people of the Dominion. '