NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2542, 17 August 1915, Page 6

NATIONAL RESERVE

ft GREAT RALLY IN PALMERSTON^ (Bj Teleerasb. —Press Association.) Palmerston N., August 16. A most cntlmsiastic rally of the Palmerston branch of tho National Reserve was bold at Palmerston last evening. The principal speakers were Sir Joseph "Ward and Dr. M'Nab. Prior to the rally a large procession, numbering about a thousand members of tho Reserve, marched round the Square. Sir Joseph Ward, in tho course of his address, urged the necessity of Bending moro men, and said tliat ill tho year 1911 the total male population of New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 40 was 193,254, and 110,000 of these were single. If it wore necessary, over 128,000 men wcro still available for service. Ho also stated there were 72,000 unmarried women in Now Zealand who were ready to take tho places of those who had gone to the front. The speaker stressed tho fact that ho had received several letters referring to the good conduct of our troops abroad. Ho said a premature peace would be a catastrophe, and which the Germans would count as a victory. In his opinion, peace shonld never be given. J'ho war would draw us fifty, years closer to our kith and kin in tho Old Country. Dr. M'Nab, on rising to speak, was cheered for fully three minutes. He said his inclinations wcro to travel tho country doing what he could to induce men to join the colours, but lie had been recalled to take a seat in the National Cabinet. Speaking ol the war, bo said wc were not lighting tho army of a great country, but a groat country armed, and it was only now the people wore realising the fact. A vole of thanks to the speakers was moved by Mr. D. Buii'k, tho member for ±\i© district.