THE GREAT CAUSE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2571, 20 September 1915, Page 8

THE GREAT CAUSE

CONSOLATIONS FOR THE BEREAVED

HONOURING THE DEAD

In honour of tho men of New Zealand who have fallen in the service ofthe Email's, tho Now Zealand Natives' Association Band played "A Garland of Flowers" at their concert in His Majesty's Theatre Last night. A speech, which was at the same time a tribute to tho valiant dead and a consolation to those at homo bereaved, was delivered by the Hon. J. A lion (Minister of Defence).

Mr. Allen said that although all must suffer grief for the loss of dear ones, lie was not sure that they ought to feel nothing but sadness for the loss of tho brave men who had given their lives in the groat cause. It was possible that in their grief there was a tinge of selfishness. He confessed to somo of it himself. Those who had lost sons or dear friends would probably think, as he had thought, of what' the future might have had in store for tlvose who had spent their lives. Porhaps they had imagined tho future, the prospccts, the development of a young man, perhaps a brilliant young man, who had fallen in this great. Empire battle. Perhaps they had looked forward to the career's of their sons, and their pons' sons, and tried to realise some brilliant prospects for them. Was there not in this something of selfishness P They could not help feeling the loss of dear ones, but thero came tio those bereaved many consolations. Mr. Allen spoke of the consolations from which the bereaved might take comfort. In conclusion, ho said: "We have only a temporary life on earth, but though individuals come and go tlie nation remains, not for. ail time, but at least for a time, the length of which we can not appreciate, and if wo have givon sacrifices of our sons in this great cause, it is becauso of tho great cause that we have given them. Wc have given them for Empire, for freedom, for liberty; given them for conscience sake. When we realise that those young men have not spent their Wood in vain, but have laid the foundations of a greater New Zealand and a greater Empire, though sorrow does como thore remains consolation in the faot that the purpose they have died to serve has not been a vain one—that the nation will be mado greater by tho sacrifices they have made. I don't wish_ to say any more to you. I think this is no time for words,. but it is a time for earnest thought, a time of sorrow, perhaps, and a timo when we ought to lay hold of hopes for tho' future, for a possiblo realisation of happiness boyond, which can not come to us in this sphere iu which wo are now living."

The audience stood while the band playod "A..Garland of Flowers." The concert programme was varied and well chosen. The band played'four items—a march, a contest selection, a Gavotte, and « Military Quickstep. Mr. P. L. Minifie played a piccolo solo, Mr. P P,.. Johnstone a 'cello solo, and Master J. Kiddler a violin solo, and Mr. H. F. Wood sang. All the performers were most cordially received by tho audience.