ALL-FOR-EMPIRE CELE BRATIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2776, 20 May 1916, Page 2

ALL-FOR-EMPIRE CELE BRATIONS

Tho commercial travellers aro'iu a fair way o£ completing 1 tho arrangements for the Ail-for-iimpiro celebrations ivhicli Ihey propose ehouid.be held in Wellington during the week, commencing on Monday, May- 29,.'and closing' on the' King's' Birthday, Saturday, June 8. The vari-, ous sub-committees havo been at'work terviewing leading* citizens, and a Lmlieiy-' Committee which was set up on Monday-, night is doing-, good-. work: in 'enrolling" mambers for-tHo All-fpr-Empire -League, - which is to bo pTibli'c'Jy laim?bed".in;.;Wolluigtou at patriotic -gatherings-.to be. held in tho Towii Hall; 'under tho : presidency of tho Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, oil the King's Birthday. The. arrangements for the afternoon, covering a juvenile' demonstration, are practically completed, a very interesting programmo having been de!cided upon, with a display of tableaux vivants, under: the .direction ...of lira. James Hannah, patriotic songs," mimical selections, and two 'or" three short' addrcsse« on patriotic lines being alfeo provided for. Tho mass gathering of citizens at night will bo' of' an\ossentially patriotic character, ■ the' resolutions to be-sub-mitted to the meeHnfincluding oxpres-;-uions of loyalty to ..thonThrono and-Em-, liire, and having, epecinl-referenca ■ to- Now Zealand's share in the war. .The speakers,. l ns already' announced, will. .Include - thePrimo Minister And Sir Joseph Ward; and others aro being arranged for. . A musical programme"is alsq being, provided' for., i ■; ;/, The committee having Secured the sup. port of the local Chamber of Commerce, and' of the - Industrial ■ Association, •intend waiting upon the principal .shopkeepers in tho city, during tho coming week, when they hope to be able to arrange for tho display in all the shop windows during : Empire Week of Empire-mJde goods only, and as Wellington 'traders hold" pretty considerable, stocks of Dominion .and Eng-lish-made goods' there should be'no' difficulty in providing for fitting .displays. The. enrolment-of members'during- the week has opened "up_ the (juestioi): of .'.what tlio_ funds are required, for'. -As. was ox-, plained by. ono of the. speaker? . at ' a meeting of (Commercial Club members, this week the 'League; -has; a" very; big-pro:-gramme in hand, and if its ijropaganda is to bo succnssful it will require for the development of. its educational programme, the hearty and whole-souled support of those who believe ;with the' commercials. tKa,t tlia future prosperity oEtho Empire is largely dependent upon the efforts which, are put forth to ;win the trado war which Germany clearly has" in fciew at the close of the present unpre. cedented struggle. x Germany's treatment of Belgium in not only removing from the industrial centres of that unhappy country all raw materials and the machinery used. for . their manufacture, and her further refusal to . permit'of arrangements being mado for tho "resumption of the industrial life of Belgium at the close of tho war, sufficiently indicate the ruthless nature of German methods in .crushing out all opposition. Prior to thenar, Belgium had, nor head of her population, a greater trade than any other countrv in Europe, England, not even excepted.' To^lay...slio-..iß_honeles3ly r .ruined..