ALL FOR OUR EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2788, 5 June 1916, Page 6

ALL FOR OUR EMPIRE

ROYAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS IN

WELLINGTON

CALL TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION

King's Birthday, 191G, will long be.remembered by at least a very fair proportion of the school children of Wellington, thanks to tho demonstration arranged by the All-for-Empire League in commemoration of that day in its present conjunction with Empire Day—a day on which it is calculated that the true mean, ing of Empire in relation to England and her Dominions overseas should be demonstrated to the plastic minds of the men and women of to-morrow. Saturday's functions took the form of a children's demonstration of loyalty at the Town Hall in the afternoon and a. patriotic meeting in the evening. The fine spirit of enthusiasm which characterised both gatherings refhicts credit on the energotic executivo of the newly-formed All-for-Em-pire League, and promises well for its tuturo activities.

Long before the opening hour long lines of school children in orderly array, under their teachers, mustered outside the. Mercer Street entrance of the Town Hall, and as the name of each school was called marched inside, wliero they were ushered to their appointed plaoes by members of the committeo of tho league. Needless to say, the great hall was packed from the organ to the back wall by 3 p.m., when His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) took the chair at a table appropriately draped with the Union ■lack. ■ The Mayor was supported on the platform by tho Hons. Itobt. M'Nab, J. G. W. Aitken, and A. T. Maginnity, and W. Earnshaw, MJv.C., and tho members of the league executive. The proceedings commonced. with the singing of tho National Anthem, which took on a fresh vigour from the tone of the voices of the many children present, Tho Savage Club Orchestra (under Mr. 11. M'Comish) thon played a selection from "The Bohemian Girl" (Balfe;. Address by the Mayor. The Mayor, referring to the occasion, said that perhaps tho mow! elderly of the children would remember when tho present King and Queen, as ■ the Duke anil Duchess of Cornwall and York, wero iu Wellington, and the royal welcome that had been given triiem. They .ill trusted that'as King and Queen they would how bo spared for many years 'to servo the country, and the Empire, and do good to the whole world. (Applause.) The audience beforo him was one of the best he had ever stood before since he had ■ been Mayor of the City. The North Sea/ Fijht, He wished to pay a tribute to tho men of the JNavy, who through all these months of wet, cold, rough weather wero ready a t any and all times to tackle any odds, and they would find that on tins occasion they had cozered themselves » B - ory ' aml ns fine a page of history as had ever beon written yet. (Applause.) Whero would tho people of Britain, of Australia, and the outposta of the Empire lie without the Navy? We wouM. probably have been the vassals of Germany. We had an Army, but it would have been slaughtered by the bet-ter-prepared hosts of Germany. He did not intend to neutralise the strength of the Army, but it was evident that tho wealthy Dominions oversea must be secur. Ed, as well as Britain, by having, and | always keeping, a powerful Navy. Think of the glorious victories of Trafalgar, rnkerman, tho Crimea, in India, South Africa!', What better work had been done, or deeds performed than by their own boys and those from Australia and Can. Ada in Gallipoli and Flanders. They would not be'secure in the Town Hall were it not -for the fight the brothers and fathers of those present put up in Gullipoli and Flanders. It stirred tho heart "of everyone to see the men leaving, somo never to return, but light they must, shoulder to shoulder, with other u,nits ot' the Empire until victory with honour was achieved. Mr. Luke asked alt to rise as a tribute to soldiers of tho Empire and in appreciation of what the Navy is doing. Education Never More Valuable. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., chairman of tho Wellington Education Board, said that with tho sentiments of .the league he was finite in sympathy. They had in the British Empire the greatest Empire the world had ever seen. There had been great Empires in the past—those of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Venice, which had done their work and gone, but they as Britishers maintained anil asserted that theirs was greater than any Empire of the past, and was going to be still greater in the future. Some of tho boys present were 110 doubt very eorry for themselves at not being old enough to fight the battles of the EmpiTO in Egypt, Mesopotamia, France, or elsewhere, but the war was not going to last for ever. ' Such wastage could • not go 011 for an indefinite period. But if the boys could not fight and the girls could not participate in the noble work the women were doing they would have to fight tho fight of the future. Were they going to do it ? Wero they going to fight tho great fight against Germany after peace was declared? There was a fight to be won if they had tho minds to win it. The Goveriiment must not. would not dare, when the time came by and by; and there were financial difficulties to make ends meet, to begin cheeseparing with the Education Department. If they did they would make tho biggest mistake in their lives for this country and. the Empire. When it became necessary to look out for ways and means, it would be a suicidal policy to curtail the money spent on education, Let- them rather spend more and more and more money for education. (Applause.) The Tariff Wall Fallacy. That was the one thing that was going to save us iu the fight they were looking forward to. He knew that some people advocated a policy of building up a tariff against the German people when peace is declared—of building up a big wall that would reach up to heaven. It could not be done! There were 70 million Germans, who had to live, many of them commercial and trading people, whom one could not cut olf, because the .trading people of one country depended on those of another. Ho was not altogether against a tariff, but generally it would be a useless business, unless they educated their boys and girls, young men and women; to come out into the world, compete with the Germans and beat them! They had, and were proud of tho fact, a fine educational system in the Dominion, but fine as it was it was capable of improvement. One of the first things they mould havo to see to would be to see that there was more co-ordina. tion in education than had been the caso in tho past. It would have to begin in the primary schools, and have as an objoctivo continuation in the technical and secondarj' colleges, conducted in such a way that students could go right through to the University. T'hey might say that sifch a system obtained at present. It did, but in an imperfect way. When a boy showed special development in this or that branch, his studies should be directed so that the most could be made of the life of that boy, not altogether for tho sa.ke of the boy. but for the sako of tho community. (Applause.) If that were done they wou)d find that the British Empire would still stand out ahead of the world and leave Germany a long way behind in open competition. (Prolonged applause.) Holiday for the Children. I The applause was to prolonged and | thunderous in its clamour after tho conclusion of Mr. Aitken's remarks, that the chairman thought 110 was justified in asking him for a holiday for the children on Monday (no school holiday was observed for the Kins'e Birthday). Tha

STIRRING SPEECHES AT THE TOWN HALL

Echool children signified their approval of the request in such a manner that left Mr. Aitken 110 ground to .stand on. He granted the holiday, saying that the school children had to prove their quality not only at work, but on the playgrounds as well. Hon. Dr. M'Nab, The Hon. Dr. R: M'Nab wondered if tho boys and girls realised whether they were making history, and whether, as political changes occurred, they—the boys and girls—would take the places ■ they vacate. He reminded his juvenile hearers that men by millions were shedding their blood on the battlefield to establish the conditions under which they were to livo the rest of their lives. It did not matter to the older ones, hut they—tho children—would have to live all their lives under the conditions the thunder of the guns in France and Russia were settling. Ho heartily agreed with what Mr. Aitken had said about education, and believed that education alone would prevent that lack of preparedness, tho realisation of which had come like a bolt from tho blue on an affrighted world. Never let us be caught i-i that state of unpreparedness as they wore in 1914. They would never shut out German trade by anything they did in the big building where they, . unfortunately, spent most of their time. To get the upperhand thoy must commence lin the schools of the country find organ* ise them into a perfect whoie. He could not give them a holiday, but if, on Monday, they got into trouble, he, as Minof Justice, would get Commissioner Cullen and the Magistrate to let them off. (Laughter and applause.) Symbolical Pageant. . The most picturesque feature of the afternoons demonstration .was the very splendidly-arranged pageant, depicting Britannia and her daughters, arranged with much artistic discretion and good taste by Mrs. Jas. Hannah. Britannia, armed with the traditional trident and shield attended by sweet midgets appropriately attired to represent England. Scotland, and Ireland, took the centre of the green-baized stage,' and to her came the peoples of Canada, .Australia. New Zealand. India, Ceylon, the Pacific Islands, South Africa. and Egypt, to lay fit lier fflefc their wealth (and lives), symbolised by jewels, strings of pearls, furs, wool, flax, etc. 'There also came to the dais Belgium, with crushed and bleeding teot, downcast with its load of grief; France, buoyant and optimistic; Russia, in the _nangs of waking.up; and brownlegged Italy. Each nation and Dominion was represented by n group of prettv and characteristically-attired children, whoso actions were delightful to witness. In addition to this spectacle, Miss A. Richardson sang Elgar's "Land of Hope and Glory and Fairv Pipers"; Mr. E. .T. " R "' o Britannia," and little Rita M Gee recited "The Day" and "Give for the Boys at the Front." "The proceedings opened and closed with the singing of the iVatjonal Anthem. - GREAT DEMONSTRATION OF PATRIOTISM THE EVENING MEETING RINGING CHALLENGE TO THE ENEMY In the evening the Town ' Hall was again crowded in every part. The Mayor ■ (Mr. J. P. Luke) again occupied the phair, and there were on the platform the Priiuo Minister and Mrs. Massey, the Hon. Dr. li. M'Nab (Minister of Justice), Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., Mr. C. B. Morison, K.C., and Mr. F. W. Manton (president of the All-for-Empiro League) and l[rs. Jlautou, and somo of the members of the league's executive. After the singing of the National Anthem, the Savage. Club's Orchestra played an overture,'after which the Mayoi rose to proposo the following resolution "That we, as citizens of Wellington and of tho Dominion of New Zealand, forming part of the British Empire, under whose protection our ' free institutions have been established and our liberties consolidated/ in public meeting asembled on the King's Birthday, and in connection with tho Empirei Day celebrations, desire to respectfiilly assure His Most Gracious Majesty King George of our continued loyalty and devotion to his Royal throne and person, and of our unswerving determination to support His Majesty.and the.Empire forces in the fearful and unprecedented struggle that has been forced upon Great Britain and her Allies by the Germanic Powers. Believing, tis wo ■ do, that a premature and halting peace would but terminate a few years hence in further and still more dis-

astrous warfare, and that the enormous sacrifice of life, limb, and treasure already made would thus be thrown away, we desire to further respectfully, but emphatically, express our united opinion that all peace overtures should be rejected until the supreme object of the war has been achieved, and tho Allied Forces, by decisive victories, have effectually removed the menace of German militarism from Europe, and thus lifted • the curso of Prussianism from tho human race. In this belief we pledge ' ourselves to spend, and be spent, in the service of our King, country, and Empire, and in the cause, of humanity and civilisation, tho root principles of which have been shaken and overthrown by the brutal and dishonourablo methods pursued throughout the war by our 'unscrupulous enemies, until such time as, in the good providence of God, the wajj is opened for an enduring and honourable peace such as will ensure the lasting destruction of those German ambitions that are imperilling the liberties of tho free peoples of Europe and the democracies of tho world." In speaking to the resolution, Mr. Luke said that it should not bo forgotten, that tho King had to endure the strain and stress of the times, and that iu such a period of pain and suffering wo should recognise that we had a sovereign wl;om we could all look up to and appreciate. In King George and Queen Mary they had royalty who had the well-being of the peoplo at heart and whose aim had over beon to extend the usefulness and happiness of tho British people. (Applause.) Crocodile Tears. In seconding the resolution, Mr. B. A. Wright said ho would like to refer to two or three outstanding points in tho resolution. One referred to the possibility of tho conclusion of a premature peace. Tho'Gormau Chancellor, with a lot of hedging and a flow of crocodile tears, wished the terms of peace to be discussed on the present war map of Europe. Thon, after they had hoodwinked tho nations to agreo to that, they would bring upon Great Britain another war. They had reversed tho old saying, "Now abidcth faith, hope, and love,' by making tho last word "hato" instead of "love," and boasted of it. What could they expect from such a people ?—only the worst. The nation must jealously guard against a premature peace, which would be disastrous. There must be more fight, more" ginger in the battle, until they had sottlerLthe question the German Chancellor liad raised.

No Kid-Glove Scntimcntalism. England, too, must rovise her ideas of

fair play. Hitherto she had tended and nurtured the German trader—now, there was only one thing to do—drum them out! England had depended too much on Germany, for too long had sat at tho feet of Germania. Whatever Germany did was right, and wo copied them. While he was bound to admit tile achievements of her scientists and tho organisation of their result for trade and war purposes he maintained wo had as good as they. In a trade war cheap goods could be bought at a dear price, and going for tho cheap in everything we had had "made in Gormany"—German pencils, German drugs and dyes, German machinery. 11, after the war was ov?jj they ' determined to block goods made in Germany, and our people 'traded ou right lines, they could be independent of Germany. Only they must not bo looking for goods that were cheap. Look at the millions and millions tho war was costing. What was the good of the cheap goods of tho past, when it was with our money that Germany bad built up the great fighting machine, that was now destroying the lives of our own people, and giving our statesmon such anxiety. "Whenever you see the words 'Made in Germany,' remember what Germany made in 1914!" PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS. THE BIG NAVAL FIGHT. The Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Masseyl was glad to support the resolution, so opportuno in its sentiment, brought forward by the All-for-Empire League on the occasion of the birthday of the King in this—the Empire City. The Military Service Bill only meant that New Zealand intended to take a full share of the responsibility of tho Empiro in the great crisis through which it was passing. If the Bill 'had not passed' into law before the end of the week it would have passed through Parliament. In regard to the big naval fight, there was hardly one who was not'shocked and disappointed at the news, but 110 wa's neither discouraged nor downhearted. But the fact remained that several of the best ships ever turned out by British hands would steam and, fight no more, and somo of the men who manned them had lost the breath of life, had gone to that Bourne from whence 110 traveller returned, and were sleeping on the bottom of Duo chill North' Sea. But, be it over remembered, they had died fighting for tuelr King and Empire—fighting for us! (Applause.) Kipling had said: "Never tlic lotus closes, never the wild fowls wake But a boul goea out on the cast wind who died for England's sakeMan or woman or suckling, mother or bride or maid—' Because on the bones of the English tho English 'Plag is stayed." . "Those men liavo done their duty to us," said Mr. Massey, "and we've got to do our duty to them. We must carry on the war so that the lives laid down have not- been laid down in vain—until the German cries 'Enou<rh!' Till Prussianism is crushed for all time and a peace secured for many years to come." Sacrifices had been made,, but increasing sacrifices would be demanded. Wo are willing to pay the price. "What is money, what is, property, what would life bo worth if Germany wero victorious? I say this, speaking reverently, that with the hope of a living God, tho war must go 011! (Applause.) We regard the loss of tho ships and the loss of the men with great regret, but I want to tell you, and 111 these matters we Ministers are_ a little 'behind the scenes/ that despite our losses wo are stronger in men and ships than we were at the outbreak of tho war, and it will be proved when we have a fair go at tho ships belonging to tho enemy!" (Applause.) Post-War Trade. In referring to post-war trade, tho Prime Minister looked forward to free trade within the Empire, for they could within the bounds of Empire produce everything for Iho sustenance and coihfort of man. He mentioned that a document had been produced beforo one of the many Royal Commissions now sitting, showing that goods manufactured in Germany, sent to England, and from there shipoed to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa,' had been shipped at lower rates of freight than t.hcy could get from England to New Zealand or Australia— to tho great advantage of Germany and the disadvantage of British manufacturers. New Zealand was not what might be called a manufacturing country, and was not likely to he for many years to come, but there was no reason why we should not give every support to our own manufactures. They ought to remember that Engla ml was their ■ best customer, took all t.heir produce, and never imposed a farthing by way of Customs duty. (Applause.) Owing to the demand for our products, the trade per head and value of exports per head in New Zealand was greater than any country in the world, and it was not a personal or national loss to help the Empire in the great struggle in which she was now engaged. There must bo no hanging back on the part of the Empire's overseas Dominions, and he felt certain that. New Zealand would uphold the reputation it possessed as one of the most reliable pillars of the Empire from an Imperial point of view. No Thought of Peace. There could be no thought "of peace, continued Mr. until they—the Allies—were able to dictate' terms of peace. (Applause.) They were,i according, to the German Chancellor, prepared for'peaco on the basis of the present war map of Europe. Were they prepared for peace 011 the war map of the Pacific? In his opinion the war map of tho Pacific would stand, and the islands we had gained would never again pass back into German hands. (Applause.) This conflict might resolve itself into a war of attrition, malting it a question of which country would last the longest. .If that wero to be, they must shut their (teeth and go on with the game with grim, steadfast determination until,the end comes. (Applause.*

In apologising for his absence from tho meeting, Sir Joseph Ward sent the following telegram:—"l regret exceedingly that owing to a heavy cold which has confined me to my room for ft week, I am unable to take part in the ceremonies connected with the launching of the All-for-Empire League iu Wellington. I need hardly say that the movement set afoot to instil into the minds of the people a love of Empire has' my whole-hearted fcympathy and support. The present great war has shown the strength of the bonds which hold the overseas Dominions and the Motherland together. Our outlook lias been broadened and our sympathies enlarged. A new light has been thrown on Imperial problems, and the Empire haa reached the eve or' great changes which will bo world-wide in their application. Buch organisations as the All-for-Empiro League are destined to play a large part in educating the public in the true Imperial spirit and in fostering British trade within, the British Empire." Germany's Way. The Hon. Dr. M'Nab said they only had to glance into history to bo astonished at the sleepy condition England had got into regarding Germany. When in England in 1807, the leaders' of tho Empire were the guests of the Queen at tho Hotel Cecil on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee. On that occasion tho waiters at the tables wero all either German or French, and many of them could not understand English, in which case the head waiter had to be called. They wero spies—gaining an intimate knowledge of the English people aud the English language. The crucifixion of Belgium had told them what they were doing. Germany had sent her emissaries everywhere to gain an accurate knowledge of all questions 011 tho spot, and . when tho hour came and the bugle sounded, that knowledge was used. They must never allow that to happon again 111 tho Empire. (Applause.) Dr. M'Nab recalled how Germany, after peace was declared with Franco after the war of 1870-71, set herself out to build up for tho next great war, and so it would bo if a premature peaco wero patolied up. Germany would at oneo begin such a preparation that would put in tho background all other preparations. They could .not escapo the cost of the war, and. 110 was not only voicing his view, but that of every member of the Ministry, when be said that no hard-and-fast rule had been laid down with respect to increasing tho provision to bo made for the wounded and their dependants. But wlicn they came to consider tho interest on war loans, they would realise the burden that would bo thrown on tide shoulders of tho people. It was now on £2,000,000, and might be

later oil .£2,500,000. They not only had to pay that, but tho wastage which, was so great. One writer had said that great as it was, the daily wealth created was oxcelled by the daily wastage caused by tho war. Then they must be prepared for war. Their manhood would not only bo trained us soldiers for a few weeks or mouths, but it mjght be necessary to send them ail to a conscripts' camp, and train every single man to become a perfect soldier. He regretted tho latest news of the war, but it was the lessons of tho past that. had made them put every ounce into ' the struggle. They must not bo cast down, but rather should be nerved anew to tho fight. (Applause,) The resolution was carried by the whole audience rising and giving three hearty cheers. The German Trade Octopus—A Motion. Mr. C. B. llorison, Iv.C., then moved, and Mr. F. Vfr Mantoii seconded:— "(1) That this meeting heartily sympathises with aud endorses the ulatt'orm and policy of the All-for-Empire League, and all present pledge themselves to do all iu their power to further the objects outlined in. the programme as submitted by the league, <ki)d urge the citizens of Wellington and the Dominion generally to make such representations to the Imperial and National Governments as will ensure the early introduction of legislation, eliminating to the -fullest possible extent alien enemy influences and trade at the close of the present war." "(2) That in the opinion of this meeting it is urgently, necessary that legislation should be introduced making it impossible for aliens to acquire the rights of citizenship, or to hold property of any kind in New Zealand, or m any other part of the British Empire, where such aliens are permitted by the laws of their country of origin to retain their rights of citizenship 'in such country, while taking the oath of allegiance to and becoming naturalised citizens of another St^te." "(3) Inasmuch' as commerce is regarded by Germany as war, and the German State adopts methods intended to kill tho tr/ide of other nations, this meeting urges upon .the National Government the duty of introducing such legislation as will effectually bar all necessary trade . with this country, by "(a) Imposing severe duties against ■ all goods of enemy origin; and "(b) Empowering tho several harbour boards of the Dominion to : substantially increase the shipping dues on all German and present enemy vessels visiting New Zealand ports." The resolutions were carried with cheers. The pretty Empire pageant was repeated with great. success. Mr. E. J. Hill sang "Rule Britannia" in a, spirited manner; Mr. N. Watson played a couple of violin solos charmingly (he will be a recognised ncquisition to the concert platform in Wellington), and Miss M'Geo recited.