COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3061, 24 April 1917, Page 8

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

f ' A MORNING, j CELEBRATION \ , SPEECHES ;BY MINISTERS ' A gathering in celebration of Anzac v ■ Day was held in ilie'Commercial. Trays'; filers' Club yesterday morning. Mr. E. : • .W. Manton presided over a. large at- ■ tendance of members and.guests, who : included the Hon. A'. L. Herdman, Hon. ■■; A\ L. Myers, '.Hon. G:. W. Russell, and Sir James Carroll.. . The< chairman, in opening tho proceedings, "spoke feelingly 'of'' the deeds ,;.■' of the heroes of Gallipoli. The fame of "the men of Anzac, he said, would never ..'■'be excelled, and he hoped that tho celebration of the anniversary of the land- ".'■ ing would bo an added inspiration to 1 every man and woman in the community to think deeply of their responsibilities, and aid in some practical way in the achievement of victory. Every per- , sop could help, if only in a, small way, "■and no citizen of New Zealand should :; stand aside. •■ —--••'-' J' The Hon. A. L. Herdman said that it ■ " : was a privilege to be able to claim kin..v'lhip. with the Anzacs, whose deeds were equal to the finest in the annals of Bri.;..utluli arms. No tribute could be too ; ■'■ great to" the gallant- men who had ./fought on Gallipoli; New Zealand,sol--

diers had done their work there shoulder to shoulder with the men from other portions of the Empire, and when the history of the war came to be written their achievements in the face of stupendous difficulties would rank high among tho momentous events of the world-war. The Minister added that ho saw nothing on the horizon to justify him in predicting an early end to tho war. Victory might be within the grasp of the British people, but the present was no time for any relaxing of effort. A long pull and a strong pull by a united people was required in order that Prussian militarism might be finally overthrown.

The Hon, G. W. Russell paid a warm tribute to the Anzacs. It was the plain duty of the Dominion, he said, to 6ee that the work begun so well was carried to a victorious conclusion. The fame won at Anzac must not be dimmed by any faltering now. Mr. Russell said that he would introduce legislation with the object of ensuring that in future years Anzac Day should bo celebrated on tho right day, April 25, without any conflict with local elections.

Tho Hon. A. M. Myers referred to the ready way in which the people of New Zealand had responded not only to appeals to their generosity, but»also to the demand for increased taxes. - Ho .mentioned that the war had cost New Zealand about £24,000,000 up to the present time, without counting the liability that had. been incurred for , war pensions. The Government felt the •'magnitude of its task, but it was sensible, of its responsibilities to the men who would return and to the dependents of those who Bad fallen. ■ -' ■ '

Sir James Carroll also spoke. He emphasised the point that man-power was the dominant factor in the war. The Allies had the munitions now. But he had found on his visits to the front that men, and yet more men, .were required in order that the war might be pushed on to a victorious conclusion. Reinforcements and reliefs were needed for the men already in the trenches,' and he'trusted that New Zealand would continue to do her part without hesitation or 'stint. ■

Mr. J. D. Harper, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, thanked the club for its assistance in the celebration of a day that was very near to the hearts of the men who had fought on Gallipoli., The returned men, he said, were glad to have the Minister's assurance that in. future years the anniversary would be celebrated officially on its due date. - The singing of the National Anthem brought tlie proceedings to a close. WESTPORT CELEBRATIONS.By Telegraph.—Press Association. ■_.-.- Westport, April 23. Anzac Day was celebrated with a great procession, and -a very largelyattended memorial service, at which a Stirring: address was delivered by Rev. Mr. Pattchett, of Greymouth. The speaker's anti-strike remarks were demonstratively- applauded. TO-MORROW'S CELEBRATIONS. Yesterday happened to be St. : George's Day and a holiday for tho Public Service and the" banks, and it was, also a semi-celebration of Anzac Day. It was marked in Wellington by a display of bunting in the city, and on the' vessels in port, by ;a gatheriiig "in the Commercial Travellers' Club, and -a meeting in the Grand Opera House last evening, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to the Returned Soldiers' Club, ;but in no, sense could the day's happening's be regarded;as a proper,recognition of the anniversary of the day of the entry of Australasian troops into tiie'.greatest''war.'of all times.

To-morrow's celebration (on the anniversary of the date of the historic landing: of our men on the hostile coast of Gallipoli) -will be more in keeping with the event. Almost in every case the school committees have arranged for suitable addresses to be delivered to the children in the, forenoon, so,that a. traditional interest in the event will be implanted in the hiinds of the school children when at- the most impression.ableage. So that the lesson will sinkin, the schools will be' closed during the afternoon; for holiday. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon a memorial service will be held in the Town Hall. Tdiis will be conducted by the: Revs. Dr. Gibbs, A. M. Johnson, M.A., W; A. Evans, M.A., and E. Drake, and, with theexception of an address, will be of a religious memorial for the brave dead) who fell so thickly in attempting to achieve a luperhuman task, yet one which must have had its effect in the other theatres of' war in which the Allied forces Were engaged. The Mayor of AVellihgton has asked citizens to obscure a holiday to-morrow afternoon as a tribute to tho Anzacs, of glorious memory. ' ■'. ■ .-'