WAR TALK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3138, 17 July 1917, Page 6

WAR TALK

NO SLACKENING IN OUR REINFORCEMENTS

MR. MASSEY AND SIR JOSEPH

WARD TALES OP THE NEW ZEALAND The Trime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward were the guests ol' the New Zealand Club at lunch in the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall yesterday. The president of the club (Mr. C. li. Wheeler) was in tho chair,- and the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) and Captain Hall-Thomson were among those present. ,Mr. Massey, who was given a hearty reception, referred in the course of his speech to tho concentiation of effort in the United Kingdom 011 the winning of tho war. lie said that during his recent visit ho had found aristocrats, labourers, and professional men dropping their personal and class differences and joining hands in tho common endeavour to bring the war to a satisfactory and speedy conclusion. There were "snipers" in Parliament and I'ress at Home as well as in New Zealand, but their shooting was not very deadly. Mr. Massey added that liu was convinced great changes were coming in tho United Kingdom. Some people might call the changes revolutionary, though he would not suggest they would involve anything in the naturo of revolution. The mass of the people, including- the women, would be given the share in tho government of the country and the business of the Empire to which they had shown themselves entitled. The cliangos that would take place would be beneficial changes. The people of Britain were perfectly satisfied with their system of government, but necessary improvements in the system would be made. The expansion that had taken place in the industrial and commercial facilities of the United Kingdom was one of the important developments of the war. Britain would more than hold -her own in the competition of the future, and he did not believe that tho Central Powers would ever again be allowed to secure the position they had formerly held in industry. He expected that arrangements would bo mado fairly soon with this end in view, and that 111 the years to come British communities would trade first with their own kin and next with the Allies.

No Slackening. Mr. Massey reiterated the determination of the National Government to see the war through without slackening or faltering. Ho said that New Zealand in proportion to population had done. as well as any other pare of, the Empire, but there was no justification for pausing at the present stage, the < ost ot living had risen greatly in the Dominion, but tho increase really was very small compared with the increase m the United Kingdom. His j» vn observation had. convinced .Mm that the cost of.living in Britain to-daj was double the New Zealand cost. Iho people of the Dominion scarcely realised the advantages they .were enjoying, riiej had been inconvenienced by the reduclion of train services, for example, but ill Britain long stretches of lme had been torn up in order that the- rails and rolling stock might lie earned to France for. war purposes. When he and Sir Joseph Ward visited the front the whole of tho transport behind the firing lino was being done bj some 50,000 motor lorries, but now rails had been laid, and tho efficiency of the transport had been correspondingly increased. "ifieTe is no doubt that some of us hardly realise that this tremendous war is proceeding, mid that we are vitally concerned in it," said ilr. Massey. "If this war went against us—and tneio is not the least chance of that happening now—it would bo an even greater disaster for Now Zealand than for, Britain. There is no doubt at all that i£ the war liad gone against our Empire an attempt would have been made to 'turn New Zealand into a German colony. There would Have been no question of converting Britain into a German province of the German Empire. A suggestion had been put forward / that because the United States had come into the war New Zealand's efforts could be relaxed. He did not agree with that view. (Applause.) American soldiers would reach the front in due course, und they would have their own duty to perform. They would not be required to reinforce New Zealand's troops. (Applause.) Reinforcements Essential.

"It is our duty to see that our own trocps are reinforced," said Mr. Masse}, "and I believe that will be done. Wo cannot leave our lads in the lurch, and we are not going to do it. (Applause.) The heart of New Zealand is perfectly sound, and I believe that the great bulk of the people are just as determined to do their share of the work in connection with the war as they were in 1!) M, when the great struggle began. We have been told that New Zealand has done enough. New Zealand has reason to bo satisfied with what she lias done :up to the present time, but we may be called upon to do a great deal more. Imagine what it would mean to the' Empire, and to the enemy, to have one of the British Dominions withdraw at this stage! It is not to be thought of. We have got to carry on until the end." Mr: Massey added that New Zealand did not need any flambuoyant jingoisrii, but it must stand firm and make all the further sacrifices that might be needed to secure victory. He referred to the tasks that would confront British statesmen when the war was over, and expressed his confidence in (ho ability of the Governments to secure a 6ound and lasting peace. It would be the duty of New Zealand's public men to see that the soldiers sent from this country were not only properly reinforced and equipped at the front, but vers properly cared for oil their return. The dependants, too, must have adequate provision made for them at all jioints. The end of the war was rot yet 111 sight. The leaders of the Central Powers were able still to tell theiv people that victory would be theirs, and to speak with blatant impudence of consenting to make peace without indemnities. But British' people knew well that the Germans could not win. To yield victory to Germany would be to deny that there was a God in lleaven. The German monster could not win. Oiir enemies used to say that at tho first shock of war tho British Empire would go to pieces, but it had not gone to pieces yet. It was stronger and lr.rre united than ever it had been in its whole history. The proof of this was tiiat the Dominions in this hour of I lie nation's peril had sent to the aid of the Mother Country a million of fighting men. Ho had not the remotest doubt as to the issue of the war. but he was emphatic in his statement that there must be no shirking in any part of tho Empire. Canada had had her troubles. Tt was not for ns to find fault or slacken on that account. It was not our affair. Australia had done far belter than many people imagined, even without conscription. hut he believed that the time would come when it would be necessary for Australia to face conscription. No miraculous ending to this war could be expected. The British would have-to see the thing through, and he believed that the hereditary qualities of the race wo'lld. enable them to \the war through to victory—the faculty of the British for keeping courage and cheer and for 'hanging on all the t.im'e.' (Applause.) We. must t»n on until tho liow'er to do evil has been taken from Germain- and the nations with whom she is associated in this war. and the peace of the world assured for centuries to come." (Applause.)