SIR JAMES ALLEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 168, 5 April 1918, Page 6

SIR JAMES ALLEN

pn]SP.T?YT4TTOy P.V r.TTT?JST"CHURCH CITIZENS. By TeleEranh—Prsw Assncint.inn. Christchurch, April 4. At a repiesentativo meeting of citizens this afternoon an illuminated address in album form was presented to Sir James Allen in recognition of the valuable services rendered by him to the State and .Empire during the ten months he filled" the position of ActingPrime Minister. The Mayor (Mr. Holland), in making the presentation, said that during tho absence of Mr. Masspy and Sir Joseph Ward the responsibility to introducing the Military Sorvite Act had fallen .on Sir James- Allen. It was certain such an important and drastic measure should bring forth a certain amount of criticism, some- of it hostile, but- lie was pleased to say that the hostile criticism had been very little, a state of affairs due to the able manner in which Sir Jumes Allen had administered the Act. "To those of us who were fathers," continued Mr. Holland, "who had sons fighting for the Empire, your determination to see that they were properly reinforced and had a leasonable chance of rest, appealed very strongly. Tndsed, there were those who declared you were sending too many men away, but in view of recent happenings on the Western front I question whether anyone would say that now. You have been always most courteous and kind, and in the hour of darknees that some of us have had to suffer your sincere and .fatherly Bjmpathy has been a (jroat help." In acknowledging tho gift,, Sir James Allen said 'he would value it all his life as a memento of one of the most troublous times that the Empire or Now Zealand had had to face. Regarding tho. Military Service Act, lie was grateful that it had shown that the peoplfc of Ne\f Zealand weru sound at heart. They had made it a comparatively eauy thing fur him to bring it into operation. Ho did not think it could have been done but for the I loyalty of the people themselves. "W'c J have/' said Sir James, "eaiiied a good name, and 1 think we shall maintain it till the end of the war and afterwards. Our men have done nobly. The kindly note you struck, Mr. Mayor, has come nearer home than any oilier .remark. In expressing my sympathy with those who have lost sons and relatives I have only expressed what 1 felt, and if some think I was not sympathetic, I a;n sorry. I have had my own loss—you have had yours—most of us have had losses, and we bear them, .knowing thnt our sons have died noble' deaths in the cause of liberty and freedom, and though wo mom-n p.nd would have had it otherwise, ntill we have bright hopes thnt thep -sacrifices will not have been in vain."