NEW ZEALAND'S THANKS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 37, 7 November 1919, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND'S THANKS

* THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS PARLIAMENT ACKNOWLEDGES WAR SERVICES The I'riino Minister in the House, of Representatives oil Wednesday moved us follows:— ■ That this House, in tlio name and on behalf of the people of New Zealand, _ gratefully acknowledges, and accords its thanks for, (ho devoted services of all ranks of the N.Z.E.F., all ranks and ratings of tlio'Now Zealand Naval Forces, and members of tho New Zealand Army Nursing Service, whose conspicuous and noble achievements in the face of constant dangers and difficulties on laiul ami soil through four years of war liavo created such imperishable traditions for this young Dominion, and have contributed so much towards winning lor New Zealand an honoured place in tlio (fraternity of nations. Mr. Miassey said that the motion spoke for itself. The magnificent work that, had been done by. the members-of the' New Zealand Expeditionary Force was known to every citizen of the British Empire and to a grcat many peopio outside tlio' Empire. They did • their full duty on every occasion, and they did'agrcat deal more than had been expected of them when tho Dominion entered tho war. It was not necessary for him to speak to the motion at aiiy length, and he would.merely add that in acknowledging the services of the men who had fought hp had n vary full sense of tlio Dominion's de'bt to the memory of tlio men who woulld never come back.' — Sir Joseph Ward seconded the motion. He said that no /words could, convey ail adequate recognition of what was duo to the men who had fought for tho Em- | pire. Tho valour rind self-sacrifice that had been displayed ..by .those , men woro recognised by every shade, of opinion in the country. He would sincerely mid heartily support tho motion. . Mr. H. B, JTaland (Grey) said, he wished to associate the Labour* Party with the rftolution that was be'ng moved. ■ . .. The motion .was ttiiTied unanimously. ■ In Memory of th? Fallen. ' Mr. Massey moved also tho following resolution: . ' ■That this House, in a spirit of reverence and pride, honours tho memoiy of those New Zenlanders who gave their lives in obedience to the rail of justice and freedom in tlw UTvice of. their country and, m- ! manitv. To their relatives in liou- | our of their sorrow, this Housß tcnI -dors its respectful sympathy. . | "Wo must not forget on this occasion, : said Mr. Massejv "those 17,000 men who ! went from.New Zealand in the oride.of their young manhood, who will i ever i come tack, whoso bones lie scattered far land wide, by land and stream and sea, | in every theatre of' war in which British troops linvrf been engaged in this var. The bones of these men are there, the cons of New Zealand toothers; The reeds , they have dono, even their names, will I never ho forgotten by New Zealan.lers of i tt.o present generation, and, I honestly I believe, bv future 'generations of New ! Zealandere. for. hundreds .of years to ' come." , ■ ■ , I ,-Sir Joseph Ward seconded the resolu- ! tion. Ho said that no man could cal- ! oulate what the loss of 17,000 men who had fallen in defence of their country meant to their families. In every part of the world in which British armies 1 ad been engaged in this war the New /calanders had been engaged, and everywhere they had fought they had -von approbation from those ill command, tilbutes to their gallantry, devotion, to duty and heroism, which people of their owil country must be proud to hear. Ho tendered to the fathers and mothors, tho sisters and brothers, tho sons and daughters of tho men who had fallen his deep and sinenro sympathy with them i» the irreparable loss which they . had sustained. ~ . Mr. Holland said that he wished to support the resolution on behalf cf the Labour Party in 'the House. The'"'en had left New Zealand believing that they woro going to fight for human freedom. Thev had fought and met death with a laugh on their lips. H« T\-i6lied to associate the Labour Party with the resolution, and to say that, the supreme duty resting on the shoulders of everv man and every woman m New Zealand wno had responsibilities of citizenship was to so shape the destinies of this cotintlj that tho great principles of freedom for which these men and boys believed tnej wero. fighting „„ , Sir James Allen: Did fight. Mr. Holland:, — are given effect a>. to see that the fulness of human freedom Is developed within New Zealand. If wo db that it. will bo tho best memorial we can raise to the memory' of men whose names will remain on record for all time. The resolution was carried by members of the House upstanding. Honour the Sailors. The Prime Minister then moved: That this House, in the nam/; and on behalf of the people of New Zealand, places on record its profound sense of gratitude to all branches of the Imperial nnd Allied navies and to the officers and men of the Mercan- ' tilo Marine who, by their ceaseless vigil and undaunted spirit in the taco of unparalleled and unknown dangers, failed nof in keeping open the Umif lines cf sen coiiinuinicnUon "MtUout which would have been niiposflibla tho transportation not only ot our forevs, but also of those supplies which were so vitally necessary to preserve the Allied peoples irom want anu tueir cause from disaster. Mr. ilassey said tnat although New Zealand's naval forces had not bei large, New Zcalanders had taken pail m everv naval engagement of the war. Ihp had * been in overy eugagemeilt in ■ the North Sea. They had shared the danger and the glory of the ianious raids on Ostcud and Zcebrugge. llie peopio o i the Empire knew that the ivar ecu Id not have been won without the Na\>. but thev were disposed sometimes to forget, that the other branch of the Nan. tho Imperial merchant service, had als-o leuS service kind that could no be acknowledged ! too warmly. . ihe f. U had been brought home ; to bin du „ his'trips to the other sulo ot. the worn that the war could not have been «<u bv the British Empire and its A 1 M but for the endurance aml valour■ ot men. Tlio heroism displayed by members of tho merchant service had been equal to.that of the men of Sir Joseph Word seconded the motoi and also paid o tribute to the men b rs of the merchant service. Uio ,oflieu» and men of the merciuitile marine' w.d ! kept ihe seas ;during the war lot' dangers and losses, lhcy ' m <"' • faltered or feared, lie inentwned ,lw I heroism of the masted o I lie Chi M'Tavish and the Olaki as typical of the work of the merchant scrvice. _ ! ,7. 1 M'Combs' 1 (LyUcUoT' C. Vl • .I'^' i North).' and ] J . Eraser (Wellington Cm jtral). It was carried unanimous!). I For Kindnesses Bestowed. • A. resolution of thnnki lor extended to soldiers of land Kxpedilioiiary I'orcc .loioad .s submitted bv the t'rime Ministu m «»<; following terms:'— „ tni , That this House, in he name and on behalf o£ the people of the Dominion. places .on record i.so ]> of appreciation of t.ic m.n.> kindnesses, courlesio?. aru\ extended to members ot the No* Zealand Hspeditifliwry on a - rive serviie in varmu., parts oIN h world. To each and al. in «hM-J ; part of the. world, who ofirrcd the hand of fellowship to New Zm and soldiers and nurses, and who he M to cheer and comfort them, whether in hospital, in camp, on or c:) i f > , e . "1. of war. tho Dominion tenders its "ratrful thanks. The resolution was seconded by Mr .lo'cnh Ward, Leader of th" Opiw:-ihon, I the Hon. H. H. Phedes Cantaiu Seddon Afr. T'nvne, Mr Poole. Mr. Veite.l. and Mr. Witty. On- or' other of in nneakei's referral to the kindness of the twnnle of the Molherlniirl. the people nf I'Viin-e and the proplo of America. Moot generous tributes to the kindness shown In the New Tavl.'imlcrs wherever thev had gone were paid by every one of the speakers. The resolution was earned.