Page 3 Advertisements Column 3

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1563, 20 September 1905, Page 3

Colonel Davies, 0.8., officer commanding the Auckland district, when asked to speak at the meeting of the Trafalgar Centenary Committee, expressed himself as being in entire accord with the celebration in Auckland of tbo 100th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar, but he also took the opportunity of reminding those present that while it was no doubt true that but for Nelson’s great viotory there would have been no British Empire a 3 the world knew it ta-day j yet, having gob the Empire it should be held. It was all very well to perpetuate by demonstrations of the sort proposed the glory of such events as Trafalgar; but those who did so should at the same time not be content with the glamour of our past history, but should seep their attention direoted to the present and the future. It was idle to talk of Empire unless that Empire once secured was firmly held, There was a Navy League, and an exoellent institution it was; but what was wanted also was some sort of league to get employers o labor, and the citizens of Auokland generally, to do all they could to enable the men to give more time lo service in the volunteer forces. The men were willing enough; they did then part to the best of their | ability, and to the utmost limit of the time at their disposal; but they should be allowed to oome out for service during the ’ day time. It was not the slightest good having suoh a force unless it was made , thoroughly effective, and that could not be done unless the men were allowed to ' oome out in the day time. He strongly ‘ urged employers to co-operate in the * defence of the country by allowing men ' who served in the volunteers every > reasonable facility, and muoh more than 1 was allowed at present of becoming efficient,