Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY APRIL 20 1917 A HEARTENING MEETING.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY APRIL 20 1917 A HEARTENING MEETING.

Well done, Hokitika. The remarkable success of the meeting hurritdiy convened yesterday afternoon to meet the visiting Ministers of the Crown was in every way creditable to the town and district. At very short notioe there was a very large gathering at the Town Hall,well representative of the community. Tho meeting was a heartening oue ior the visitors, while their addresses served to rouse the audienoe to tho highest pitch of enthusiasm. It was quite a memorable scene when the audienoe rose as one aud carried with prolonged acclamation tho resolution moved in support of Government action, and thß fervour with which the National Anthem was snog, left no doubt as to the intensity of the patriotic feeiiug which prompted the outburst'. Tae opening address by Sir James Allan was oE an interesting character, and was followed with the closest attention. The Acting-Premier begun his remarks with marked reserve. Ha outlined his experiences for tho past few days and gave some details of the demands of the miners for tho repeat of the Military Satvico Act. Qaie.ly and in measured terms the Hon Minister traversed the political ui.nation, and reviewed the altitude of those disposed to strike. He spoke hopefully of the for an early settlement, which he devjaHy wished for. Pursuing his theme hs went a step further and ia the a;mt qa’et voice, but Bounding more ana more earnest as he proceeded he commented if the worse oame to r.tia worst, aud there was a strike, then he said with simple empbasie, “the Government will do its du*y.” This plain, unvarnished statement led to an outbar.-d of prolonged applause. The tension was past, and audience and speaker were in complete accord. The affinity seemed to warm up Sir James who went on to deal wish aspects of the war, speaking both eloquently r-nd interestingly to the close of his address. The Hon W. D. S. MacDonald, who followed his colleague, was more forceful in his speech, and doalt with the strike as it affected the wan. “Shall New Zealand be tho

first to hoist, the white flag by aurrenderiog to the enemy within the gates?” he drarmticvliy asked, and the response of the audience igitu left no doubt as to the feelings of the audience, The Hon M ; cisur proceeded to speak with etroe.n sincerity of the dr;ty of tbu Dominion to the nation. He spoke confidentslly of the progress of the war, and looked forward with assurance to a triumphant conclusion.' Subsequently the Ministers expressed their delight at the heartening effect of the meeting, but this experience was really mutual, because the large audience derived both pleasure nnd oomforfc from the spirited addresses, and the confidence and security they,, impl’ed, The future is in the lap Of the gods, but the Ministers were given to understand that oorne what might the people of this community were behind them, and were ready in imy practical way to show their loyalty to avoid the hoist* ing of the white flag, or to be a party to the triumph of the red flag of revolution. In the stirring times which are to come the townspeople are prepared to play any part assigned to them to uphold law and order.