THREE YEARS OF WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1917, Page 1

THREE YEARS OF WAR.

P (TRIOTI'C GATHERING AT TOWN HALL. ‘ , Tlu'ito was a large gathering at tRc _ town lTii'Jl at noon on Saturday in con- | auction' with the' fourth anniversary of Idie outbreak of the war. Proceedings opened with the singing of the NaLional Anthem by the assemblage. file Mayor (Mr. G. A. Perry) presided, and said lie proposed to submit' the following resolution: — •‘That, on this the third anni“versar.v of the declaration of a “righteous war, "this meeting ol “the citizens of Hokitika and the “inhabitants of the' County of “Westland records its inflexible tie “termination to continue to a vic“torious end, the struggle in “niaintenance of those ideals of Li“herty and Justice which are the “coiniuoii and sacred cause of the “Allies.” Speaking in support of the motion, Mr. Perry said for three years the nost momentous of wars had been vaged, and foi' how much longer it would continue, no one at present could say, The reason why they were isked to pass the resolution he had •ead was because it would help to strengthen the hands ol the Government and show the Mother Country dint it was their desire to see the war carried to a successful conclusion. If that were accomplished and success vested on our arm's it. would mean the uplifting of many oppressed nations, w'lio were now suffering so much from! the rutldessiiess of their oppressors. He heartily commended the resolution to the meeting for its. approval, (applause). Mr. H. Norman (County-. Chairman) said it gave him much'pleasure to be ureseiit and to second the motion. In this little part of the great Empire, :>uiy of our young men had’answered the call for help from the) MotherCountry and of these quite a number had laid down their lives. Their relatives can feel assured that they have the deep sympathy of the whole community in their loss. Now that the *First Division was being culled out, there was .the Second Division to he drawn on and he was proud to he a member of that Division, and was ready to follow in the steps of those that had gone before, and help to carry on tlio war to a successful conclusion. (Applause). Mr. 8. Wild (Chairman of the Hokitika Harbour Hoard) was glad to have-the opportunity- of"'supporting the resolution. Tl waS a very solemn dirty they had that day to convey to the Government tlieir expression of opinion urging the carrying on the war to a successful completion. Tt was not a matter to he done lightly, they all must recognise ,the many difficulties that had to he faced before success could ho attained. Even in the It audience that (lay I.here were hearts that had been torn as the result of the great conflict now raging. It was our duty to see*that the cancer in the nations that were opposing us was cut out."'-That cancer fin the ! G|erinan nation required a deeper operation to out it out that, had at first appeared necessary near the start of the war. They must see the job .through and do it thoroughly. Though they had had many setbacks he felt that Providence was with us and that .we would win through at the finish. "Wo must continue till we had smashed the German spirit, and must see the war through no matter how hitter the cost was (applause)'. Air. J. ,T. Breeze (Chairman of Westland Charitable Aid Hoard) was pleased to be present to give his support to the motion. There had been . three years of war and he did not see any sign of the end. He- thought they should do n's Mr. Norman had said, get ready to help to their utmost. There was nil urgent- need of nioi'e-meu. 'the best of the Empire had given of their best, anil it was up to those remaining even if not the best to do tlieir utffio'st to tile best of their ability. He felt however that the reason for niuch of the failures was that wb Had not’put our trust in God as «b should have done. He felt that there was only onb way lo carry us to victory. We must remember the teachings of Christ on the Mount. Wo must put our soul into the work of wiSining the war if we desired to have success attend our efforts. (Applause); - Mr. H. L. Michel’(Chairman .of the Hokitika High 'School Board) said another year had passed since we Intel celebrated the' end of the second year of the war. We had now met at the end of tlie third year, and if it was necessary before it, was more than ever necessary now to speak and do our best to assist to have the war carried on to a successful conclusion. There were cyen now little New Zealanders who thought that we had done more than our share and that now the Ameri cans had come in, that we should ease off in our efforts. But they bail the words of General Robertson of a few weeks ago when lie had impressed on tlie Empire, that he wanted men, and more men and Still more men if the war was to bo successfully carried on. During the last thrbe . years •Canada, Australia and New Zealand liad equipped and. sbqt away nearly a million mbri aild these , men had proved themselves the equrtls of the finest fighters in the world. New Zealnndefs were tlie first of the Dominions to get into the war with both feet, and he trustful that they Would be. the last to get "mil of it. He heartily supported the motion. (Applause.)

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Rev. J. E. Holloway said he was there to speak as a Christian Minister in support of the motion. The present war was a holy war, and it was about time that they took up that- attitude and expressed the feelings that they felt. It nils religious principles that they were fighting for. He was glad to hear, what Mr, Breeze had said he- < cause that was the tone they should adopt. There was going to he a hard time in the future and they would require all tlieir strength. We may he called on as Second Division men to go and he felt that one and nil should do < their very utmost. We. should let the i Government know that we were with them in every possible way, and ready to assist in carrying on to a successful conclusion (if the great struggle. We want to act- and make ourselves felt as Chiistia’n people. He asked them to remember it was a solemn thing they were passing and he asked them to pass it with the feeling that they were doings tlieir duty. (Applause). Rev. H. Ryan said perhaps the most striking feature of the gathering was the fact that such a fine tone had boost ruck by the speakers. Such a tone as that struck was necessary and made one feel strongly at home. It was very essential that they should do tlieir help the cause they all liad at liiffg They Were proud to welcome America and got her great help, bi.it at the present juncture the-defection of Russia was of more moment, and New Zealand should not stop, one iota of its quota of men for the front. He wanted to say; that he felt it was a J righteous war, hut lie. also endorsed I those remarks of Admiral Sir David Beatty who had'said in effect that Eng land would never win the victory until she went dowri. on her knees in repentance. They were not in the war for territory or for vengeance, but for [ hotter. They were fighting for;a better and for-a sweeter world. We have gloried in British prestige, •and bet" high ideals, and if we should continue to do pur best to help to win ’ the great struggle. (Applause). Rev, P. B. Fraser briefly supported ’ the 'motion' which was then put and carried amidst loud applause. ’ Rev. P. B. Fraser then moved :—• • . “This public meeting -of citizens ' “of Hokitika, having passe-, with

“acclamation, the resolution for“warded by the Prime Minister • “as 'submitted at all similar meetings' throughout the Empire, “takes note that the said reselli--“tiq'n contains .‘no acknowledge-* (“input "of the sovereignity of the • “AliViigi ity ‘God. of of those Christian principles owned by the vast “body of our people and recognised “with such gorgeous pomp at the' :“Coi‘drihtiqn of- His Majesty the “King, n-VChiof Magistrate of Ein“pire. This' meeting therefore in “view, of tlie tremendous sacrifices “our people have made, and may “yet have to make, and of the National issues involved, expresses “its mind’that tlie time has arriv“ed when by authority of Purlin- . “nieiit, there should he set apart a “Day of National Prayer on which “all people .beginning with Parliament itself should he summon-“moue-d, at their respective places “of worship, to the Throne t>f “Grace.”

' “That a copy of the foregoing he “sent to His Excellency the Gov-“ernor-Goneral, to" the Prime Minister arid Mem hers of the Cahin“et, and to all the people’s Repro“senta'tives 1 in both Houses of Pariianicnt...' with a rbspectfu’l rF“quest that they take the same iri“to their thoughtful eonsidera“tion”. “Further that copies of'these re‘solutions, he sent as far as possible, to representative • public ‘.‘bodies, throughout the Dominion “with a request that they pass “similar resolutions', "to' the fofe“going and forward them to the “proper authorities.” , j'. Rev. Fraser speaking at length to the motioil said lie felt the motion was not out of place, nay, was timely. The. Empire was made- up of insignificant' corners like Hokitika and if we strike tlie iiote.it may give an expression to feelings that the country will he prepared to endorse and follow, and become the. voice of tlie people of the Empire. He inontioned that in - this, waf it was considered that eight’million lives had been lost, eight million inot-e men were disabled foi* life,; while Australiisiii liad lost £>6,000 men killed. Concluding he said lie thought the motion was a reasonable and respectful oiie, arid that it would he well to give voice to our feelings on the subject. '(Applause). Rev. J. E.. Holloway seconded the motion expressing his pleasure at the mover having brought it forward, it having his hearty support, Mr. A. Aitken supported the motion which lie felt would have their hearty support, giving ail instance of the power of prayer. Rev. Ryan also supported stating he felt they would he doing something worthy if they could help to move the people of New Zealand. The motion was then put and carried by acclamation. . Tlie National Anthem was then again sang and Mr. Lawn played “The Marseillaise” as a tribute to our French Alii#*. A very successful meeting then co" eluded.

AT GRE^MOGTTT

GRiEYMOUTII, Aijjt (5. The jsaLriot.lt* deuihnstrfition held in (i revinonth oii Saturday afternortn to pass the resolution ill courier-lion with the third anniversary of Great Britain’s entry iritd the war, was a pro-'' nouneed success. When the Mayor (Mr' J. II Lynch) took his seat on the platform there" rtiust have been nearly two thorisafid pebple' assembled to hear the patrigtic resolution (put to tlie gathering.