PUBLIC MEETING.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 May 1918, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A MEETING was held in the Lyric Theatre on Thursday evening last to consider the advisability of continuing the monthly memorial services, which have been held since the outbreak of the war.

There was a good attendance and Mr J. F. Lambert (Chairman of the Town Board) occupied the chair. In his opening remarks he said that of late the attendance at these services had been greatly diminished, and the public were showing lack of enthusiasm. The committee had been put to a great deal of trouble in getting gentlemen to take the services, and when one was procured, there would perhaps be about twenty or thirty people turn up, whereas everyone should attend. The services were purely undenominational, and out of respect for the soldier boys at the.front, those who did attend should try and do their best to induce others to come-along, and so make these services more popular than they had been in the past.

MrW. R. Fosbroke then proposed — That the monthly memorial services be continued. —Seconded by Mr J. H. Constable and carried unanimously. Mr R. Nicholls also spoke, and said it was the duty of everyone to attend these memorial services. It was almost incredible to think that in a town like Helensville the public should be so lax in attending. They wanted to cultivate and develop a better spirit of brotherhood, and it would be a sad thing for the people of Helensville to stand by and let this matter go adrift. This present war was one that would have to be fought to the bitter end, and it was our duty to teach the enemy a lesson they would never forget. He could safely say that there was not a family in N.Z but had someone belonging to them fighting at the front. So for the sake of our brave boys, some of whom may never return, the speaker emphasised the fact that the monthly memorial services should be continued as usual.