Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 18, 1900. To-Night's Meeting.

Manawatu Herald, 18 January 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 18, 1900. To-Night's Meeting.

The public men of the Borough rather resemble the Home Government in being rather late in their war movements, but we think that even if they are to be compared in dilatoriness they will also, like ttie British Government, rise to jjhe occasion, directly a start is made. To-night the Mayor and Borough Councillors meet the public to urge upon the inhabitants to take their part in providing funds for the relief of the relatives of the men who have gone to South Africa to fight for the Empire and Freedom* Every colony, every village, and every person, over i the wide world over which the flag of the Empire waves have stirred themselves to show the world that when I aroused not a a single subject of our Queen and Empress will be backward in supporting her cause, no matter what the cost may be. We had hoped an earlier move would have been made as Foxton has never hitherto been backward when the claims of charity have been made, and the issue of the great struggle in South Africa is so fraught with momentous issues, the fighting with the Boers being but an item amongst them, that this occasion is greater than has ever arisen, and our townspeople must correspondingly rise with it, That a free and generous response to the appeal for funds will be made we take to be assured, as not only are we, as one of the units of the Empire very much concerned as to the success of our forces in South Africa, but we have given to the Old Country the greatest pledge of our sincerity in sending a number of the flower of our manhood to stand shoulder fo shoulder with the Soldiers of the Queen. A number of the colonists will be able thus to realise the position the wives and families of the British troops are placed in by having their breadwinners suddenly withdrawn from them, to perhaps meet with death, loss of limbs, or to be disabled by disease. Britons take credit for their love of fair play and this war has given them an opportunity of proving that such a feeling exists, and.that if the Tommy Atkins of the British Army risk their lives in the defence of the Empire, it is but fair that those dependent upon them should be relieved from care and want as far as it is possible to do. For this reason large sums are being raised and to-night we are called upon by the Mayor to do our best for the same cause. The meeting does Jnot require powerful speakers, the facts are known, the need exists and the best speech that can be made will be the announcements of the sums each person is prepared to subscribe. The meeting should be packed and the donations liberal.