THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1281, 6 August 1914, Page 4

THE WAR.

NEW ZEALAND’S ATTITUDE.

EXPLANATION BY PREMIER. WELLINGTON, Aug. 4. A statement in regard to tho European crisis and the precautionary measures that, have been adopted in New Zealand was made iu the House by the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon. Mr Massey stated that the precautionary measures that hud been adopted had been taken either on the recommendation of the Imperial Government or in accordance with Imperial regulations. With some of these precautionary measures members were already acquainted. First of all, the naval reservists in tho Dominion wore being called out and ordered to rejoin the ships of the British Navy. Some of those men had been trained in the vessels of the Australasian Squadron, “whilst some had served in other British ntlytij ships. Sonic of them vyero nrny serving jn nieyohant vessels trading in Ncty Zealand waters. Those men were being called out in accordance with instructions from tho Imperial Government.

A system of censorship, Mr Massey stated, hud been established in Now Zealand, particularly in regard to cablegrams passing into and out of the Dominion. This step had been taken under the directions of lha Irppejrpil authorities. An examination'"system in regard fp slapping lpif| also been established. It ! had been fount} necessary fp ejfafpiho aj} vessels trading into the four principal poppg, It would not bo necessary, perhaps, for the officers and men of the examining vessel to board vessels arriving. If they were satisfied that a vessel was not hostile and that her entry into the port would not be detrimental to the interests of the country, it would be allowed to pass, |n fill probability in the case of most ships/ a 'delay of only a few minutes would b& involved.

Within the last few clays the Philomel, which had been handed over by' the Imperial Government to |ffip Now Zealand Govti’CiaehV had' been handed bapk to' the Imperial Government in accordance with the Act passed last year. She was now an ordinary Jippprial warship under tho control of the senior naval officer in New Zealand waters.

Another precaution that had been taken, the Prime Minister added, had not yet been made public. The Garrison Artillery had been called out and the forts would be kept fully manned day and night. Ho did not know whether it woulcj ho necessary to take any further stops—perhaps not at present. It was hot thought necessary at present to' prevent vessels entering the harbours at night. It, however, had been thought necessary to take tho precautions that had been taken in case of any possible trouble coming fron\ outside. ' Mr Massey wont on to state that' during tho ” past few t|ayh some important cablegrams had passed between the Imperial Government and the Now Zealand Government through tho Governor. ijosl of

these communications were of a confidential character, but there were two that ho was at liberty to read. Tho first message received from the Secretary of State for tho Colonies (Mr Lewis Horcourt) stated that tho cablegram sent on Friday last conveying a report of the proceedings in the House had been laid before the King, who had received it with much pleasure and had commanded that a reply should be sent expressing his Majesty’s kq£ti appreciation of this further manifestation of the staunch loyalty of the Dominion, and tho message expressed the deep gratitude of the Imperial Government at the announcement of the readiness of tho New Zealand Government to ask Parliament to agree to volunteers being called for an expeditionary force from New Zealand, which, however, would not be required at present. Mr Massey said that he was reading these measures at the request of his Excellency the Governor, who was working most wholeheartedly with his Ministers, and doing everything that ho possibly could in the present emergency. (Hear, hear.) No step had yet arisen, said tho Prime Minister, to make it necessary to call for volunteers for an expeditionary force a* present. “I desire,” he said, “to empha siso tho words ‘at present,’ because it ii quite possible that Imperial conditions maj change this position in tho very near future. I cannot go further than that at present.” Some preliminary arrangements, he added, had been made for calling for volunteers should they lie required, but no actual stops had been taken m regard to asking for names until a further cablegram had been received and until Parliament would be advised and had signified its apMassey expressed appreciation of the fact that not only in" New Zealand, but in every part of the Empire matters of Imperial consideration such as they were at present discussing were universally regarded as over and above party. “Wo may have our party differences,” he said, ‘and wc mav indulge in party warfare, bjit when a* groat crisis conies along such as wo are experiencing at present it is not a question of what is best for a party, but what is best for the Empire as a whole. ( In conclusion, Mr Massey said:- Although the position is a serious one, there is no justification for anything in the way of a panic or an exhibition of jingoism. I honestly believe that tho people of New Zealand and tho Parliament and Government of the Dominion know their dutj, and that although it may mean sacrifices they will do that duly under any circumstances that may arise. lam confidont that all—people, Parliament and Go\ em-inent-will do their duty calmly ind j* ly, but firmly and determinedly. (lleai, hear.) STATEMENT BY SIR J. WARD. ALL PARTIES UNITED.

Sir Joseph Ward said; Speaking with the. full sense of (he responsibility that attache* to the holder of the office of Leadoi of the Opposition, 1 wish to sny that 1 hilly recognise that tho position as it stands at present i« one of tho gravest that has ocemred in connection with the history of the world. Although Great Britain has not been in any way a party to the rupture that lias unhappily occurred between the great continental Powers, the tact remains that her position is so great that it seems to me to be next to impossible for her te remain a silent onlooker. Whether that will turn out to be so or not, we cannot but, feel a sense of great satisfaction in the knowledge that England possesses statesmen full of wisdom amf experience, who will bo backed bj a race whoso courage, whenever called upon to face clanger and difficulties, has nei er fd \Vc' have had the experience already of the marvellous unity that arises at a juncture when the position of the Empire is in any way threatened. Nothing could be finer in the expression of this trait in the British character than the rapidity with which the gaping wound that a week ago presented such an. ugly- appearance, and which seemed incapable of being healed, has closed up. Ibo dissensions were so wide that it seemed impossible to avoid a, rupture, between member* of our own race within the British Isles. Yet the moment there was a s i<m of danger on tho horizon from beyond the shores of the Motherland tho internal troubles almost instantaneously ceased; and. more than that, the contending factions-:, who had been strengthening themselves to attack each other simultaneously extended the hand of brotherhood to the, British Government and to each other, both offering to take up arms in unison for the protection of Empire interests common to all. I would like to say I feel as equally proud of tho Ulstermen and Nationalists who so splendidly sunk their strong differences. They have shown a, line example of loyalty to the whole world. But this has always been tho experience of Britain in the past, and such actions redound to tho honour of our fellow countrymen and to the glory of tho Empire. Indeed, it is such actions that make, for the prestige and the power of tho British race, and which have helped to make Great Britain and tho Empire what they arc. , “Then we look afield to the outlying portions of the Empire. Canada has acted magnificently; Australia equally so. And New Zealand has. through the Prime Minister, already indicated its willingness, as in the past, to make, every sacrifice to help to keep the bonds of Empire intact, and to preserve unsullied the great traditions of tho Motherland. There need be no question in the minds of anyone in tho present crisis, either here or abroad, as to our unity of action. The Opposition party, of which I am the Leader, will co-operate in every way with the Government of the dav in anv action it may be necessary to take to preserve the integrity of the Empire.” (Applause.) Finally, sir Joseph said the Opposition would aid the Government in the steps it had already taken.