PUBLIC PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1433, 5 August 1915, Page 2

PUBLIC PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION.

BARGE OPEN-AIR GATHERING. Upwards of five hundred people assembled in front of the Muncipal Chambers yesterday afternoon, at the invitation of His Worship the Mayor (Mr Alt'. Fraser) to pass a resolution in common with other towns throughout the Dominion, expressive of loyalty and inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the present war. The school cadets and school children marched in procession to the rendezvous, where the townspeople had assembled. A choir under Mr Betty, led the singing and Miss Jenks presided at the organ. At J.. 10 the Mayor, addressing the assemblage, expressed pleasure at seeing so many present. He said the gathering had been called at the request of the Premier for the purpose of uniting with other parts of the Dominion and British Empire on this, the anniversary of the day on which Great Britain had declared war on Germany, to demonstrate our loyalty and determination to see the war through to a victorious end. He referred to the causes which led up to the war and Germain's ruthless and diabolical methods. Germany’s tieatment of Belgium was what we might expect if Britain and her allies were defeated. He graphically described German methods of waging war. We must make every sacrifice to continue the war until Prussian militarism was for ever crushed and to bring about a lasting peace. Much was yet to lie done before that could he accomplished. He referred to what had been done by the Dominion to assist the Mother' land in the hour of trial and to the splendid efforts that had been made locally and throughout New Zealand to succour the wounded and assist dependents of the men who had fallen. He referred to the recent conference held in Wellington and the steps taken to provide for the wounded. After further remarks he moved the following resolution; “That on this anniversary of the declaration of a righteous war this meeting of the citizens of Eoxton records its inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle iu the maintenance of those ideals of liberty and justice which are the common and sacred cause of the Allies.” The Mayor called upon Mr Hornblow to second the resolution. Mr Hornblow dealt with various phases of the great struggle aud referred to the inflexible determination of the people throughout the Empire to see the matter through aud to make even greater sacrifices to this end. The] resolution was enthusiastically and unanimously carried amidst cheers The National Anthem was then sung, after which Mr Aitkeu sang “Rule Brittania,” and those present joined in the chorus. Cheers for the King, Empire and Allies concluded a very enthusiastic and patriotic gathering.