Declaration of the War.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 27 July 1917, Page 3

Declaration of the War.

Third Anniversary. The following is a copy of circular sent to the chairman of all local bodies, calling on all the centres of population within the Dominion to express their opinion by carrying a resolution to continue the war -to a victorious conclusion, viz:— Prima Minister's Office, Wellington, 20th July, 1917. Sir, —On behalf of the Government of this Dominion, I have the honour to request that on Saturday, 4th August next, thp third anniversary of the Declaration of War with Germany, .you will call a meeting of the citizens of your county arid submit to that meeting the attached resolution of determination to continue the war to a victorious end. The same resolution will be submitted to public meetings throughout the rest.of the Empire. When, last year, the people of this Dominion gathered to celebrate the second anniversary, our feelings were divided between our belief that the war was then approaching its crisis, our sober realisation of what that meant, our hopes that the struggle would terminate long before the end of this third year, and our profound satisfaction that our sons had proved their right to and had been given the opportunity of taking their place with the Allies on the Western Front.

Tnis year we shall meet ( v our hepes of pe'ace not yet realised) with the knowledge that sacrifices have yet to be faced, and our hearts filled with honourable pride at the thought of how nobly our sons, by their endurance and valour, on che Somme, at Messines, and in Palestine, have sustained the glory of Anzac.

With the memory of what they have done and our deepened knowledge of what we are fighting for and what German victory would mean, the carrying of the resolution is this year more than ecer our sacred duty. Largely by the manner in which we celebrate this third anniversary will be judged our determination to maintain those ideals of liberty and justice which, as the resolution truly states, are the common and sacred cause of the Allies.

I shall be glad if on the 6th August, you will telegraph to me the fact of the meeting having been held and of the resolution having been carried. I have the honour to be Sir, Your obedient servant, W. F. Massey, J?rime Minister. Chairman, Maniototo County Council, Naseby. g Resolution.

"That, on this the third anniversary of the declaration of a righteous war, this meeting of the citizens of Maniototo County racorda its inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle in maintenance of those ideals of Liberty and Justice which are the common and Bacred cause of the Allies."