SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 23, 3 January 1916, Page 6

SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

WHAT DOES*THE FUTURE HOLD? NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM SIR JOSPEH WARD. The Might' Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Minister for Finance, on request for a message from him to the people of New Zealand on the eve of -the New Year, said:— Y ’ f “At the close of the year Hie Empire still is engaged in the most terrible war of, history, pouring out blood and treasure in a cause which we all know to.,be the cause of ..right and justice, and which posterity will remember throughout the ages as the sacred trust of the British people and’ their Allies. Never before in this Tnnchhlessed country, girt around by the sea| op which the British flag fliss unchallenged, have we tasted as we, are tasfing now of dim bitterness and sorrow and suffering tliiit- follow in the train 1 of the ,Most awful of the scourges that continue .to afflict the nations. In many a home up and down the land, there*- JSV-a mourning . for fathers; sons and brothers, daughters and sisteys., our bravest and best, who have lives freely, cheerful ijyCprimdfy, ' that the laws of humanity -apef civilisation might be upheld ami the-pledges and integrity of. the Empire i&jiiitliiped.j Our first thought. ; to-day; 'oiiY'<>T|VLhd‘ '"i. will be for ’tho have made the ultnuate^^^y and Is fully as.Kftfe v who ‘ha’rif fMod in tlie battle-front and sealed with their! own blood the ideals and aspiration; of T 3 thJfe least can offer the comfort that their sacfii.ce has hot/been ■ made/M'v| in'. The i eady response of the British fw6plo m 'erseas to the call of the Motherland pnilMiiy has Tldrie' ifiortf than anyfiding else could to ponfound our enemies and to ‘sustain and encourage, our kith and Min through the weary months of waiting and striving. How much it will have contributed towards, the complete victory of the Allied arms that is coming and to the enduring peace that will follow none of us can yet tell; hut it will remain for all time as on# of in the annals of blw jp ll d OHe the Wrest' nation. : 'MI shw/ Em pi lie cl and sir determined than ever to carry the war to | fident| in its 'strength more rightc cause and more gratefjil fpr.fW jtMias joyed Seven. '*•£• suprciho tii - \BetMis f pll lYyr/jjn'.'h 1 msoluUoii'# :: sofvu-e t : «- ‘day,- prepare.-ourselves lor whM|v.cr the -fii|iure; hiay hold, w!mi.her of ;prpgrtsS m/th delay, and set our faces firmly unflinchingly, without 'boasting and withojio fear, to the pletion atm Urtift task destiny has set in our ■■•/ ■