FIGHT TO THE END.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1915, Page 6

FIGHT TO THE END.

DETERMINATION OP THE EMPIRE. MORE MEN WANTED. SPEECH BY THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION. A short but striking speech on some aspects of the war was made by the Minister for Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan), before the close of the railway concert at the Theatre Royal on Thursday night. After congratulating the committee on the excellent programme, Mr. Hanan said it was hardly necessary for him to make any remarks on the part played by Taranak-i in the war, for the large number of men sent away from the district exemplified the loyalty of the people of the province, it had been his pleasure that afternoon to visit some schools in New Plymouth, and he had been filled with pride to learn that a Taranaki boy who had passed through the High School had won the Military Cross. This boy had brought honor to himself and honor to the district.. Mr. Hanan said he appreeialed the desire of the railway workers of New Plymouth to help the men who come back wounded. These men had gone away in answer to the call to defend the Empire, they had been aroused by the horrible crimes committed by the Germans, and their blood boiled, in their desire to bring revenue on those who perpetrated the horro'rs on humanity and who had destroyed Belgium. All those crimes appealed to what was best in Britishers, and they had aroused the feelings of men and made them go forward to help to wage war against the enemy of humanity. These men could not remain in New Zealand and look on at what the Huns were doing. They said that this must stop and they went away to help to stop it. They saw how the women and children of Belgium were being sacrificed and they realised that unless the Empire was defended the women and children of New. Zealand would suffer in a similar if there was one place the Germans, would like for its great resources it was New Zealand. The call was sounded and thousands of the best of the manhood of New Zealand responded; thousands more have followed since war broke out, and there are many more waiting to come forward and join their companions'in the firing line. Great Britain would never lay down her arms until Kaiserism wa s crushed, until the security of the Empire was assured, until the independence of the small States was guaranteed, until the world was rid of that man—he could hardly call him a man—and he had been made to pay for what he had done. The Kaiser had been responsible for the terrible shedding 6f blood and foir the great misery of the war, and never would Great Britain agree to peace until this monster had paid the penalty for the loss of life, misery, and destruction which he had wrought. The Prussian military organisation of Germany had to be destroyed, but this was not all, for the Allies were determined that peace should not come until Germany was wrecked commercially and industrially. ''l want to emphasise that we are determined to see this war through." continued Mr. Hanan, "and no man in the Empire will talk of peace until a better day is dawning for mankind. Our hearts go out to the relatives of those brave lads who have fallen and have nobly given their lives for the Empire. Those men have won immortal renown, they have left a noble tradition behind them, and have passed on to the youth of to-day a great heritage. A great and splendid feature about the war is that these young men who are comin" home again wounded are crying to go back to help their friends at trie front. From the trenches the men are crying out, 'For God's sake come and help us and see this through,' and it is the bounden duty of the young men of New Zealand who are fit to come forward and answer this 'appeal. If we want a speedy and successful conclusion of the war we must remember that this can only be achieved by sending more men, still more men, and more men after that. It is by sending more men that we will prevent more blood being spilt. Every man who is physically fit must come anil help—only a coward could stay at home now if he is a fit man." The Minister went on to again compliment the railway employees on arranging such an excellent entertainment for such a deserving cause, and he said many more similar entertainments would have to be organised to raise money for the care of the wounded soldiers. "I have no doubt we will be able to send the required number of men forward to see this battle through," concluded Mr. Hanan. "I know Taranaki will do its part and show that you are prepared to spend your last shilling and send your last fit man away to see that this right and just cause triumphs, for we know that righteousness and justice triumphs in the end."