THE CALL OF UNITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1915, Page 3

THE CALL OF UNITY.

MR. ROBINSON'S APPEAL. (Special to Daily News.) •Palmerston N., Dec. 12. In the course of his address Mr. H. 0. Robinson said that when he announced that he was taking the soap-box some business-as-usual friends, in all good faith, said, "Don't do it. Don't become an agitator. It will hurt your business." lie replied, "My business to-day is to see to it as far as I can that my boys grow up to enjoy the same freedom as my ..ther left to me, and that my girls have a chance to marry some decent British chap." lie advised every busi-ness-as-nsual to think of the Belgian women, and to get out of the rut on to the crown of the road. Referring to recruiting, Mr. Robinson said he relied on thefact that the average New Zealander had a normally strong heart and would do his duty as conscience dictated. Unless and until the man's own conscience said, ''You may follow the drums and fifes," he would not say "Come." But if any woman was saying to a lad whose conscience had already said ''Go," ''Stop for Christmas dinner at home," lie asked that woman to think how much happier the man would be eating his Christmas dinner at Trentham and knowing he was helping the country to keep its word at Gallipoli. New Zealand was the farthest British possession, and if as a term of peace Britain had to surreiK— anything it would be New Zealand. Then the Germans would punishment' for the Dominion's cheek in colUring Samoa, With regard to the 34,000 men who had declined to render either military or civil service, this was the fault of tlie way the question was put. Had it read: "If the Government find suitable work that you can do, will you do it?" The answer would have been "Yes." The last man in Masterton to wish him Godspeed had been a brave soul of 2- w > years, who had been stretched on his back for a year. Mr. Robinson had helped to fill that man's register, and had filled in, "I will do any clerical work or hand work, such as halters or pull-through," that can be brought to me in bed."

ilr. Robinson added that he would like the Governor to be able to send a dispatch Home saying that capital and labor, by common consent, were ■ into New Zealand's streets, sinking all differences and standing shoulder to shoulder for unity in the face of the enemy. "Ever ~'iOur, every minute, is precious," he said. "I hope myself to speak in Wanganui streets on Monday night, and in New Plymouth streets on Tuesday night. To all I say 'Speed, men, in God's name; speed, speed, speed.'"