EMPIRE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1916, Page 4

EMPIRE DAY.

GATHERING IN CALIFORNIA, MESSAGE FROM NEW ZEALAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Recently. the President of the Cale. aonian Club of Los Angelos, California, wrote to the Prime Minister of New Zealand asking for a message to be read at a great British Umpire Day gathering ' to be held on May 24. The President mentioned that the gathering wonld include Englishmen, Scotsmen, Welshmen, Irishmen, Canadians, New Zealanderji Autralians, Frenchmen,, Belgians Italians, Serbians, Montenegrins, Rus sians, and Japanese, and that it woulr, give the people of the United States mi inspiring proof of British solidarity. Mr. Massey replied as follows: A message from the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon, W. F. Massey, P.C.: "Though separated from America by many leagues of ocean, New Zealand joins most cordially with the sons and daughters of Britain who are celebrating the British Empire Day in sunny California. In whatever part of the .world British people are to to be found today they are one in heart and sympathy, one in love for the land of their father*, one in pride of the Empire, one in their desire to keep flying the grand old * flag—the emblem of liberty and freedom and righteousness-*-which to-day waves over a people more closely united than at any time in all their history, and more determined than aver to stand together for all the Bacred privileges ' handed down to them by heroic ancestors. To-day, after two years of the bloodiest and 1 most exhausting war the world has eyer known, they are more keenly resolved than ever to do their full share in securing victory for their Empire and its gallant allies.' New Zealand, though one of the youngest members of the great Imperial family, has freely given of her best* and bravest for the great cause in which we are en- v gaged, and to-night sends her message across tiie Pacific to the huge gathering of our kith and kin assembled in the Shrine auditorium. Stand fast for the right! God bless the Empire! God save the King! (Signed), W: F. sey, Prime Minister." NEW ZEALAND'S PART, FORCE OF FIFTY-FIVE Wellington, Last Night, The following telegram was received recently by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey), from the editor of Land and Water, London; "Land and Water publish a special five nations number on Empire Day and is arranging for individual messages from the Prime Ministers of the five nations. Should greatly aprreciate a message from you on what New Zealand is doing to win the war and consolidate the Empire." In response to this request, Mr. Ma?scy has despatched the following message : "In the cause of liberty andireecom, for which Britain has' drawn the sword, our Dominion's sons arc taking their place in the fighting line and will continue to do so until final and decisive victory comes. Fifty-five'thousand sturdy New Zealanders have already responded to the call of duty. More are coming and reinforcements will regularly go forward. 011 this anniversary of Empire Day the world beholds the British nation more firmly united than at any time in its past history. Reverses, when they occur, serve' only .to strengthen our determination to win this war at all costs, and New' Zealand, along with the overseas Dominions, is taking pride in her loyalty and devotion to King and country, and will not relax her efforts now or after the war to ihsilrs t'<r all time the safety and integrity of the Empire." (Signed), W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.