WAR ANNIVERSARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1918, Page 6

WAR ANNIVERSARY.

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. PROCEEDINGS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. The public meeting held at Efcrybody's Theatre yesterday afternoon for the purpose of passing a resolution of determination to prosecute the war to a victorious conclusion, was attended by a large audience, and the proceedings were marked throughout by demonstrations of enthusiasm. The Mayor of New Plymouth (Mr. C. H. Burgess) presided, and there were also on the platform Mrs. Burgess, M.8.E., Messrs. H. J. Okey, M.P., W. T. Jennings, M.P., the Venerable Archdeacon Evans, Dr. Leatham, Messrs. W. J. Chaney, W. A. Collis, 0. W. Browne, K. J. Deare, W. F. Short, G. P. Robinson, J. H, Quilliam, and F. T. Bellringer. There were also present a large number of Veterans and High School Cadets. The proceedings opened with the singing of the National Anthem, led by the Citizens' Band. The Mayor said the resolution which he had to propose had been forwarded by the Acting-Prime Minister, and the citizens were gathered at the request of the Government, for the purpose-of passing the resolution, which was as follows: 'That on this fourth anniverjsary of the declaration of a righteous war, this meeting of the citizens of New Plymouth records 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 sacred cause of the Allies." The reading of the resolution was followed by loud applause. Continuing, Mr. Burgess said that when a similar resolution was carried last year all had hoped that before August f came round again peace would at least be in sight, if not signed. That, however, was not to be, and lately the Allies had been fighting against one of the most powerful thrusts ever made against them. At this time last year the signs of victory were hopefuL But Russia had completely- collapsed. Her monarch had been deposed, and she was to-day subject to mob rule. She had i not been ready for such a change, and in the disorder that had followed Germany had effected a separate peace, as she had also been able to do with Roumania, and those two States were now the vasBalg of the Central Powers. Italy also had lost territory. These conditions had produced a serious position for the Allies on the West front, and the Germans had launched a desperate effort there, in the hope of reaching a decision before the weight of the American army was able to tell. But the help from America had been ever increasing, and in the end should be a deciding factor in securing a satisfactory peace. (Applause.) The news of the past few days, however, had been more hopeful, but'there was still stern work ahead. The Allies were still opposed by brave, strong, but unscrupulous, enemies. Proceeding, he asked: "Are we, as New Zealanders, still determined to see this business to a finish!" There were some who said that the Dominion had done sufficient, especially as America had now como into the fight. Personally he thought the fact of America joining the Allies should cause us to redouble our efforts rather than show war weariness. New Zealand was far removed from the seat of war, and had not experienced any of its horrors. The sinking of the Wimrpera, however, should bring the terror home more realistically. He suggested that such things -Served to show not so much what we had suffered as how much we had escaped. (Applause.) New Zealand had been for the past four years enjoying unprecedented prosperity, and that not in spite of war but largely because of it. Our security and prosperity were due to the blockade of the enemy by the British Navy. (Applause.) He also reminded those present of what the economic position might have been but for the protection of the Navy, and but for the fact that England was taking all the Dominion's produce. Further, England was paying for our export produce, Jeven though she was not able to send ships to take it away. He believed she would take the produce away because of our dependence uponl those exports. "But what," he asked, "would he our position if she could not»" He then proceeded to refer to what England had done in the matter of financing the Dominions and the Allies. Referring to what an American writer had said regarding England, he said the seven wonders of the world would fade away before the record of what she had done in the war. But Britain's effort had been made in defence of the weak—in fidelity to her pledge to Belgium, which could not be broken; she was fighting for all countries, for those ideals of freedom which her patriots had cherished and died for, and which we in these distant dominions enjoyed. New Zealand owed it to England to stand by her until the war was ended in victory. (Applause.) The war had resolved itself into a contest between German "kultur" and the freedom of civilisation, and New Zealand would stand or fall with Britain—there was no half-way house. If a German peace was concluded, then the past four years of bloodshed would have been in vain; the labor of the men who had gone to fight would be for nought, and the sacrifice of the men who had died in the fight would have been of no avail. Having put our hand to the plough, we could not turn back. To win the war must be the only consideration for the present, and self-interest and everything else must stand on one side until that was accomplished. Mr. Burgess again reverted to an American opinion, whicli was to the effect that from the beginning New Zealand stood second to no other part in the Empire ia her enthusiasm for the cause of civilisation, and in her personal contribution to the victory of that cause. He concluded with a reference to a recent speech by the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George, in which he had said that we would "Stand like a breakwater in the great current, and, God willing, in. the end we would break it if we persisted in our resolution never to give in. Mr. Burgess urged that a message should be sent from New Zealand that would cheer Mr. Lloyd George, and help to strengthen him for the great responsibility that was weighing upon him. (Applause.) Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P., who seconded the motion, referred to the trying ordeals through which the nation had come since the last war anniversary meetings were held. The Germans had thrust the Allies from the ground in which many of our men were lying in their last long sleep. The appeal of the Home Government for more men had been met courageously by the Dominion, even though it had meant the breaking-up of homes and the taking away of husbands from wives, and fathers from children. New Zealand was, therefore, able to say that she Lad carried out every promise made 'in connection with the war. She had now taken upon her a part of the burden of Empire, and it was her duty to stick to it to the end. The coming of the Americans into the fight in such Urge numbers bad put new heart into the French soldiets, who were now fighting morj relon-

didly than ever. The outlook at present was more hopefol than ever before, and he believed that peace would be well in sight, if not actually signed, before the fifth year was concluded. In spite of all that the country had been called upon to go through during the past four year 3, he was satisfied the people were still full of determination to see the thing through. (Applause.) Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., who supported the resolution, said that the fact that such a gathering had assembled here, and that similar gatherings would be held all over the Dominion, was sufficient evidence of what New Zealand meant by the resolution. He gave aj number of instances of heroic actions in I the early days of the province, and in connection with the Maori War, us showing the fighting spirit with which the New Zealandors are imbued. He also referred to the part played by university students in connection with the war, many of whom had given their lives for the cause. He stressed the importance and significance of the union of the Englishspeaking races in the one muse, and said the present retreat of the enemy was largely due to the presence of strong American forces at the front. The resolution was then put and carried amid prolonged applause. Cheers v.'":n for the King, the boys at t*e U v X »«d also for the Mayor, and the n* ;,r-m'»s terminated with the singing or thr 'National Anthem. WAREA., Prior to. the commencement of the annual meeting of the Warea Dairy Company yesterday, it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of the chairman (Mr. J. Burgess) and Mr. A. Clothier: j"That this meeting of shareholders of the Warea Co-operative Dairy Company | (limited), on the commencement of the I fifth year of war, expresses its determination to assist by all means in its power, the prosecution of the war, and to continue until the war can be brought to a victorious conclusion." The chairman in his address referred to the fact that the war was making a fearful gap in the numbers of our best men, and rendering it extremely difficult to get any work done, but he felt certain that few. if any, would wish to see the war stopped before a complete victory, and a guarantee that the war would not be repeated was secured. AVith the almost unlimited resources of America in men and material being thrown into the scale, it did not seem possible for the war to last much longer, and they might reasonably hope that before the next annual meeting a sure and lasting peace would have been obtained.