H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 18 December 1913, Page 5

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

OFFICERS BANQUETTE!)

PATRIOTIC SPEECHES

*Tines' —'Sydney Sun' Special Cables. (Received Last Night, 6.40 o'clock.) LONDON, December 17.

At the banquet to Captain Halscy, of H.M.S. New Zealand, the Right Hon. Winston Ciaircliill «aid the hattlship New Zealand had everywhere left an impression of manly spirit and fair play and courtesy. They did their beet always at the Admiralty to assist the Dominions by giving effect to the universal impulse in the direction of aiding the Imperial Navy, according to their different means. He looked forward with hope and confidence to the assistance which Canada would bring. Captain Halsey, in responding to the toast of the captain and officers and company, testified to the enthusiasm everywhere displayed. _ Australia and. New Zealand, he said, receives them with open arms. Ihe children of the dominions were beginning to realise much more than the children of the Mother Country their responsibilities 'towards the Empire. He had heard of such things as "cutting the painter," but tho voyage round the Empire taught them that there was no such thing. Tho growth of a spirit of nationality in the great dominions had not destroyed the sentruent of loyalty to the Empire. It had rather given that sentiment increased vigour.

A DISTINGUISHED GATHERING NEW ZEALAND'S EXAMPLE.

(Received Last Night, 9.20 o'clock.) LONDON, December 17. Those present at the reception to Captain Halsey and the officers of E.M.S. New Zealand, included Lords Plunket, Mersey, Desborough, Glasgow and Blyth, General BadenI'owell, Sir Edward Montague Nelson, the Agents-General and representatives of the Colonial Office. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie (N.Z. High Commissioner) read;the Government's cablegram congratulating Captain Halsey, the officers and crew ' oa the success of their voyage. Mr Mackenzie said that he did riot desire to tread the prickly path of politics, but he couldn't help thinking that if the Hon. R. L. Borden (the Canadian Premier) had taken the line of action which the New Zealand "Government took, it would meet with the same universal response. The New Zealand Government had. rightly interpreted the minds of its loyal people. .The differences consisted in appealing to the patriotism. of the people, rather than for the approval of politicians. In one case love of country is the foundation of action, in . the other, unfortunately, love of party advantage dominates the situation. -t