FOR SERVICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 196, 28 May 1940, Page 3

FOR SERVICE

WORK OF THE R.S.A. RETURNED SOLDIERS' REUNION. 300 MEN AT ANNUAL DINNER. Three hundred soldiers of the Ashburton district attended the annual dinner and reunion held in the Radiant Hall last night, and in the several speeches made, the men declared their willingness to carry on, where thev could, the work they started over 25 years ago. The president of the Ashburton Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr E. M. Gabites) presided. Proposing the toast of “The Navy, Army and Air Force,” Mr E. Wilcox (secretary of the Christchurch Association) said the toast was of greater significance now than ever before. It had Jbeen a matter of form years ago, but to-day there was a new Army, with some of the older . men. We were passing through very difficult times, and the flower of the nation was again facing the lenejmy in Flanders. It seemed a dream that such, could be the case after the old soldiers had laid down their arms so many years ago. Again the flower of the country marched through our streets to face the same enemy. The Army was bearing the brunt of the fighting, as ever. The speaker referred to the work of the Navy in its ordinary work in the convoying of troops without loss, to its preparedness, and to the spectacular exploits that had thrilled the nation, especially that in which our own men of the Achilles had taken part. The Air Force was one of the greatest arms of the forces to-day, with thousands of New Zealanders in its ranks, and it stood out alone in the wonderful exploits of daring and fearlessness. New Zealand was taking a very active part in the Air Force, and our men would stand shoulder to shoulder with the airmen of other countries, acquitting themselves as well as any others. Different Methods To-day. Replying, Colonel Findlay said the eulogistic references to the forces were appreciated. We were living in very difficult times, and methods* of war today were very different from those the • older soldiers knew. We were doing our job fairly well, though the Government wanted stirring up a bit. He hoped the new powers would be drastic and ' universal. The conscripts in the last war were every bit as good as the volunteers. and there was' no reason why we should not-this time send two divis- ; ions instead of one in the Great War. < Things looked bad in France just now, J but he was confident we would come out ; on top. He had great faith in General j Weygand, and! that officer knew what ] he was doing. The question of home ] defence had to be looked to. Japan i was talking of coming into the war, 1 and Italy was also talking that way. i They thought they might overcome all k others, but they would learn their les- j son, and that before very long. But the defence of New Zealand, should be organised, with defence corps in every ( province, comprised of returned men and j some younger men, to whom the Gov- j i eminent should give equipment and en- ] conragement. 1 Mr A. A. McDonald proposed the | toast of the 2nd New Zealand Expedi- * tionary Force, and said that returned j men knew something of the obligations j of the" young men to their country and c the Empire. In 1918, they thought g

fighting was over for a long time. The New Zealanders had a high reputation for- their fighting qualities. Other countries had been piling up war machines to undertake what was nothing‘ short of banditry in Europe. To face this, the finest young- men were enlisting to-day voluntarily. He would like to ‘see the word “ ‘conscription” dropped, but he thought compulsory service should have been adopted from the start of the war. New Zealand’s repu-

tation was not built up on the quantity ol the produce it sent overseas, but on the quality of the individuals. The soldiers in the field had upheld that reputation and they had known how to conduct themselves when they were not on the- job. The thoughts of the young man before he enlisted were realised, and the hardships of the drillground could be shared in thought. Then there was the severance with family ties, the arrival at the theatre of operations, and ambitions and ideals were gained. When they returned they would be very valuable citizens; but those at home had a very big responsibility toward these men. The R.S.A was a live body, and the Ashburton Association had presented a report of very practical work in the last year. The new returned men. would have to be fitted out for civil life again, tut in the meantime all we could do was to ■wish them success. A Magnificent Tradition.

In reply, Dr. J. Russell Wells said that many of the men were the sons of those who served in the last war and there must be a very close association between the two. The men of the second force inherited a magnificent tradition, one that must be a great incentive to them. The last war, everyone hoped, was. the war to end war, but since then there, had grown up the system of brute force that threatened our civilisation and every means had to be thrown into the struggle to stop the spread of it. The Empire and the Dominions had accepted the challenge. The position appeared to be very serious, but he bad no doubt that the tide would soon turn and that the nous would soon bo much brighter. Dr. Wells referred to the epic feats of the first New Zealand force and was sure that the second force would acquit itself as capably as its predecessor. As a member of the Medical Board ho knew of the fine stamp of young men tidio Were offering their services, and many who had been turned down hac tried again. Those who went overseas would not let the country down, and they would know the Returned Sol*

diers’ Association would not let them down on the home front.

Mr J. H. Grigg, proposing the toast of the local bodies, said that much, time was given up by public-spirited men to carry out local body work and the'people were grateful for the work they had done. The question of home defence had been mentioned and the Prime Minister hacP said he would welcome helpful criticism. The speaker said the meeting should ask for compulsory service for all lit men, to fit them by training and equipment to defend the country if they were required. The Returned Soldiers’ Associations should he entrusted with the formation of special 'forces that could deal with parachutists or the fifth column as had been done in England.

The Mayor of Ashburton (Dr. G. I. Miller), in reply, said Ashburton was proud of its Returned Soldiers’ Association, and the Council and the people were willing to help it in any way they could. Much was being made of the term subversive propaganda, but he thought it was being used in some quarters in a threatening manner to stop criticism, and if a resolution on the lines suggested by Mr Grigg were carried the people of the town would be behind it to a man. The Association had given an excellent lead to the younger men in the matter of enlistment. There was something wrong in this country when the returned men had to enlist to shame the young men into following their example and doing their duty. Thei County Chairman (Mr S. P. Taylor) paid tribute to the work of those who had gone before in placing the foundations of local body activity. He referred to the Hospital Board and its excellent institution, the Power Board and its far spread system and the work of the County Council, making'special reference to the plantations a,nd the water race system of 2500 miles which was the lifeblood of the County. Much of the honour was due to the executive officers, and Mr Taylor said that in its Clerk (Mr G. Kelly) the County had one of the finest officers in New Zealand. He congratulated the R.S.A. om the great assistance it had been in aiding the war effort and it must play a. great part in the future, especially in seeing that patriotic funds went where they were intended to go, to the soldiers. Dominion Leadership.

Mr F. Green proposed the toast of the New Zealand 11.5. A.,” and said this was one of the most honourable bodies in the County to-day. Its leader,. the Hon. Perry was a great man, who was an able leader and lie appealed to members to, help the parent body in every Way they could in building up the organisation to carry on the work in the days when the new men came back to this land.

Reply was made by M-r A. 0. Haynes (president of the Christchurch R.S.A.), who congratulated the Ashburton Association on the progress it had made. Each one felt it a privilege to belong to a body that was so highly respected throughout the Dominion. When the Association was formed in 1916 it was formed to cement the friendships, unexcelled in anv other sphere of life, made in the days of war. Its badge spoke of comradeship and service, marking out friends for those who moved about the country. It took the members back to the days of servicelong since gone by, but it also spoke of the present day of service, of the need there was for the digger who was in need of help. This service had been given, gladly, making the path smoother in many cases, not only for the man but -also for those who were left behind at his death. Difficulties without precedent were faced in the early days of thie Association and the question, of pensions and rehabilitation the Associj a.tion had played a big and valuable part. New problems were -arising, and the Association had to face up to its responsibilities, 'especially in looking after the interests of the men going overseas. It had done well in assisting recruiting' and before long it would have much more to do when the men of the new force came home. The Assocition realised the burdens that would be thrust on to otheivs while the men were a,way on service. The times were difficult and in the dark days that wer-e certain to come, the Association had work to do in helping to keep up the morale of- families and of the citizens generally, keeping a bright atmosphere. Mr Haynes referred to the request for equality -of sacrifice, and Said' it was necessary that every person should be,r his just burden. Men, women and children, must he prepared to do their bit and their .utmost; otherwise, there was no guarantee that we would win the war. Other toasts were: —“The Visitors,” proposed by Mr D. H. Moore, and replied to by Messrs O. Milne (vice-pre-sident, Christchurch R.S.A.) and Hazlett (Riakaia. branch), and SeniorSergeant J. F. Cleary. “The Past Executive,” proposed by Mr E. 8.. Condell, replied to by Mr E. M. Gabites. “The Performers,” pronosed by Mr W. G. Welsh and replied to by Mr A. H. Todd.

. Items on the musical nrogramme were given by Messrs J. Moss, A. H. Todd, K. Perry, and C. Brand. The accompanist was Mr C. G. de O. 'Drury.