OUR RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 32, 2 May 1918, Page 4

OUR RETURNED SOLDIERS.

WELCOMED HOME BY BALCLUTHA RESIDENTS.

ENTHUSIASTIC! AUDIENCE PACKS THE HALL.

It. is seldom that the Balelutha Oddfellows- Hall has been packed wit'h an 'audience with but one mind and purpose as was the case on Friday evening, when residents from all the Clutha dis•trict assembled to accord a civic welcome home to (heir returned soldiers. The soldier.-: have come home in small drafts, and it has been found _impossible to greet each quoin upon its return. On' Friday evening, however, the public were given an opportunity to show that they were in complete sympathy with the boys who had fought their battles, with the result that the •hall was packed in every corner, and even standing room was at a premium. At the request of the Mayor . (Mr Alex. McNeil) some -5 returned men took seats on. the platform,' and were lcudlv Cheered.

The Mayor said he hoped the, people would give aright royal welcome to the returned iineu. The large audience should demonstrate, not by their presence alone, but also by their actions that'they'were in sympathy .with the returned men, who 'had sacrificed 'much for the safety of the country. But the audience was required that evening to buigh when there was cause, to clap w'heu necessary, and to romp when they felt inclined. (Applause.) The National Anthem was then sung.

MR A. S. MALCOLM'S ADDRESS.

Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., the principal speaker for the evening, gave an interesting r.esuiiie of the work of the Government on behalf of the soldiers, lie was glad 'to say that the ''Paddy's Market"'held that day had been a success. A sum had been raised which, if not quite sufficient for the cause for which the effort was made, would no doubt 'bo supplemented by donations.

THH SOLDIER. IX WAR AXD PEA'CE.

The .Returned Soldiers' Association (said the speaker) 'had been reminding the public that 'although in wartime the soldiers were honoured and sung, yet in peace time they were forgotten. Tliis had been too often sadly true. In the old Feudal days the barons honoured their men, they housed and fed their soldiers, and in that way the meif were not "forgotten when wars were over. Later ..on, when the soldier became a hired men, he was pitched out, no matter what condition of service he had undergone. No matter what glory lie had lulled to the British name, he was pitched out when peace came. He was ignored, forgotten—left to obtain a living by begging or highway robbery. This was an awful thing, especially when it was remembered the glories that had been added to the nation's history by these 'brave men. He remembered' an incident that occurred in the navy in Drake's* days. Peace was declared' in the middle of a battle, and the sailors immediately began to exchange greetings. A Dutchman mounted the masthead and stood on 'his head on the top. Not to be outdone a British sailor tried to do likewise,' but fell to the deck, his fall being broken by some loose ropes. Staggering to the side of the ship lie shouted to the. Dutchman, "Now, let's see one of you fellows do that." This was the spirit that had animated our forces throughout the ages.

Times were' changed to-day. Even during the Boer War it was felt by the people that more was owing to the men than they 'received. The men of t'he Light Brigade v:qyo allowed to end their days in the workhouse, but "please .God, that will never happen again." History .-.aid that , the army of the Crimean War was so badly off 1 for clothes that, the soldiers had to 'patch their garments with newspapers. We had 'hoped that state of affairs had passed for ever, but it was left to private generosity as late as the Boer , War to provide for the men's comfort. I ' '• ! TJU-; GOVERNMENT'S WORK. i - ! ' "To-day, on your behalf, on my bo- : half, and" on behalf of the people of ' Xew Zealand, 1' can assure you that the ' soldiers will not be forgotten. Just as ; we are proud of 'the men and what they have done for us, so we would ask ' them to have good heart and good faith in the people of New Zealand. Already provision has been made in the way of pensions and allowances for the snp- . port and upkeep of the men. The stan- : dard set by the Government 'of New \ Zealand, is not what it can least do, but \ what it can most do for the men. We ■ are in the happy position that as time, ' goes on -we will be able to do more and. | more for the men."- Continuing, the i speaker said it would be impossible; to ! say how long the war would last, but it j "was the intention of the Government ' to be as liberal and as generous as pos- . siblc towards the soldiers.

THE SOLDIER'S PART. ' There was "no need to say what the soldier had done for New Zealand—all knew it. Yet the people liked to dwell 1 upon it. Field-marshal Sir Douglas Haig had said that the soldiers of New, Zealand were in the first- class of light-, in<r troops, and as this class was a very limited one, it meant th'at there were no better troops in existence. (Applause.)! On GaJlipoli and in every, battle in Flanders the New Zealanders,. 'had brought credit to the name of New Zealand that .-would never otherwise 'have 'been achieved. These men who ■oil <tfoe battlefield/were 'the bravest ol

'the brave, in civil life were among the most modest and' unassuming. Americans 'had said" that 'the New enjoyed a record in civil life that was enjoyed by soldiers of no other country in or out of the Empire. 'All that was needed that evening was 'to say that while the Government would never forget the deeds done' on the battlefield and the honour and esteem brought 'to- New Zealand'' 'by her soldiers, the general feeling was Welcome Home! Welcome Home! (Applause.)

LI EUTEXANT-COLONEL GRIGOR'S REMARKS.

On behalf of t'he soldiers, Lieutenantcolonel Grigor returned thanks for the manner in which the people had shown their appreciation of the soldiers. ''You have got us licked to-day to the extent of about £2OO, so we have 'had to come when you 'ask us,'" said the speaker. "We are in Hun formation, 'however, and following tire Hun policy of a massed frontal attack. (Laughter.) We cannot help seeing where 'the main sinews of to-day's 'Paddy's .Market' effort were at work. Right from the start it has been the women who 'have ■helped. '(Applause.) They have done more than the men. ft has often been said t'he'women only have 'to wait and suffer.' The women do more than -half of the hoine work in connection with ■this war. They are taking over men's jobs and doing the work 'as well, if not better than the men, and there is' not a single shirker among them —they do not strike." (Applause.) Continuing, the speaker said t'he returned men liad- recognised the necessity for preparing for the return of their comrades and had therefore set up an association. THIO SOLDIER AM) THE WAR. . Referring to 'the war, the speaker said it appeared as if war were a necessity to settle things in the world. War was the 'only arbiter, and it ap-. pearcd as though we had not yet readied the stage of civilisation when war could be done without. When all was said and done, except for the awful,nes-; of War, the soldier's life was not it bad one. The training was splendid for t'he.-men. There was a chance of getting killed' or wounded, but men

took that chance everywhere. The people need not oe afraid of the wen coming back, as 'they would be better oa their return than when they left. ! An infusion of 100.000 men who had seen the world would briny wider and different ideas to the country. The associations set rip weix> necessary to look after the rights of the soldiers. The people had trusted the soldiers to fight their battles, and they needn't be afraid to trust 't'hem further. Some of those- present : had been through the tightest corners with him, and' he could agree that there was not the si i gilt est doubt that the New Zealanders were •the best soldiers. Sir Douglas ilaig 'had stated the Imperial officers' views when he "had placed the New Zealanders in the--first line of 'British troops. H-o (the speaker) had had experience with English. Welsh, Irish. Indians, Maoris, ptc, but gave the palm to New Zealanders.