RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17221, 11 August 1921, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB.

OFFICIAL OPENING BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

The Christchurch Returned Soldiers Association's new club building was officially opened yesterday morning by Lord Jellicoe, Governor-General. Prior to the opening ceremony, a photograph was taken of the official group, which comprised Lord and Lady Jellicoe and Lieutenant Southey, the Mayor (Dr. Thacker), the Building Committee of the Returned Soldiers' Club, and members of the executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association. Among the military representatives present were Colonel R. Young and Colonel H. Stewart. An apology was received for the absence of Colonel Sir R. Heaton Rhodes.

The addresses were given from the balconv at the back of the building, and the public stood below on the lawn. Dr. Thacker said it was his duty as Mayor to welcome Lord and Lady Jellicoe back to Christchurch. Christchurch would be proud to have them here more often.

Mr O. T. J. Alpers, president of the Citizens' Building Committee of the Returned Soldiers' Club, thanked his Excellency for attending to t>pen the club, the foundation stone of which he had laid two years ago. Lord Jellicoe would find that the building had been well and truly constructed, and that it was one of the first of its kind in Australasia. It was being made much use of by the members of the Returned Soldiers' Association, the membership of which ran into thousands. The Association was a real live body. The main room in the club, the social hall, had been named after Lord Jellicoe. Mr Alpers said he was sorry that the club could not be opened absolutely free of debt. Owing to the increased cost of building material and the financial depression, there was a debt of about £2OOO on the building, but he felt sure that an appeal to the public for voluntary contributions would result in the required balance being obtained. Lord Jellicoe said that before declaring the club open, he wished to refer to the honour which had been done him two years ago, when, as the representative of the Royal Navy, lfe had been asked to lay the foundation stone of the building. On that ocoa* sion he was supported by several of his comrades of the navy, but there was only one of them present that day, and he joined with him in wishing that the Returned Soldiers' Club would be a place where the men would find much happiness and recreation. It. was a place where those who had fought together" could meet again. The club typified a spirit of comradeship which he felt sure would be strong and lasting, and was a spirit which would be shown throughout the whole of • the British Empire, not only among those who had fought in the war, but also among the great number who were unable to do so, but did other work. He referred especially to the great army of women, who had done their best for the Empire's cause. (Applause.) He hoped that the club would not only help to maintain the spirit of comradeship, but that every* member of all classes would realise that "United we stand j separated we fall. The. Empire is one." (Applause.) After the recent national conference of returned soldiers held in South Africa, Lord Haig said that one of the things which struck him most was the spirit of unity of delegates from all parts of the Empire, and his Excellency felt that Lord Haig was right in believing that the spirit of the soldiers was cementing the - bonds of Empire. (Applause.) Refering to the Christchurch Soldiers' Club, he said the Citizens' Building Committee could well be proud of this, club, which they, had erected tor the use of the returned men. He had seen several soldiers' clubs, and while he did not like to draw comparisons, he would say that he had never' seen a better club building of its sort. (Applause.) He hoped the club would bring together not only the returned soldiers, but all classes of the community. He had much pleasure in formally declaring the building open. -- Tho Rev. W. Walker, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, said that the .returned soldiers recognised the deep interest which his Excellency had in their welfare, and they knew that in him they had a warm friend. "That spirit of friendship was "reciprocated not only to the Governor-General personally, but also to the Crown which he represented. (Hear* hear.) The R.S.A. was absolutely loyal to the Do r minion, loyal to the Empire, and loyal to tho King. The Association would not pass away, although the bulk of its initial work was done. The recent national • conference had widened their horizon, and they began to think in terms of Empire, and not of their own Dominions. On behalf of the Association, Mr Walker thanked the citizenß of Christchurch for the gift of the club building. He could.give the assurance that, the club waa practically self-sup-porting. ■ ' Cheers were then given for Lord and Lady Jellicoe. ■ '* A framed photograph of the late Harry Malby Cotton, the fi*st president of the Association j who died in Christchurch, on November 16th, .1918, after returning wounded from the war, was unveiled by Lady Jellicoe. . Before leaving the build-in;;, . their Excellencies readtbe brass tablet in the hall, on which was expressed the gratitude of the Association to the Lady Liverpool Fund for the donation of £3OOO, which had made t*» acquirement of such a fine club .possible. They also signed the visitors' hook.