FEATHERSTON EN FETE

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 93, 17 October 1916, Page 4

FEATHERSTON EN FETE

WAIRARAPA ANZAC CLUB

OPENING OF NEW BUILDING,

Featherston was en fete yesterday, the occasion being the opening of the new Wairarapa. Anzac Club, tho gift o£ the settlers of the district to the soldiers. A detailed description of the club has already appeared in the columns of The Post. It is a well-designed structure, replete with convenience and comfort, and will no doubt prove to be a great boon to men in camp.

The opening ceremony was performed by the Hon. James AUon, Minister of Defence, who spoke from a specially constructed,.platform outside the clubhouse. Others present on the platform included Colonel Gibbon, Colonel Hughes, IA: -Colonel Maedonald, Lt.-Col-onel Adams, Sir Walter 'Buchanan, Mr. W. E. BidwiU,. Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P., and. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P. Over 4000 men of the 19th and 20th Reinforcements, infantry, mounted men, and artillery were on parade, drawn up in front of the platform, and they looked remarkably well. '' A. military ba.nd played a number of enjoyable selections. Mr. \V. E. Bidwill, in the course, of an introductory , speech, said that when the Featherston Camp was first mooted the., idea ,caused consternation amongst the settlers^ of the district, as they had heard of military, camps before,, and the conduct of the men in some of. them. However, the camp had'not been in existence long before the people realised that the soldier was one of themsel/es, and now eyery inhabitant of the Wairarapa was only too piwd to have tho camp and to have the soldiers in their houses. The Wairararapa people had only done a very small thing in erecting t-he club, and they hoped that the soldiers would, appreciate the club and make full, use of it. In accordance with the wish of the men a small membership fee woyild be charged.

EARLY SETTLERS' SPIRIT. The .Minister for Defence expressed pleasure at being able to take part in the ceremony. •, The soldiers, he eaid, were the sons or grandsons of the early settlers in New Zealand, and the spirit which actuated the early settlers was showing" itself in them. It was not, altogether a spirit of adventure, but o, spirit to think things, do things, and carry things out. This spirit had made the country what it was to them —a land to be proud of, and which the soldiers were prepared to defend to the last drop of their blood. The new club was tho result of the feeling amongst some of the settlers .that they should do something for the soldiers. It was a splen^ did thought, and a splendid thing that less than thirty of the settlers and their sons had subscribed over £9000 for the club. (Applause.)

Continuing. Mr. Allen said he hoped that the soldiers would accept the invitation to attend the club and enjoy a Healthy re-creation and social companionship, which would be a help, to" them in the course of training, and a pleasant memory in the future. "Make, use of ■the club, soldiers," he said, " and show the people of the Wair.arn.pa that you appreciate their kindness and reap benefit from the club. W'e all appreciate the spirit which prompted the* settlers in building the tlub—that there should be some other attraction than those pl.acts where soldiers attend, and where they sometimes get mcro evil than" good." The efforts of the people to get m touch with the soldier, he concluded, were most valuable, and he felt sure that the soldier would fight all the better when he knew how much the people cared for him and wished for his welfare.

"FOR HONOUR. AND FREEDOM."

Mr. J.. T. M. Homsby, M.P., paid a glowing tribute to the people who had provided the club and made special reference to the work of Mr. W. E. Bidwill, whom he described as a "good sport." He referred to, the war as one against the oppressor and the wrongdoer, and the bloody-minded cruelty which had been waged amongst some of the peoples of Europe. * Under the roof of the new club commissioned officer and ranker would be housed together. Of course, there must be distinctions; every sane man knew that there must be discipline, but service did not by any means mean subservience. There were men in the ranks better endowed with the world's goods than some of the officers who led them, but the spirit actuating all was the giving up of all for ' the honour of women and the freedom of men. Time was when the soldier had never a body to be kicked or a soul to be damned— just a mere portion of a fighting machine, but that was not 'the case now. and from the humblest man in the ranks to the man in highest command Britain and her Allies had sworn that . their soldiers should be taken care of. "We owe you a debt of gratitude; it is a debt'of honour and it shall be paid. Many of you will go to France, some may go to Belgium, but eventually you will go to Bsrlin. Nothing else will satisfy us." (Applause.) Proceeding, the speaker deprecated any talk of peace until Prussian militarism was crushed. Referring to the recent heavy casualty lists he said that the hearts of the people went out to those who. had suffered bereavement, but no man, he held, could help feeling a thrill of pride when he realised what New Zealand had done. It was a proud thing to do—to don the khaki and go forth to fight for New Zealand and the Empire. The band then played "God Save the King," and at the call of Colonel Adams the assembled soldiers gave three rousing cheers for the donors of the club. Subsequently tea was served to a large number of gu.este in the clubhouse. : IN THE EVENING. The clubhouse was in the evening crowded out, and those fortunate enough to be present were entertained at a' capital concert, the arrangements for which had been left in, the capable hands of Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P. Through the kindness of Mr. Walter Fuller some of the artists from His Majesty's Theatre were available. They were Miss Dora Oberman, Miss Peggy Ross, and Mr. A'thol Tier, and their efforts to entertain were crowned with success. The programme also contained some excerpts' from "San Toy," in which the following took part: —Misses Wilford, Amy Ross, Doris Clark, Ivy Stewart, Elsie M'Cormick, Dora Malcolm, and Eva M'lnerney, Messrs. W. Crawford and A. Newton. Others who 'Contributed to the programme were:—Miss Zita Chapman, Mr. H. F. Wood, Mr. Leo O'Brien, and Mr. Albert Russell. Mrs. Quirke was a, capital accompanist, and the mechanical effects were in the hands of Mr. Joe Vance.