"PROUDEST OF ANY"

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 49, 26 February 1921, Page 6

"PROUDEST OF ANY"

THE LEGION OF SERVICE

COMMUNITY CLUB SCHEME

APPEAL BY GENERAL RUSSELL.

The following statement regarding the aims and objects of the proposed Community Club for Territorials and Senior Cadets, at Buckle-street, was issued by Major-General Sir A. H. Russell, president of the National Defence League of New Zealand, to-day:—

"BUILDING UP HEALTH AND

CHARACTER."

"In commending the proposed Community Club to Wellington citizens for their generous support, I desire, to point out that the scheme 'has been well thought out, and is a practical attempt at the attainment of a higher standard of citizenship—one of the greatest ideals inspired during the late war. .The National Defence League stands for the development of that higher standard, and believes that it can be brought about by an improved'system of universal defensive training. But if the-, goal is to be reached, it is first necessary to have the solid backing of public opinion in the movement, as the defence system, cannot be made what it ought to' be without that. The. defence system, 'indeed, can be'made anything the people like to make it; it*can be made a system which will be the producer of clean, healthy, and manly citizens who will not only, be the 'greatest assets to the national well-bejng, but by reason of their military training will be able to maintain .their oitizenship, with its privileges, institutions, and ideals, against outside interference. It is easy to state an ideal, to talk about what 'ought to be'; the question is how to realise it. In its Community Club scheme the governing body ■of the National Defence League considers-thai it has -devised ways and means which will go a long way towards the realisation of a higher standard, which, all must so much desarers "The Community Club scheme is in no ■way 'militaristic' It is concerned with the development of citizenship alone. Its aim is the creation, of 'the community spirit," improvement in the health, habits, and ideas of the trainees, and an increasing of their general knowledge in the affairs of their country, th.c Empire^ and of the world in general. The "club, which is to be devoted solely to •the use of the 5000 Senior Cadets and Territorials resident in the city of Wellington, is to be run on lines which will ■embody the most potent influences for the building up of health and .character —(1) The influence qf women; (2) "the ■voluntary services of medical men,; and (3) the. delivery of lectures -by leading educationists and , medical practitioners on such subjects as 'Good Citizenship,' 'Personal Health and Hygiene,' etc. "SPIRIT OF COMRADESHIP." "It is intended that the club shall be staffed by women host-esses at night, on the same lines as the Sydney-street Soldiers' Club, whioh prove such 'a, home away from home' to members of reinforcement drafts in training during the war. These women hostesses, it ig hoped, will be fully representative of the whole of the women's organisations of Wellington, who will' take the staffing of the club in turns, and will endeavour to impart a 'horn©' atmosphere' with its best influences. The olub will be available for trainees who are' wait-, ing to go on parade to drill, and so should save them knocking about tha streets or getting iiito even "more undesirable surroundings. It will ' also be available for trainees: on „' non-parade nights. There is no desire, of course, that Territorials and Senior Cadets' who Have good homes should go there in preference, but there are, unfortunately, maiiv,' lads, who,-owing to unsatisfactory housing conditions, have not good, homes, a.nd who, in the Community Club, will find much more wholesome surroundings and influences than they at present enjoy.

"The proposal in this respect is the outcome of past experience—experience gained during the war which showed that women have a grea;t and real Vjart to play in everything that forms part of our social and national life. The movement in this direction is, at it were, a, 'canalising' of the spirit of comradeship—and as such is worth the support of all wKo wish for the progress of our country. Judging by the very fine efforts they are making for the success of the 'Citizen-Soldiers' Carnival' opening in the Town Hall on Saturday next, it is evident that the women of Wellington realise the value of the opportunity for social service thus presented, and in which they th&mselyes have'shown the way. . They are no longer content to watch with.folded hands; 1914-18 has given them a wider outlook and fresh experience; and they mean to take their part.

MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL

PROVISIONS.

"An equally important feature of the scheme is the medical side. The National Defenoo League, has good reason for believing tli.it whan the Community Club is established the services of many of the city's medical practitioners will bo .ivai'iible to examine, supervise, and generally instruct 'Territorials ■ and Senior Cadets in regard to their health. this the League has already secured 'the interest, enthusiasm, and sympathy of _a number of the city's medical men, who'will deliver lectures on the laws of personal health and hygiene, .the duty of everyone to the rest of the community and : , to posterity in this respect, tne problems facing the adolescent, venereal disease, public health and sanitation, etc., and where necessary will give personal advice. The details, of course, have yet to be fworked out in consultation with medial men, l>ut the benefits to be conferred by carrying out such a project, should be so far-reaching as to be manifest to all and to require no stressing on my part. "The third proposal which the league places before, the public in the running of the Community Club is the delivering of lectures by leading educationists on such subjectsyis 'The Eights and Duties of Citizenship,' 'Our Rights as Citizens To-day Compared with' those of Our Forefathers,' 'The British Empire and What it Means,' 'The British Empire "and the League of Nations,' 'International Diplomacy and Politic^,' etc. These lectures, it is emphasised, will be delivered by educational experts, who not only understand their subjects, but who understand the teaching of youth, aaid from experience will not talk over the heads of those who are listening to them. This also opens up a wide field for instruction which should quicken the ■national 1 understanding and do lasting good. .

"It will be seen from these proposals that the- proposed club is to be no club in. the ordinary sense of the term. It is to be a place of helpful amusement, influence, advice, and instruction. It,is to be a Community Club -in the fullest sense—a of service to those who are rendering service to their country. Surely something should be done for the Territorial and Senior Cadet units which have been in existence for .nine years. Much was done for members of the Expeditionary Force, but little or nothing has been done for the Territorial and Senior Cadet, who is compolled to- serve whether he likes it oc not, The. Community Club project

furnishes the' means' for rectifying the omission. -\

"PROUDEST LEG-lON OF ANY."

"Thp whole idea/ is summed up in.' the word 'service,' and who is a servant —be he the Prime Minister, or thie' humblest bootblack—belongs to the proudest legion of any, the legion of service. And! so we can Jiope that when lie looks bade or^ his period of training the Territorial arid Cadet of to-day wili feel that he is a better . Christian, a better" citizen, and a better soldier—if the necessity for his becoming such ever arises—for the hours he has spent in the Community Club. •

"The project now before the people of Wellington is the initial effort for the Dominion. Upon the manner in which they support it depends its extension throughout New Zealand. The citizens of Wellington have thus cast upon them the onus not only of promoting the welfare of the rising'manhood of their own city, but by their example of promoting the well-being of the youth of New Zealand as a whole. It' should not be in vain, therefore, to. appeal to t\iem for; solid financial backing and moral support."