TIME MARCHES ON

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 15

TIME MARCHES ON

OLD-SOLDIER SPIRIT

"DIGGERS" NO RABBLE

Tt is now a far cry to the days of the Great War, but it takes more than a matter of twenty years to dim the spirit of those who served. This was made plain at a meeting at Karori

when the question of district assistance in giving added strength to the Wellington. Regiment was under consideration. The presence of quite a large number Of returned .soldiers indicated that the ex-servicemen were in- j terested in the present-day appeal, and there was also the fact that the move was sponsored by the Karori auxiliary of the Returned Soldiers' Association. "If you decide to join the regiment," said Mr. J. S. Hanna (chairman of the auxiliary), in addressing the young men, "I want to give you the assurance that we will get behind you." "A good place to be," remarked a member of the1 audience, amidst laughter. "Well, we will get alongside; at all events, we will stick to you," said Mr. Hanna. "You .will find that the R.S.A. is not altogether without influence in the country. I think you will find that, if war comes, the returned soldiers are not a disorganised rabble in time of war. You will find, too, that we. know the business end of a rifle."

Further references to returned soldiers were made later by Major E. H. Whiting, who is one himself. A remark by him that "the returned soldiers are too old to fight today," was greeted with cries of "No!" "Dicken!" and "Who said so?" Major Whiting stood his ground. "They remember the tune when they were just as active as you are," he said, "but they are beyond it today. War is a young man's game, and if ever the necessity comes to defend this country it has to be done by you young chaps." j