“FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF MAN”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22622, 27 April 1948, Page 6

“FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF MAN”

WEAPONS OF PEACE

THOUGHT AND PRAYER COAST COMMEMORATION I Herald Correspondent.) “We are assembled here today to pay tribute to the fallen and to express our thanks and gratitude. This has been done on thousands of occasions year by year, and in finer language than mine, throughout our land. But it is not enough that we attend. It is no longer a fight for Empire, but for the rights of the common man, and here and now we are in the firing line. The battle is betwen right and wrong, or good and evil, and our weapons arc thought, prayer and goodwill.” This was part of the address given by Colonel Ft. F. Gambrill before a large congregation comprised of the children of many schools and their staffs, the Ruatoria Boy Scout troop, returned soldiers and members of the community in Ruatoria on Anzac Day. The children formed a guard of honour, past which Major J. C. Reedy and the returned men marched into the Ucpohatu Memorial Hall. The Scout troop, under acting-Scoutmaster K. Te Rauna. followed the children, and the remainder of the. people filled the hall to capacity. At the foot of the stage were many and beautiful wreaths arranged in long and colourful rows. The Rev. W. G. Bird conducted the memorial service and present with him on the stage were Mr. R. Kemp, president of the R.S.A., Colonel Gambrill and Sir Apirana Ngata. “Do we assure our youth of that liberty and freedom for which we fought and for which they died, or do we condemn them to the curse of another war?” continued Colonel Gambrill. ‘‘ls peace on earth impossible that we should have had two wars in the last 30 years and three short years after the last, we now have another ' —ism?’ “Thought the Greater Power” “Our troubles have been due to wrong thinking, and thought is the greatest power on earth. The ideal of humanity is to spread goodwill —not peace propaganda. ‘‘lf peace is of the spirit, the greatest need we have today is for spiritual people. Only then can we pay fitting tribute to their sacrifice.” “I want to take the word ‘service’ as my text,” said Sir Apirana Ngata, referring to the recent broadcast by Princess Elizabeth on the Prince of Wales’ motto at Agincourt, “Ich dien” (I serve). “The men of two wars gave unstinted service. Do we do the right thing to relax after these herculean efforts? These moments carried too long give the enemies of freedom the opporunity to come at us. For the purposes of w,ar the people buried all petty thoughts and joined together as one Why don’t we do that now in time of peace? ‘‘lt is not the axe that does the most damage—it may take a tree once in 20 years—it is the borer, who is always there. “The cleverest men in the world may glorify their inventions and discoveries, but when a crisis comes they return in humility to their Faith.” The Rev. W. G. Bird's concluding words were these: “You must live for Anzac, if necessary, die for Anzac, that the spirit of Anzac may live on for ever.” Mr. Kemp thanked all those responsible for the organisation of the meeting and the transport arrangements. Anzac Day at Jerusalem At the ceremony at Jerusalem, which was held in the open before the Nga-tama-toa Hall, the Rev. M. Pohatu conducted the church service, and Mr. R. Kemp, president of the local R.S.A. sub-association, delivered a short address. Greatly appreciated by the gathering was the playing of the hymns and the “Last Post” by the Gisborne Home Guard Band. Following the address, Mr. Kemp presented Mrs. Ferris and Mrs. Hunia with the crosses which the mothers of deceased soldiers may receive. A very large crowded attended the dinner. This service was preceded by a visit to Whakapaurangi for the unveiling of the memorial to Digger Jack Ferris, veteran of the First World War and of the Boer War. This stone was the first of eight to be procured through the local R.S.A. scheme from the War Graves Division of the Internal Affairs Department, and cost the next-of-kin a mere fraction of that usually charged. The ceremony was conducted by Mr. Pohatu, who also conducted an Anzac service at Whareponga after the ceremony in Ruatoria. The Whareponga Commemoration The Anzac service at Whareponga was very well attended by people from Ruatoria, Waipiro Bay, Te Puia and Tokomaru. There was also an unveiling ceremony for Mick Haenga, who was killed in Italy. The people from Ruatoria, Whareponga and Whakapuarangi then all converged on Hiruharama, where there was a large Anzac gathering, and paid their respects at a moving service. Distribution of Wreaths At the conclusion of the Hiruharama service, the wreaths displayed at the Ruatoria ceremony were distributed by the R.S.A., one to each soldier’s grave or tombstone in the districts of Wai-o-Matatini, Te Horo, Tuparoa, Reporua, Matahia, Hiruharama, Whakapaurangi, Wairongomai, Whenuakura, and Ruatoria. That was made possible through the great generosity of the public.