22ND REINFORCEMENTS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 25 October 1916, Page 5

22ND REINFORCEMENTS

RECRUITS FAREWELLED

Four recruits left Hawera this morning for the training camp to make up shortages in the 22nd Reinforcements. They were W. J ; Fisher, J. Stevenson, F. T. Le Fleming, and % Hayhurst. Notwithstanding the wet morning there was a good attendance of, the, public to bid good-bye to the men, and the platform was decorated for the occasion.

The Rev. C. H. Grant Cowen addressed the recruits. He said he had to apologise for the absence of the Mayor, who was in New Plymouth, and who had asked him to congratulate the men on having come forward to serve their King and country, and to wish them Godspeed and a safe return. In, the course of .his remarks, Mr Cow en referred to the necessity; for a returned soldiers' club in Hawera; There had been apparently. some misunderstanding in regard to the club, and he felt sure that when'ihe settlers and citizens knew that it was the unanimous wish of the returned sol-, diers to have a central club in Hawera, where the country and town members could meet from time to time, they would support the proposal. The club was especially necessary for the country members, who would have to come into town to draw their pensions, to be medically examined, and for other causes, while it would also be used by the members to mutually help each other in obtaining positions in civil life. The * club would further be a social institution at which the men could meet to chat over their experiences of the past. It was a very little thing to ask the people^ of Hawera to supply the small sum neces-. sary to provide the soldie*rs with the club- they asked for, after the great sacrifices that had been made by the men, and the least those who remained at home could do was to look after the interests and welfare of the returned men.

Each of the recruits was presented with a parcel by the Ladies' Committee, and cheers were given for the men and the King.