WAIMAUKU'S MEMORIAL

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 April 1920, Page 2

WAIMAUKU'S MEMORIAL

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED,

The participation of the Waimauku district in the war has been commemorated by a roll of honour bearing the names of all the men who answered their country's call. The unveiling of this tribute by their fellow settlers took place at the Coronation Hall, Waimauku, on Friday afternoon of last week. There was a very large attendance, of settlers, including the children from the neighbouring schools—Rewiti, Kumeu, Huapai and Woodhill. Mr V. Kerr Taylor presided over the gathering. The ceremony of unveiling the Roll of Honour was performed by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, who after expressing his pleasure at the opportunity of doing honour to the soldiers of the district, referred to the unique record created by the New Zealand Division. With all the demands made for the changes in the education methods, it must be admitted that the training of the New Zealand soldiers in their youth had had much to do with their wonderful feats on Gallipoli, in France, and the other theatres of war. The division had ! preserved its fighting efficiency through- ! out, and in this connection the speaker eulogised t l'.^ indefatigable work of Sir James Allen, the then Minister of Defence. Alluding to the cry of the pacifists for demobilisation and abolition of militraining, he sairt that the pacifists were the unconscious enemies sf the country. He emphasise 1 the point that the horizon was not yet clear, and that thore was yet need for some system of military training, a factor in the physical and moral development of the younger generation. The adoption of the cry of the pacifist meant the betrayal of thft.-Jjoys whose names were inscribed on /fchvit.oll of honour, and the objects for whj<.i fo^-:v fought. A! \, , ; Mr Parr then unveiled the^s- a handsome piece of polished ;^j>jyy. containing the names of 42 set^s of the district, of whom eight mad*. *;e supreme sacrifice. v _ In the evening a social^;..' neld in the hali, vfln'oh was fairly by one of the largest gathering^v T r seen therein. A most enjoyable tip I ,as spent by all. Mr F. Sumiuers was secretary of the committee which was responsible for the excellent arrangements made—both in connection with the unveiling ceremony and the evening's entertainment.