BURWOOD SCHOOL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17328, 17 November 1916, Page 6

BURWOOD SCHOOL.

ROLL OF HONOUR

UNVEILED BY HON G. W RUSSELL.

There was a very large attendance at the Burwood School last .night, when the Hon G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, unveiled a roll of honour board bearing tho names of twenty-nine ex-pupils of the Burwood Sqhool who had been fighting in tho war area or are training to do so. Mr H. P. M. Berry, chairman of tho Burwood School Committee, presided.

The chairman said that the names on the roll of honour wero those of past members of tho school who were fighting, or would later be engaged, on the fields of operations. Tho school's soldiers had been scattered in various parte of the Dominion, juid it was through the energetic and enthusiastic work of Mr Davison, the head master, that tho twenty-nine nanus on the honours board had been obtained. The honours board had been procured as a result of' funds raised by tho present pupils at a concert given earlier in the year. The people of Burwood, and the school children in particular, were very proud of the line rally of expupils of the school round the flag of Empire. THE MINISTER'S ADDRESS.

The Hon G. W. Russell said ho considered it a great honour to be asked to carry out the function that evening. He had carried cut many such- functions in various parts of New Zealand, but he felt particularly pleased at being present at the Burwood function, for at Burwood ho was at home. As a member .of the National Government he could express opinions without any party feeling. Mr Russell congratulated the young men of Burwood in coming forward so well, totalling twenty-nine in a small community. Thoso young men wero fighting for righteousness, truth, liberty and freedom.' The' spirit shown by the young men of Burwood reflected the spirit of the manhood of New Zealand. The Government had brought in a Military Service Bill compelling military service, but it was a great tribute to tho men of New Zealand that 60,000 of them had offered their services voluntarily. Many of those bravo ones had gone, and as a Minister of tho Crown, he sympathised with the relatives of thoso Who had died such a glorious death. . The I women of this country were well aware of what had happened to their sisters in Belgium, and ho woyld tell them that it was through the great sacrifice of their sons and brothers that they and the children of the Dominion have been spared from a similar fate. GERMANY'S AIMS. Mr Russell gave a brief sketch of the war and of events preceding it, notably that which had resulted in New Zealand presenting tho battleship which lfli'd fought in historical engagements with such credit and honour,' and ha'd done suck service for the Dominion and for the Empire. The Germans had endeavoured to hoodwink Great Britain and had built up a great navy on the pretext of protecting their overseas commerce. They knew to-day how false that'had been, and that the' ultimate object was to challenge Britain's supremacy on the seas. Germany hoped to crush France and then, through possession of Channel, ports, to launch an attack on England. Had that scheme succeeded the British race would have been in dire peril, bu't the manhood of France had put up a great fight and with the British Army by the side of its own men were now gradually wearing down tho mighty attack launched by"Prussianism. The Minister said h 0 felt confident that before many months Germany's man power would become exhausted and England and France would then break through on the Western front, Russia, would smash through on the East, and Italy and tho plucky Serbian army would account for the enemy in other fields. crotmued Mr Russell, Britain had 5,000,000 men mobilised and he was sure that every man was serving as a matter ot duty and from tho inherent spirit.m Britishers to see fair play and justice on top. WOUNDED IN DOMINION HOSPITALS. Mr Russell said that in joining the National Cabinet he had made it clear that he wished to have direct work in connection with war. matters, and he gave details concerning the war departments that he controlled and ot the work earned out. He made special reference to the open-air hospitals which has been erected in various parts of the Dominion for wounded and sick and convalescent soldiers, and gavo interesting details' . particularly concerniug the Kinrr George V. Hospital sit Koroma. All the Allied Governments had commandeered tho spas in their w>ve'ral countries, and wonderful cures were being effected in the principal belligerent countries to-day at those thermal institutions. Splendid work in tfcft't way was being done at Rotorua, and wonderful cures had been and were being effected. His audience would recognise the great work of tho hospitals when he mentioned that between July J, 1015. and,August 31, 1916, no fewer than 1306 wounded men.had returned to this country and had been treated in the public hospitals and convalescent stations, and that only twenty-one out of that number had passed away. The Minister also referred to tho Queen Mary Hospital at Hanmer, which was splendidly equipped for the work that had to be carried out there. * ' AFTER WAR PROBLEMS. Mr Russell made reference to the problems that would have to he faced at tho close of th e war and to the obligation that the country was under to seo that returned soldiers were provided for in the way principally of settling them upon the land in return for the great sacrifices they had maido. The health of the men would also have to be considered. An .expert had tolddiim that ono man in cveiy thirty would come back a consumptive or with consumptive tendencies. To cope with that sanatoria would be erected throughout tho country and th'o 'Government would' not spare any money in its endeavour to enablo a soldier to make a complete recovery. He wished to say that if any wounded or sick returned soldier experienced a re'turn of wound troubles or sickness the Government would, on application, make provision for tho soldier's proper treatment. The Minister spoke of tho relations of Britain to its native races after

tho war. There were 500.000,000 Indians to bo considered, besides millions of other native races. The problem was a great one. If the Empire was thrown open to its coloured peoples, said Mr Russell, he had fears concerning the future. In tlie coloured raejs emigrated to parts peopled by tlio whites solely complications would arise. The question gave him concern and tho problem Would tax tho greatest statesmen of the Empire. He hoped that flic future would solve tho question satisfactorily. Mr Russell also spoke on Die question of Germany's posit ion after the war, and stated that though the cost of the war to the Allies m> to March 31 next, would ho £3 j <j00,000..000, it was clear from statistics that Germany would bo ahlo to pay tho indemnities demanded. Germany had not shown any mercy to Franco in 1870 in tiic matter of indemnity, and when this war was over Germany should be made to pay every penny demanded, even if it tied Germany up for generations. Another point Avas that the German navy should not bo allowed to exist.

'Mr Russell then unveiled tho roll cf honour, and expressed the respect and honour in which the names appearing on it would beheld. He stated also that he expressed the Government's and the country's lull recognition of the great work of the Burwood boys in going forth to fight for King and country. The audience then sang a verse of tho National Anthem, and hearty cheers followed. THE ROLL OF HONOUR,

Mr Barry road the names on tho honours board, and stated that the memorial did not necessarily contain all the names ot Burwood School boys who wero serving. Space had been left for more names, and when that was filled another board would be provided. Oniv that evening he had hoard of live other names which would, be added. They were those of W. Liggins, Dudley Bisman, Walker and two brothers named Self.- .

Tho following are the names on the honours board: Captain Ormsby Barnes, Privates H. Barnes. E. Bliss, ?■ J- Bisman, J. E. Bisrnan, J. Briggs. C. Campbell. H. G. Fearon, A. 0. Fearon, L. Gray, 11. Gray, W. T. Goodrich, F. A. S. Hobbs, H. Inwood, F. W. Leggott, J. Leggott, W. A. Mercer, A. Mercer, 31. Mooney, R. K. M'Lerg H. B. M'Leod, J. Partridge, A. Cyril Parrish, H. F. Rider, B. R. Sargent, R. Turner, H. E. Turner, W. Thomas and C. Went

A collection which was taken up in aid of a patriotic fund amounted to £B.