FAIRBURN ARMISTICE DAY PICNIC

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 6, 13 November 1931, Page 5

FAIRBURN ARMISTICE DAY PICNIC

For the thirteenth year in succession, settlers in the Fairburn district celebrated Armistice Day by a picnic and children’s sports. The weather was somewhat mixed, light misty showers alternating with sunshine, but the large gathering did not allow that to interfere with their enjoy- i ment. The picnic was held as usual I in the grounds of Mrs. R. Coulter, a pleasant paddock bounded by a creek lined with large willow trees, and all the settlers in the neighborhood seemed to be there with their children. At noon, young and old stood in reverent and impressive silence for two minutes in remembrance of the fallen, after which the Rev. D. M. Martin, introduced by the Chairman, Mr. Osca r Fisher, delivered a brief address. The Great War, the close of which they were that day commemorating, was, they were told, a war to end war ; it was for them to see that that end was attained. War was silly as well as ealamatious so there had been brought into being a League of Nations to settle national disputes by moral and not by physical force. He believed in the League of Nations, because he believed in God,' and though in the present case of Japan and China it seemed 'to have failed to prevent war, every movement had its failures, and the League had many victories to its credit. War must be banished forever from the earth, and the League was a means to that end, well worthy of their whole-hearted support. A vai’ied programme of children’s sports was carried out, the various events securing large entries with often close finishes. The schoolmaster, Mr. L. P. B. Hilton, with Mr. G. L. Stanton and C. S. Christensen, got off the various events promptly, and the sight of so many healthy happy-looking youngsters displaying their athletic ability, was a very pleasant one. The Rev. R. H. Trill spoke a few words at the close, congratulating the Committee on the success of their efforts, and the fitting way in which the day was celebrated. The Education Department has decided that no probationary teachers will be taken on in 1932—t0 the intense disappointment of several hundreds of young people.