CHILDREN AND THE WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 12

CHILDREN AND THE WAR

SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST.

BANNER GAINED BY PARNELL. ADDRESS BY SIR G. RICHARDSON. The Anzac Banner, awarded by the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association to the primary school .gaining most points in an annual war essay competition, was presented to the Parnell school yesterday hy Major-General Sir George Richardson, president of the association, who also distributed prizes to the 13 children who had earned highest marks. The ceremony was held outside the school. Sir George was accompanied by the secretary of the association, Mr. K. 11. Sharp, and several members of the executive. lie was received by the chairman of the Farncll school committee, Mr. ,7. W.' Mitchell, the secretary, Mrs. T. Bloodworth, and .the headmaster, Mr. F. Murphy. Mr. Mitchell, in welcoming Sir George, remarked that although the school was housed in an old building, it had sent thousands of children into the world well equipped morally, physically and intellectually to become good citizens. " Live For Your Country."

Sir George Richardson said it gave him great pleasure to be present as representing a large number of Auckland men and women who had served in the Great War. He. also felt that lie represented those who had gono to the war and would never return. "The men who fought and died hoped to make the world better, so that you children should not havo to inako such sacrifices as they did," said Sir George. "They went because it was their duty to defend their women and children. You have a duty, ton—to live for your country. That is not an easy thing, and you will need to remember some guiding rules. There is your duty to God, the King and all who are put in authority over you. There is your duty to your country —to work for it and to try to make it better. "Then there is your duty to the other fellow. I uso that expression because the soldiers used it. A soldier in battle was kind to his comrade; ho would help a tired man on the march, tend a wounded man, and share his rations with one who had nono. Lastly, thero is your duty to yourself. You aro working.out your own destiny, and in that way you arc working out the destiny of New Zealand. By your conduct you will help to make this country either better or worse."

Soldiers' Hatred ol War. Sir George had lately visited the top of Mount Eden with a lady of 95 who had arrived in Auckland a3 a little girl in the year 1841. Looking at the widespreading city, she had been proud to think that \t_ had been made in a single lifetime. "I wonder what it will be like when you are 95," said Sir George. "Will it be better, happier, free from crime ? That depends on you, whether you are workers and shape your destiny aright." The Anzac essay competition had been inspired by mothers, who desired that the children should never forget the sacrifices mad'j in the Great War. He congratulated Mr. Murphy and the school upon winning tho banner this year. "I hope you will have serious thoughts when you pass the Cenotaph," Sir George continued, "and I hope that when we havo placed our roll of honour, containing over 7000 names, on tho walls inside the museum, you will visit it and induce vour friends to do so.

"I stand before you in uniform, and several of my comrades hero are wearing medals. They havo seen active Service, have seen comrades shot on their right and their left. These men do not lovo war; they hate it, and will do all they can to promote peace. You children will forget much moro than tho children of Europe. Many of them live in towns and villages that were shattered and have been rebuilt. Every day they pass what were once fields and are now cemeteries containing thousands of headstones, a constant reminder of the war. Belgium and Now Zealand.

"In 1914 I was in Belgium, and saw hundreds and thousands of children walking with thpir parents down tho roads because shells were battering their homes to bits. They had been able to save no more than tho clothes they wore. New Zealand has been saved all that. You are fortunate in having your homes in this lovely country. You have a moral debt to those who died, and yon can repay it, not by saying nice things, but by the lives you lead." Sir Georgo then handed tho henner to tho headmaster, and distributed the prizes, which consisted of a. cheque for the writer of tho prizo essay, Doreen Slaughter, of Parnell, and books for the next 12.

Mr. W. Birss, headmaster of the Cornwall Park school, which had gained second place after holding the banner for two years, aijd Mr. W. S. Dalo, headmaster of the Normal school, also addressed tho children. Tho senior pupils sang "Land of Hope and Glory," and at the close ono small boy caused much amusement bv calling for threo cheers for "Mr. Richardson." Tho Returned Soldiers' Association and tho school ■ staff were also heartily cheered.