FRONTIERSMEN'S NIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21919, 1 October 1934, Page 12

FRONTIERSMEN'S NIGHT

IDEALS OF THE LEGION COUNTRY AND EMPIRE The Auckland Squadron of.the Legion of Frontiersmen entertained members of the Te Kuiti Squadron of the legion on Saturday evening. About 100 members and visitors were present. After "The King" had been honoured LegionLieutenant Norn\an Kerr proposed the next toast of "The Nine Thousand," a toast in honour of the nine thousand legionaries who paid the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. In welcoming the visitors Captain W. Palmer, M.C., officer commanding A Squadron, said it was a memorable occasion' as it was the first time that a neighbouring squadron had vinited A Squadron since the inception of tho legion in New Zealand some 20 odd years ago. Lieutenant. Flujc, tlie adjutant of 0 Squadron, Te Kuiti, responded in the absence of Major O. Finlayson. Lieutenant Wright, of Te Kuiti, said that visits of this description helped to cement the good .fellowship of the legion, keep the units and isolated members in touch with each other and make the aims and objects of the organisation known to a wider circle, Tho Government knew that in the legion it had a body of men available at any time of national crisis, whether internal or external. Referring to internal dangers, he said there was the dissatisfaction among the youth of New Zoalaud at their inability to be absorbed into avenues of employment. This state of discontent was being encouraged in many ways by disgruntled parents, and known agitators of the "Red" element. It was the legion's job to see that as far as lay in their power tho enforced leisure time of tho younger generation be occupied in useful channels, and their minds devoted to clean and healthy thoughts. Lieutenant Taylor, adjutant of A Squadron, said the legion needed more members. Hithertofore the Legion of Frontiersmen in New Zealand, and in Auckland particularly, had been inclined 1.0 hide their light under a bushel. He gathered that a popular belief was that the legion was a returned soldiers' "outfit." Nothing was further from the truth. It never was and never will be. Tho legion .vas a voluntary self-governing, self-support-ing body with no political creed but that of "Empire." Age was no, limit, but only men were wanted who were either over age for tho territorial forco or did not have time to devote to it. Men were wanted from all walks of life, who had experience which would bo of benefit 10 their country in time of need, and who were prepared to stand four-square for the good of the whole in peace time and to comba'; to tho best of their ability those existing influences which micht prove detrimental to them or theirs It was their du<ty to spread, the knowledge of Empire, and by example and teaching to show tho rising oration what their heritage stood for. what sacrifices ha\*e been made for it in the past, and to lead them to understand the trust they had inherited.