ROUNDING OTAGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24540, 24 March 1943, Page 5

ROUNDING OTAGO

'ANNIVEBSABY HELD , emigration in future |p C>) DUNEDIN, Tuesday A message of greeting from the Lord j>rorost of Edinburgh to the Mayor of Jjunedin was read by the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Sir Jniry Batterbee, at the early settlers' gathering held this afternoon in celebration of the 95th anniversary of the £rst settlement of Otago. "Edinburgh, ,the capital city of Scotland, shares with New Zealand," said the Lord Provost, "the deep fooling which the anniversary of the first landing of Scottish immigrants at Dimedin j n Xew Zealand evokes. During the long lapse of years Edinburgh and Scotland, Punedin and New Zealand, have jnarc'hed step hy stop, sharing a common tradition and inheritance. They have found down the years not even a family quarrel. They have felt at one with each other in all the vicissitudes 0 f time and circumstance. It, is not good for us to know the future, but there are grounds for high hope that these-ties of blood and kinship which have united us so long, will for our own comfort and happiness, and for the ■welfare of all men of goodwill everywhere, continue down nil the years that are to be." Scottish Charactei "Many of the physical characteristics of your country," said Sir Harry, "remind one of the land from which you are sprung, but it is your boast that above all you seek to keep alive those qualities of character, those Scottish qualities which distinguished your forefathers —the qualities of endurance, hard work, discipline and devotion to duty, of plain living and high thinkin".' Scotland is justly famed for her educational system, which moulded the Scottish character, and you are keeping alive that tradition in Otago."' Many of them were hoping, Sir Harry continued, that after the war the connection might be renewed and revivified by new settlers from Scotland and other parts of Britain coming to contribute to the needed increase of population in New Zealand. It must, however, be remembered that after the terrible ravages of this war there would be tremendous need in Britain of vigorous young men and women to take part in the task of rebuilding. Immigration Limited "It must not be assumed," lie said, "'that there will be in the future largo numbers who can be spared and who will be ready to coiiip from Britain to settle in New Zealand and other countries overseas." It might well be, how- - ever, that among the demobilised men there would be a greater number than usual keen to start life afresh in new surroundings. It might be possible to arrange for the migration of some of these to New Zealand. Sir Harry paid a tribute to the part played by the United States in this area of the world war. "Thanks to the magnificent help and the gallant exploits of our American allies," he said, "the contingency of invasion has not materialised. They have shouldered the responsibility for operations in the Pacific theatre, and to the splendid way in which they have discharged that responsibility we owe our security." KILLED ON SERVICE PILOT FROM AUCKLAND Reported killed on active service, Sergeant-Pilot Walter Charles Asher, R.N.Z.A.F., was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. L. I. Asher, of 2 Kenny Road, Remuera. He was educated at the Meadowbank School and Auckland Grammar School and before the war was a member of the St. John Ambulance Association and of the Auckland JRifle Club.

Sergeant-Pilot Asher joined the Air Force in 1941 and qualified during training for membership of the famous Caterpillar Club by parachuting safely to the ground after an accident in the air. He gained his wings in New Zealand and sailed for Britain in February, 1942. SOCCER CODE ANNUAL MEETING HELD The fostering of junior football by senior clubs was the theme of a discussion at trio annual meeting of tho Auckland Football Association held last evening. Mr. A. Menzies presided. Discussion was opened b.v a remit from the Eastern Suburbs Club, advocating an alteration to the rules to compel any club playing 8 senior, second division or third division team also to field fourth or fifth grade teams, and. in addition, a sixth or lower grade team, ft was pointed out that the only clubs to function at full strength last season were those who in the past had catered for junior players. Support was forthcoming for the proposal, but the question of sufficient coaches was raised arid the motion was lost by a narrow margin. A remit from the same club that the championship games be completed in all grades More the knock-out matches wero commenced fas also defeated, but its proposal to alter the date of the -.inriu.il meeting of the association to allow of clubs holding their annual meetings prior to that of the association met *ijh strong support. Die chairman expressed pleasure at the standard of play last season and said fhat. *hile inter-provincial games had been abandoned. club matches had created much interest. He also eulogised the work of the team managers. No decision whs made as to the Jiature of the competitions for the coming •ea son. The annual report showed that, in spite of the difficult season, the revenue of the association had been satisfactory, chiefly due to the playing of representative matches against service teams. The election of officers resulted ®s follows:—patron flDd president. Sir Ernest Davis-, hon auditor, Mr. K. Wallace; judicial committee, Mr. F. C. Jacobs (clubs' representative); control board, Messrs F. IT. Baker. Jj- A. Coir, ,f. Cowie, A. E. C'nisle.v. FT. fribble, J. C, Sibbin. C. F. Ward. T> A. Wilu *ms and W. Walker. RANKS OF REFEREES depleted by war service -At the annual meeting of tho Auckland football Association referees it was stated 'flat several members- had joined the armed •orces, while others were engaged on essentia fork on Saturday afternoons. It was decided •o appeal to old players to render every assistive possible. In tho olection of Mr. L. J. Uieck to the presidency, reference was made JJ* his service to (ho codo for the past 2*l jsars. Honours certificates were presented to several refers who had controlled representa{"e games. The election of officers resulted as "Hows:—Patron, Sir Ernest Davis; president. L. J. Check; hon. secretary, Mr. F. <O. y'Mn; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. G. Edwards; oolegate to the New Zealand Keferees' Association, Mr. V. Wheeler; representative on Wntrol Board, Mr. F. O. Green.