ANZAC DINNER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9955, 26 April 1918, Page 5

ANZAC DINNER

ROWDY GATHERING SPEAKERS’ VOICES DROWNED IN UPROAR. > Ono of the most lamentable scenes >ver witnessed in Wellington was onated at the annual dinner and reunion the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ isociation in the Town Hall concert amber last night. Before half of the agthy programme had been gone hrough the gathering had to be formally brought to a close by the playing of the National Anthem. The Prime Minister (Mr Massey), who made an heroic effort to make himself heard above the din, had his speech drowned in the uproar. It is extremely regrettable that in spite of ail the chores of the officials of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, who, to give them <iue Credit, did their very utmost to ma intern some semblance of order, it was

absolutely impossible to hear more tnau a lew scattered fragments of the speeches. Loss than half the toast list was gone through, and that only in a very disconnected fashion. Amongst those present were the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey), Sir Joseph Ward, General Sir Robert Anderson, General Robin, General Honuerson, Colonel J. G. Hughes, 0.M.G., D. 5.0., Air J. P. Luke, C.M.0., M.P., Colonel Sir James Allen, K.C.8., Colonel Gibbon, 1.G.5., Colonel Eseon,0.M.G., and Colonel G. Smith, D. 5.0.; Mi W. S. Copland represented the Y.M.C.A., and about 900 returned soldiers sat down -to the dinner. Sir J. Harper, president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, in proposing the toast of the King, said that it must not be forgotten that although the dinner was primarily held to commemoratetho LandingatAnzac.it was also to honour those who had fought and were fighting in other fronts. Could one forget that glorious 29th Division—(cheers)—the Indians—(cheers) ■ —or all those ’ newly-formed units of Kitchener’s army who had done so wc-tH

The second toast, also proposed by the chairman, who attempted to call the gathering to order by blasts from a whistle, was that of 1 ‘Our Fallen Comrades.” This toast was honoured in silence. Sapper J. I. Fox, manager of the Wellington Soldiers’ Club, then rose to prbpose the toast of “The Allied Cause,” which he did in a very able speech, coupling it with the names of the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward. He said that they had all hoped that this Anzao Day they would be welcoming back their mates, hut fate had ruled otherwise. That day marked one more epoch, in the history of the war, and the annals of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. In 1914 a seed had been sown when England had taken up the cudgels for Belgium and had declared war on Germany. That seed was the seed of a great Democracy which had been brought into being by the war. They must all know that when, war broke out it had found • the men ready..and willing volunteers'.'’ ’ He believed that if it wore necessary those there that night would go back again. (Sustained applause.) Meanwhile, the war must go on, and they must still keep going. The Hon. W. F. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward were shortly going Homo to take part in the most. momentous conference tne world had ever known, and he thought that they should know that the returned men were with them heart ana B °At conclusion of Mr Fox’s speech the company, in spite of every endeavour of the officials of the assertion, were getting absolutely out of control, and the excitement toe© when several men were ejected from tne hall. Interjections were very frequent. and it was almost impossttble to follow the speaker. • ; The Hon. W. F. Massey, who was received with loud applause and ones of “Good old Bill I” thanked them for the enthusiastic manner in wtocn they had honoured the toast. He washed to thank them one and all for what . they had done both for New Zealand and the Empire. It was not posable to do any sort of justice to .their achievements in an after-dinner speech. ■ ' The position at the front at the present time appeared gloomy, but no man at present could see things m their proper perspective. Germany, in her campaigns, had tried to isolate each of the Allies in turn, and had attempted to smash Italy—to smash Roumania—to smash Russia —and at last Britain.. In all of these attempts she had failed, except in the case of Russia, which she had beaten, not by force erf arms, hat by unscrupulous trickery. The present situation wag undoubtedly grave, but there was no need to despair. Let them remember that the darkest hour always came before the dawn. (Applause.) Those of them who had studied history would notice the curious fact that one hundred years ago America, allied with France, was fighting England; now all three wero united against a common foe. (Cheers.) Fourteen days ago Marshal Uaig bad issued an order for the troops to stand fast. They stood last, and now the tide was turning. (Cheers.) It was that dogged tenacity of the British troops which would be the salvation of the cause of civilisation. Though Britain had had her reverses, yet there was one great fact to remember: not one single German had set foot on the

Empire’s soil —except as a prisoner, (Continued applause.) Furtnermore, Germany lad lost every one of her colonies, and her ally, Turkey, had lost Jerusalem. , That afternoon Ma-

jor Taylor had urged them to choose rather national death than national iishononr; he would say, rather, that they would gain national glory. He had just received the following cable message from the greatest of all Ankcs, General Birdwood. (Cheers, and jries of “Good old Birdie”): —“On this, the third anniversary of Anzac JDay, I desire to convey the greetings of the Australian Imperial Forces to the people of Now Zealand, and to assure them that the New Zealand and Australian troops are continuing to uphold the great traditions established on April 25th, 1915.” The many months during which the Sew Zealand and Australian troops fought shoulder to shoulder in tho common cause can never bo forgotten by either. All who are fighting to-day realise that the safety and honour of their homes and people are as much in their safe-custody as they were three years ago, and in this trust THEY WILL NOT FAIL.”

They all knew that man who had sent that message—(prolonged- ap-

plauso)—and they knew that what ho said was true. He trusted that the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association would continue many years in its sphere of usefulness. During the greater part of Mr Massey s’s speech interjections were so loud and numerous that it was only possible to make out a few words here and there. It became evident that the gathering would have to be abandoned, as it was not even possible to hear the chairman’s whistle above the uproar.

Sir Joseph AVard made an attempt to speak, and for a few moments gained the attention of the company, but the noise was so great that only frag meat ary utterances could be heard Ho thanked them for their reception of the toast of “The Allied Cause,” and said that the Empire would carry on until the Allied flags were floating over Berlin. He had not much to add to the Prime Alinister’s speech as he had voiced the opinions of both.

Corporal R. Aldridge (4th Auckland Mounted Rifles) then sang “The Veterans’ Song,’’ which was received with much enthusiasm.

After this all semblance of order was abandoned, and the gathering resolved into groups of feverish autographhunters. Arguments were rife, and the whole hall was in a state of disorder, and the gathering finally broke up. j It is only fair to tho officials to .say ' that tho state of affairs -was in no, way ■duo to them, tho disorder probably being due to the fact that numerous reunions of old mates had taken place during the day, and many already had dined not wisely, but too ■well.