HIGHEST AWARDS

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1236, 26 June 1947, Page 2

HIGHEST AWARDS

N.Z.R.S.A. GOLD BADGES Gold star badges, the highest award of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association, were conferred upon Mr. A. J. (“Bert”) Jacobs, retiring president, and Mr. Jim Harper, retiring treasurer, at the recent annual conference of that association. In handing over the awards the new president, Mr. C. O. Bell, stated that the honour was most jealously guarded and was given by the council for signal service to the Empire or to the association only after a full report and favourable recommendation by the Dominion executive committee. The award had been made in only nine instances, the holders being His Majesty the King, who was patron of the association, the Duke of Windsor (awarded when he was Prince of Wales), Sir Charles Ferguson, Major-General Bussell, General Godley, Sir Cyril Newell, Sir William (“Bill”) Perry, Sir Bernard prey berg, V.C., Lord Mountbatten (now president of the British Empire Service League, Field - Marshal Montgomery and Sir Keith Park. Mr- Jacobs had been president of the Palmerston North association for 29 years and chairman of the Palmerston North Patriotic Committee after the 1914-1918 war till the present time. He was also deputy-chairman of the National Patriotic Fund Board and president of the District Committee from 1925, He had been N.Z-R.S.A. district vice-president for 10- years and Dominion vice-president from 1935 till 1943, when he was elevated to the presidency upon Sir W, Perry joining the Caibinat. He possessed great tac-t and courtesy, while his loyalty and ability were unquestionable.

Equally Unique Mr. Harper’s service was equally unique. He had, with Claude Batten, Donald Simpson and Noel Broad, been a foundation member of the Wellington R.S.A. and later the N.Z.R.S-A. He had been appointed Dominion president in 1917 and had also been Dominion vice-president and on the executive ever since, having held the position of honorary treasurer for 27 years. He had never accepted any honour or payment and had been at head office every lunch hour from Monday to Friday transacting business throughout. For 29 years Mr. Harper had been a member of the No. 1 War Pensions Board and was still there. Other offices held were those of president of the Wellington R.S.A. for four years and representative on the National War Funds Council and at the British Empire Service League conference at Melbourne in 1934. His number was 2/48. After pinning on the awards Mr. Bell stated that in view of such Bervice reference must be made regarding the sacrifice of their respective wives while their husbands were absent giving such service, and to this end it had been decided to give a small token of esteem to each. A silver salver for Mrs. Jacobs and 'a handsome occasional table for Mrs. Harper, both suitably engraved, were then presented.

Worthwhile Honours In concluding, Mr. Bell added that the honours were worthwhile only so long as the N.Z.R.S.A. maintained its present high prestige. On behalf of the 136,000 members he urged that all recipients would always be proud of their honours. Following musical honours both recipients, visibly affected, replied. Mr. Jacobs remarked that as he retired from the spotlight of the stage to the obscurity of the wings brain and tongue refused to describe their feelings. The new president, Cliff Bell, was a wonderful chap. The speaker said he owed thanks to the R.S-A. for providing him with a fuller, happier, richer and more satisfactory life. The speaker paid a glowing tribute to his wife and spoke of his pleasure in making thousands of Digger and Kiwi friends.

Mr. Harper said he felt he would rather give another 30 years’ service than go through the ordeal. His main thought had been to give service to his old cobbers. Anything he had done could not have been done without the loyalty, support and confidence of members. He thanked the staff for the enormous amount of detailed assistance given. He urged all to aim to maintain the high status of the R.S.A. and so retain the confidence of the public.