RANGITIKEI FRIENDS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11930, 25 October 1919, Page 5

RANGITIKEI FRIENDS.

ENTERTAIN BRIGADIER-GENERAL YOUNG. AND A HERO IS DECORATED. Brigadier-General Young,' C. 8., G.M.G., D. 5.0., Legion of Honour (Croix de Chevalier) leaves Marton shortly to take carge of the Otago Military. He was last night the guest of a number of his Rangitikei friends. The dining-room of the White Hart Hotel, gaily bedecked with the flags of the Allies, seated some 60 prominent residents of Rangitikei. The function will live as the most historical and successful in the district. Mr Jas. Bull presided, and had on his right the guest of the evening. Brigadier-General Meldrum was also present, and the guests included Lts. Aikwright and Bull and visitors from Wanganui. Host Gibbons catered royally. Following on the toast of "The King" the chairman read a number of apologies. Mr A. H. Bill proposed the toast of the "Army and Navy." During the past five years there had heen mixed opinions these. Some swcre by the Navy and some swore by the Army. Farmers anxious to get their wool away swore by the Navy. ( Laughter). It would be presumptuous for him to say much. Both had won the war.

Brigadier-General Meldrum, who responded, received a big round of applause. He paid tribute to the work of the Army, and to the work of Brigadier-General Young, with whom he had been comrades in arms in Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He was sure no one was prouder than he of what General Young had done. (Applause). All would admit that had it not been for the Navy the war would have turned out differently- The Navy was ready when war broke out and at once drove the Germans into Kiel harbour. They had only once come out and then got a beating. The British Navy did not get work enough to be appreciated. They did not have the privilege of fighting which they looked forward to having. Day after day, week after week, and for months and months, they patrolled the North Sea. Nothing was harder than inactivity. It spoke well for the discipline of the Navy that they did not once slacken. With the Army it was different. They had daily fights, and the interest was kept up, and the men complained if there was not enough fighting to do. The work of the Nav> had won the gratitude of the Empire. The Army had far more fan than the Navy. At one time the Erifcish Ariny saved the British Nation. The French Army was bled white. Hate and his Army had held the fort. Then Clemenceau came forward and put new spirit into France. The Navy still kept the seas.? There were times in 1917 when things looked black. When the war was finally ended the British Navy and Arm y were looked on as the strongest fighting force in the world. He took it as a high honour in responding to she toast. He stressed the point that we should see to the future army of New Zealand. There were men present who had taken part in the biggest light in the world, and there might be another big fight. We had no Navy of our own. and we were surrounded by sea. One nation that threatened danger was the Japs, We could not shut our eyes to that. "We should be prepared. It was not only due to our wives and children and Empire, but to the men who would be sent out to fight, that we should do all we could to give them a fair chance. Lives had been lost in tins war because men were not properly trained. W T e should see that our soldiers were properly trained. Incomplete training meant that no: only did we lose men but we could not do sufficient damage. We should see that our men were properly trained and equipped. We had got to iiave not only a Navy, bat ships. Referring to Admiral Jellicoe's report he said that much of it was confidential for obvious reasons. We should take on what he suggested, and do the best in our power on sea and on land. No man or country, man to man, could turn New Zealand out. He concluded by paying a tribute to Mr Geo. Swan, of Wanganui, who had done more for patriotic work than auy man in the Dominion. The speaker sat down amidst applause. The toast of the "N.Z.E.F." was entrusted to Mr Geo. Swan. He said that boys had gone to the front and shed their life's blood, and we mourned for them deeply. The press had voiced all the sentiments he could utter on this subject. Most of the boys who had gone to the front had been trained in the old Volunteers, and this had served them in good stead. Their guest, BrigadierGeneral "Young, had submitted in Wanganui to the schooling of Col. T. P. Watt. People at one time regarded the Volunteers as featherbed soldiers, tyit they did not now. Volunteering was an apprenticeship and had been regarded by some as drudgery, but the time had not been ill spent. They had been forewarned that war would come. This was the first time in the history of Marton that they had two Generals. Marton ought to feel proud of Generals Young and Meldrum. Both had been volunteer men. They were no doubt proud of themselves. They had come back covered with honour. Throughout New Zealand all honoured'and revered those-men who had gone away. No feeble words of his could extol their many virtues.

Rousing cheers and musical honours greeted Brigadier-General Young as he rose to respond. He thanked them for their reception. He claimed that the New Zealand division was one of the best, if not the best, in France. Somehow they had an aptitude for fighting. Each man set an example and the others kept it up. They worked hard, and always came up smiling. The New Zealander his name up in England, aDd the speaker was sure that any New Zealander going back to England would get a hearty wel • come. The English people were proud of them. He thanked the people of New Zealand for sending over such a fine type of men, and the manner in which they had looked after them. The Patriotic Societies had done good work and the parcels they had sent had been a great comfort to men wounded and in the line. The parcels of tobacco had bucked them up. Some parcels may have been lost, but the men knew the

people were doing their best. The speaker, urged them to think of the soldiers who had returned. These men had fought and kept their end up, and they should give them a little grace. The speaker was sure the returned men would soon show that they could play the game just as well here as they had done in France. (Loud applause). The Chairman proposed "Our Guest." He felt very proud as chairman to have the pleasure of welcoming home ' 'Bobby' Young. He had known General Meldrum for some 25 years, and he had known General Young for many years, and had always enjoyed his friendship. As a brother sport he was one of the finest and most straightforward men he had ever-met. (Cheers and "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow. ') He had a presentation to make. General Young's friends had watched him since August, 1914, and they had watched his actions vovy carefully. They had heard of him from returned soldiers. (Cheers). He had won the admiration and love of the boys, and they could not allow him to leave solne small token of their esteem. He hoped their'guest would accept it in the same good spirit as it was given. The chairman then handed over a magnificent silver lea service which was inscribed : To Brigadier-General R. Young, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., Legion of Honour (Croix de Chevalier) On the occasion of his departure from Mar ton to take charge of the Otago Military District. From Rangitikei Friends JAS. BULL, Chairman. ' Friday, Oct. 24th, 1919. General Youns: rose to respond amidst a great rouni of applause. He .thanked them sincerely for their beautiful gift. When in France lie had been told he would get a good time when he came home, but he did not know how much this meant. He was beginning to feel that he would have to get back to work to get a rest. They had placed him on a very high pedestal and it was a good job he was a modest man. (Laughter). He had done his best in France, hut had never felt that he was doing anything big. He was very glad that he had earned the respect Gf the troops. It was over 21 years since he had come to Marton, and he had thanked the Fates. It had been a great education. He had met some of the finest sports. He did not think there were any liner than in Rangitikei. He could not say any more, and thanked them again. He hoped it would be his privilege to come back and settle in Kangitikei on a farm and meet his old friends again. (Applause). A very interesting ceremony was entrusted to General Meldrum. As an officer of the N. Z.E.F. he wished to say that they owed more than they could express to those who went through all the dangers of the war and over the top. His pride as a New Zealander was immensely increased when seeing how the boys conducted themselves when in danger. They had received far too few honours." Those who did set them had always been proved to have merited them. He was honoured in being asked to present a military medal to a man who had distinguished himself in the field. He then pinned the medal on Sergt. E. Stacey, who was cheered. The" medal winner was brief in is reply. He told hi 3 hearers that he would sooner face the Germans again than make a speech.

Iu humorous vein Mr B. Whitcombe proposed the ' 'Farming Community. "The toast opened, up a wide range. There weie the wool kings shearing their 20 to 40,000 a year, not knowing how '■•■'• dispose of their—("Boodle" suggested) down to the more moderate man. They had dairying in Taranaki and mixed farming in Ransritikei. The farmers of the present daj- vere much to be pitied. (Laughter). They had only to read the report of the 'Farmers' Conference to see that his lot was a hard one. The farmer was very much overworked.—they could oee him rushing round the country every day in his motor car. He brought laud at £2O per acre and sold it at £4O, and ''crooked" his books to dodge the income tax. (Laughter). Mr T. R. Willis responded. He had no difficulty in disposing of his cheques—the banker got them. The day of the big farmer was done and the future of" New Zealand lay in the freehold. Farmers would welcome returned soldiers on the land. They recognised the difficulty of returned soldiers coming back to life, and were willing to help him on his feet. He hoped General Young would some day be as successful at farming as he had been a soldier. Mr JT. Purnell toasted "Commercial and Industrial Interests." He asked, without the Army and Navy and the support of men like Generals Meldrum where would commerce and industries he in New Zealand? They had been at the mercy of the Army and Navy, and had only been able to carry on because of the Army and Navy. The last five years had been the most prosperous in the annals of New Zealand. Recently they had raised a loan of £10,000,000 in a few clays. The district and the Dominion had a high sense of business morality. Ho hoped the day would nover come when they would adopt the slimness of American methods,

Mr J. Broad responded. The first thought was the wonderful prosperity of the past five rears. To whom was this due? The boys in blue and the boys in khaki. They looked mostly to khaki, because the Navy was not so well-known. They must acknowledge the deep debt they owe to the boys for freedom. The best the country could give them was their due. They could not repay the boys. The best they could give them was not enough. It was a particular pleasure to be in a position to do honour to an old school mate "Bobby" Young. They had played cricket and football together, and he spoke of one hard football struggle in which an opponent was Mr B. Whitcombe.

Mr S. J. Gibbons proposed ' 'Sports and Pastimes." All would admit that the sports were the men who produced the material for Generals Young and Meldrum to handle in the war. The sport was the first man to say he was going to fight for his country. On the football field the true principles of a man were found—on the battlefield it was the man who had been a sport who won out. Mr J. Bull thought that during the past five years sport had stood on a pedestal in patriotic campaigns. New Zealand stood in a high position in the world of sport. He referred to the football successes of

the Native team/ the All Blacks, Spencer Gollan who had won the most important race in the world, and to many others who had made names for themselves—Bob Fitzsimmons, Webb, Arnsfc, Wilding, Loveday, Hadiield and others. He considered that New Zealand had done more for sport in proportion to its size and population than any conn' try in tiie world. Auckland had produced the greatest equine wonder of the world—there was only one Carbine.

Mr F. Hatherly had "Returned Soldiers." There was only one toast that could beat ifc—thafc of the King. F.eturned soldiers covered a lot of ground. There were present two Generals and,some privates, but in the toast they were on the same level. He had a certain amount of uncomfortableness in proposing the toast, because those who had returned did not wish to forget those they had left behind. He believed if necessary every returned man would jump into the / trench again. Had Nelson been alive at the present time to see the effect of his message "England expects every man this day to do his duty" he would see that the boys had done so. Lieut, Arkwright referred'to the great feeling of comradeship which existed between returned men. They would not forget what the people had done for them in the war. It had taken him a week to get to hospital in Blighty from the line, and he soon had a letter from Mr Geo. Fulton, who was in France. He had also received cheering messages from the Patriotic Societies at Martbn (Mr Bill) and Hunterville (Mr McManaway). Hundreds of comrades were still disabled, and lie hoped they would be looked after; also the relatives of those who did not come onck.

Lieut. Ball said the soldiers had only played the part their country had expected them to do. He expressed thanka for the work of Eangitikei Patriotic Societies. He did not think any district had helped more. "Speaking on behalf of the returned men of the Mounted Brigade, some of whom were present, he said they had never followed a hotter man in action or out of it than General Meldrum, and the same could be said of General Young. (Applause). "Local Bodies" was proposed by General Young. Coming back from England, he said, where there were good roads, many of them hundreds of years old, he was surprised at the good country roads, and he paid tribute to Rangitikei County Council. He spoke of the roads in France, some built by Napoleon, and thought there was nothing prettier than the rows of trees which were planted down each side. He suggested that this' should be adopted in New Zealand. He was surprised at the way Marton had gone ahead. It was a clean, nice little town. He had received the Advocate when at the front and had read with delight of the great offensives which had taken place in the Borough Council. (Laughter). Many villages in England were not as good as out here, and as for those in France, well —! He referred with pride to the, advanced stage of many towns in New Zealand, and considered Mar. ton go ahead. Mr T. Duncan thought the beautifying of the roads was a matter not only for County Councils but Beautifying So&ieties. It they could go in for that they would make the county one of the most picturesque in the world. But he did not think the time opportune. Roads must be dealt with first. He was pleased that General Young had made the proposal. He thought the war would to do with broadening the minds of Councillors. If not, it should do. He was sorry to hear that a tollgate had been suggested betwen Wanganui and Rangitikei. He hoped it would not come. It was going back to ancient ages. Roads should be maintained out of revenue. His association with the Rangitikei County Counci-had been one of the best. The Council had tried to do its best for the ratepayers. He was pleased to see Ken Dalrymple back and hoped he would take his seat on the Council again. Mr H. Sutcliffe also responded. Mr J. G. Simpson proposed the "Chamber of Commerce," which should receive more support than it did. They were the people who were going to push the town ahead. Mr H. Duigan said it gave him pleasure to do honour to the Generals. Wanganui felt that General Young belonged to "Wanganui. (Cries of No! No!) The General belonged to the 7th Regiment. They recognised that Marton and Wanganui men were delighted if they served under either General Young or Meldrum. Referring to the Chamber of Commerce he aaid they did not get enough support from the Borough Council. Brig-adier-General Meldrum would soon know that, because the Chamber in Wanganui and Marton was always going to the Member for the district. (Laughter). The Chamber wao doing its best for the community, but sometimes made mistakes. But if no misiakes were made there would be no successes.

Mr K. Dalrympie said everyone recognised the work of ' 'The Ladies'' during the last four or five years in New Zealand hand the United Kingdom. He detailed kindnesses received on the trip to the front, and also the work thoy had done at the W.CM.A., Southampton Road and at Russell Square. People in New Zealand hardly knew what these ladies did. They worked night and day—all over England, in Franco and in Belgium. They owed them a debt for their work to the wounded men, who were well looked after. Mr Nl Payne responded. "The Press" was proposed by Mr R. Moore and responded to by Messrs Way ar.d Duigan. The Chairman proposed the toast of "The Host."" Their friendship had exteuded 25 years, and he had found him one of the business men on the coast.

Mr Gibbons acknowledged the toast. They would all agree that Mrs Gibbons was entitled to a little acknowledgment. It had been a great pleasure to put on a little spread. They had all felt that they could not let Bobbie go away without showing some appreciation. He hoped he would come back, and he was sure he would be welcomed. He had been honoured in catering for two Generals from the same district.

Mr McManaway proposed "The Chairman." It was 13 years since he (the speaker) had come to the district and met the chairman, whose prowess as a gentleman ridex hs had heard of long years ago. They had had many business dealings, running into thousands, and he had always found him honest. Both he and the chairman, who had lost a son, had come to the front when the call was

made for financial help for the men. The chairman had been instrumental in collecting £16,500 for patriotic work in a' very short period, and that had been the foundation of the Patriotic Societies in the district. He hoped there would not be another •war. He trusted the chairman and his family would live for many years. The Chairman said the work he had done was not as difficult as many people imagined. Thej' were f ortunateinhaving had many liberal men in the district. From two to three thousand had been collected in a week, and yet they all felt that they had not done enough. They did not know at the time what tliey were tip against. Between toasts a splendid concert was given. Messrs G. Swan and H. Duigan, the well-known Wanganui entertainers, contributed a number of items in standard style. Mr Sherriff contributed some songs and also a duet with Mr A. Hunt, Messrs Moore, Fowler. Hatherly ana Jas. Bull also helped to make merry. The gathering terminated with Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem, and cheers for the guest of the evening.