RETURNED SOLDIERS

Southland Times, Issue 19279, 25 June 1924, Page 7

RETURNED SOLDIERS

ANNUAL REUNION IN WESTERN DISTRICT. AN ENJOYABLE FUNCTION. (From our Correspondent.) Jhe annual reunion of returned soldiers in the Western District was held in the Otautau Town Hall on Friday evening, when there was an attendance of 120, visitors being present from Tuatapere, Nightcaps, Ohai, and the surrounding districts. Mr Hugh Crawford officiated as chairman, and from the “reveille” to “lights put” kept things going merrily. Associated with him were Revs. G. A. Dawson and H. Ford, W. A. E. H. Fraser (chairman of the Town Board), and G. Sinclair (President of the Progressive. League). After the toast of “The King” had been honoured, the chairman said it was very gratifying to the Committee to see ;-uch a large attendance. Last year the function had been held at Riverton, and was a great success. He read an apology from Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P., in which he greatly regretted being unable to be present, owing to a prior engagement, and wishing them every success. Mr J. B. Thomson, Invercargill, also apologised for non-attendance, expressing • his wishes, however, for an enjoyable evening. Mr Crawford said that it was right and fitting that they should lay aside the cares and sorrows of life, and bring up old recollections of Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, France, and the other theatres of

Rev. G. A. Dawson was entrusted with the toast of “Fallen Comrades,” and said he felt honoured and proud to be called upon to propose the silent toast, which would have no' audible response, but those who were privileged to return would have nothing but gratitude in their hearts to those who had made the supreme sacrifice. One of the inevitable accompaniments of war vzas death, brought about by the instruments of war, and the Germans had proved themselves efficient experts in manufacturing these weapons of destruction. They were there that evening to endeavour to forget these things, and to meet in a spirit of brotherliness and comradeship, which would, he hoped, ultimately save the world from such dire calamities as war. It was a proper thing that we should recall the memory of those valiant sons of the Empire who went forth and never returned, and as the grass grew over their graves in those far-off lands, he trusted that their valiant deeds would ever be remembered.—The toast was honoured in silence, all standing. In proposing the toast of “The Returned Soldiers,” Mr W. A. E. H. Fraser said it afforded him great pleasure to be there that evening and meet such a fine body of men, and the gratitude of the whole community was due to the lads who had fought and won, to preserve the peace and liberty of those who had remained at home. He hoped that their efforts in the Great War would be of lasting benefit to the people of New Zealand. On behalf of the citizens he congratulated them on the great work they hd done in the recent war, and trusted there would be no recurrence of the event. He was pleased to see so many had returned, and once again thanked them for the privilege of being present that evening. In response, Mr G. B. Saxelby said the soldiers had done their best, but in many cases he thought they had been misunderstood, and their motto should still be to help anyone in need, and do their best right through the piece.

The toast of “The South African Veterans” was proposed by Mr Brooks (Tuatapere), who regretted that the South African Asociation had practically fallen to pieces, which was a great pity. He was sorry to say that the Returned Soldiers’ Asociation was going the same way. The veterans in that war had done equally as much as they did in the recent war. Mr Birss, in response, said that those who participated in the South African War had had their hardships as well as their good times. He referred to the fact that General Smuts, one of their greatest enemies in that war, had since proved himself a great Imperialist, and on his accession to power, the soldiers who had fought against him were among the first to congratulate him, and it spoke volumes for those who had -conquered him in that campaign to manifest such a magnanimous spirit.

The toast of “The Army, Navy and Air 'Forces” was in the hands of Mr J. Harper, who said they had ample proof that such forces were necessary for our protection, and past history had proved that they must remain with us. Years ago the British nation was fighting on the fields of Flanders, and history had repeated itself recently. Mr Kelly, in responding for the Army, stated that it was absolutely essential that the troops should be organised in everp country, and in no part of the Empire was it more essential than in New Zealand, as it might be necessary to call on them to defend it at any time, on account of its isolated position from the Homeland. As we could not depend upon the Navy for the same reason, we must therefore depend on our Army. In view of the possibility of the Japanese invading our shores, it was essential that our forces should be organised on land and sea, and if war. should come, every man in New Zealand would have to bear arms to defend it. As the only representative of the Navy present, Mr Chandler said that Great Britain and her colonies had depended on the Navy for -the safe transport of troops, and also for the protection of her trade routes. Many people were of opinion that the Navy was unnecessary, but it had nobly done its part in the I recent Great War.

The toast of “The Medical and Nursing Staff” was entrusted to Mr W. Allison, and was responded to by Messrs A. Rowe and Griffin, these gentlemen referring to the great benefits received from the medical men and nurses during the last war. In proposing “Absent Comrades,” Rev. H. Ford said it was refreshing to know men who had done other things besides talk and sing. The spirit of comradeship which existed in all ranks of returned soldiers was one of the greatest assets one could conceive of. In his recent trip to the Old Land be had the pleasure of ministering to returned soldiers in one of the Australian settlements, and the spirit of comradeship and friendship ran deep in the minds and hearts of these men. There was a spirit of Freemasonry amongst returned men here as well as in the Homeland. They remembered their absent friends that night, and thought of them in a spirit of comradeship. On every hand and on every side, in England, Scotland, and the north of Ireland, he had met men who had shared their common trials and dangers, and gatherings such as these greatly assisted to emphasise that spirit. Their friendship should not be an annual event, but they should allow it to sink and permeate into their dispositions throughout all the years. Their friends were absent in body, but present in spirit. He referred to the Cenotaph in London, which was just a symbol in commemoration of the men who had won through, and fought and died for their friends. He trusted that their hearts would go out to those who needed a helping hand, and that they would show a friendly sporting spirit and help them on their way. In proposing the toast of “Our Soldier Settlera,” Mr G. Sinclair stated they were proud of their returned' soldiers and settlers. The soldiers who had taken up land had done so when land was at the peak prices. They had had one or two good years, but they were now up against it, owing to the slump which had taken place, but he hoped things would eventually right themselves. Wool was a good price, and from what he had read was likely to remain so for a number of years. As regards dairying, the advent of the soldier settlers had given the industry a decided lift, closer settlement tending to increase production. Their exports for a number of years showed the benefits to be derived from closer settlement. They had heard good reports from all over New Zealand of the soldiers who had taken up land. They were proud of them, as they were industrious and hard-working men, and a finer type of manhood could not be found anywtere. He hoped they would be successful. The control of New Zealand products by the Meat and Dairy Boards resulted in their produce being better handled. It was a crime to think that

those at Home were making fortunes, when the producers were not getting an adequate return for their goods. He was pleased to say however, that these things would not happen again. Messrs W. Ayson and J. D. Clouston responded, and stated that the same old spirit of comradeship existed among them They had been up against it, but bad shown the true fighting spirit, and continued to battle against hard times and great odds, with a hope that things would be brighter in the future. They also thanked the people for the way the returned soldiers had been treated. Other toasts honoured were: “The Ladies,” proposed by Mr A. Lindsay, responded to by Mr Kelly, “The Press,” by Mr J. McGill, responded to by Mr E. Matheson; and “The Chairman,” by Mr Fraser, responded to by Mr Hugh Crawford. At an interval in the proceedings the suggestion was made that the next reunion be held at Tuatapere. A very enjoyable programme was submitted as follows, each item meeting with applause: Songs by Messrs W. Coulter, J. Forde, D. McLeod, Adam Prentice, Hornby, Morris, and Rev. Dawson, a monologue also being rendered by the last-named. The accompaniments were in the capable hands of Mr A. Rowe. The Committee responsible for the arrangements deserve a word of commendation, as owing to their efforts a very enjoyable evening was spent. The proceedings were brought to a fitting termination by the singing of God Save the King, and Auld Lang Syne.