PART PLAYED BY YOUNG MEN

Southland Times, Issue 23855, 28 June 1939, Page 7

PART PLAYED BY YOUNG MEN

DEFENCE MEASURES IN DOMINION MR RITCHIE’S ADDRESS TO RETURNED SOLDIERS The need ior the young men of the country to realize their responsibilities in the movement for securing adequate defence of the Dominion was emphasized by Mr Hugh Ritchie, of Invercargill, at the annual reunion of the Ohai-Night-caps branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, which was held at Ohai. Local members and representatives of many Southland branches filled the hall to capacity, some difficulty being experienced in getting sufficient seating accommodation. The Regent orchestra provided the musical items, featuring several wartime tunes which were much appreciated. Mr R. N. Murray was chairman and Mr Richard Reid acted as toast master.

In his opening remarks the chairman expressed his pleasure at seeing such a big attendance and warmly welcomed all visitors.

Replying to the toast of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association Mr Ritchie, Invercargill and Southland delegate to that body, congratulated the Ohai Sub-Association ,on its splendid turn-out and the feeling of goodfellowship that was always evident at their reunions. He thought the Ohai SubAssociation’s reunion was always “a good draw,” in fact he considered it was one of the best in Southland. The Returned Soldiers’ Association movement, Mr Ritchie said, was growing rapidly and its membership exceeded 37,000. The movement was represented to a larger extent in Parliament than ever before, although the association was not a political body. The Government was to be congratulated on the valuable assistance given to returned soldiers in pensions. Referring to the world situation today, the speaker laid emphasis on the need for adequate defence of New Zealand. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. Nf. J. Savage) had made an appeal for defence volunteers, but the response had been disappointing. The Returned Soldiers’ Association members should assist in persuading the young men of New Zealand to respond to that appeal. It was a credit to the Returned Soldiers’ Association that so many of its members had answered the appeal and had signed up for home defence, while young men had ignored it. “ONLY ALTERNATIVE” “In my opinion,” the speaker said, “if the appeal is not responded to by the youth of the country the Government should have no alternative but to enforce conscription.” There should be some youth movement organized to make young men realize their duty to defend New Zealand should the occasion arise. When returned men who were incapacitated had signified their willingness to sign up to defend the country after all they had gone through it did seem a shame to have youth apathetic to the situation. Perhaps the people of NewjZealand did not realize the necessity of an adequate defence force, but the situation was serious and should the voluntary system fail the Government must introduce conscription. . The speaker commended the Returned Soldiers’ Association’s response to the appeal and hoped members would assist in enrolling volunteers. “The youth of this country must be made to understand their responsibility towards the establishment of an efficient defence force” concluded Mr Ritchie.

Replies to the toast of Fallen Comrades were made by Messrs L. Magee (Nightcaps) and E. Moseby (Nightcaps). Mr Magee said it was to be regretted that the international situation had shown no improvement since their last reunion. He gave' an interesting account of some personal experiences in Egypt and France while he was stationed with the armyin those countries and interspersed his references with humorous incidents and referred to the life and customs of their inhabitants. Mr Moseby, who replied on behalf of the mercantile marine, stated that although little was heard of their unit it was in close co-operation with the navy. He also referred to the many risks which the mercantile marine undertook in combating the submarine menace and mine sweeping.

Mr R. Colquhoun replied to the toast of the Anzacs. The toast of Women War Workers was responded to by Mrs S. Bowman, president of the Ohai branch of the Women’s Institute. Mrs Bowman stated that the women of New Zealand would not be found wanting in the event of war. In peace time they would assist the Returned Soldiers’ Association in the sale of poppies and in other ways. The following visitors responded to the toast of Our Guests: Messrs Stone (Invercargill), T. O’Neill (Otautau), Stewart (Winton), M. Cosgrove (Tuatapere). These speakers thanked the Ohai branch for their hospitality. The chairman, in responding to his toast, especially thanked the women who had gone to a good deal of trouble to make the function a success. He also thanked the orchestra for its assistance, the representatives of sister branches for their attendance, and the performers for their items. The attendance, he said, was the biggest in the history of the Ohai Sub-Association and he hoped that all future functions would be as successful.

Mr R. Reid, toast master, paid a tribute to the branch secretary (Mr R. Colquhoun) who was an untiring worker for the Returned Soldiers’ Assoication. The success of the evening was partly due to his energy and organization. Enjoyable items were given during the evening.