SOLDIERS' CLUB.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1736, 6 September 1919, Page 11

SOLDIERS' CLUB.

FOUNDATION STONE. LAID BY ADMIRAL JELLICOE. IMPRESSIVE MARCH > THROUGH THE CITY. The foundation stone of the new Returned Soldiers' Club room, on the section adjoining the Masonic Hall, in Gloucester Street, was laid to-day by Admiral Viscount Jellicoe, in the presence of a large gathering, including -officers and men of H.M.S.. New Zealand, members of the New Zealand Expeditionary' Forces, and the general public. . ?

The preliminary march through the streets of a detachment from H.M.S. New Zealand and returned soldiers was an event that attracted large throngs of sightseers to the various points of vantage. In the grounds on the site of the new club room a dais had been erected, whence the speakers addressed those present. On a form in front of the dais were seated a group of greybearded veterans of former wars of the Empire, wearing their medals, and ranged around were inmates of the Canterbury Military. Hospital in their blue uniforms. The sailors were drawn up around the dais, and behind them were the returned soldiers, their banners indicating the various battles in which the men of the, New Zealand Expeditionary Force had ' taken part, and adding an heroic touch to the scene. On the dais were .the Mayor of Christchurch (Dr H. T. J. Thacker, M.P.) and the Mayoress, Admiral "Viscount Jellfcoe, and members of his staff, Colonel %A. Chaffey, C.8.E., V.D., Colonel G. J. Smith, C.8.E., Major R. S. Matthews, M.8.E., N.Z.S.C., Mr N. B. McCallum {president of the Christchurch Branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association), and the Hon.' H. F. Wigram, M.L.C. Others present were: Mr A. Boyle (president of the Canterbury Branch of the Navy League), Mrs Boyle, and Mr H. Holland. The Admiral was'received at the Armagh Stieet entrance to the site by MrJWcGallum, Colonel 6. J. Smith (who was in charge of the returned soldiers' parade), Mr W. E. Leadley (secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association); and Mr 0. T. J. Alpers. Dr Thacker, in extending a welcome to all, said it was with regret that they learned that Lady Jellicoe was unable to be present. He then introduced the veterans, who had borne the brunt, with their comrades, of Great Britain's early battles. (Cheers.) Those present had assembled to ask Admiral Lord Jellicoe to lay the foundation stone of what he believed would be.one of .the greatest institutions in the Dominion. Our soldiers had preserved our liberty, and when they asked for a club it was not for us to question—it was quite sufficient to know that they should have the, club. Their " cobbers "—the men in blue-at the hospitals—would be able to visit the club and participate in its benefits.. He wished to give credit to the women —especially to the girls of the "Our Reveille" company, who had collected £I6OO .on the stage. Credit was also due to those women who had given concerts to the men in a club which was hopelessly- inadequate. (Applause.) Mr 0. T. J. Alpers slftd. it was an exceedingly great honour for him to ask .Admiral Viscount Jellicoe to lay, "well and truly," the foundation stone before them. Since the inception of the movement for the club, he had been* allied with the men who had had. the matter in hand. The task had not been an entirely easy one. There were a number of people who' thought that the gathering of men in clubs should be discouraged. They thought that the men should get back into civil life. This club was for the men who had got back, and for those who had not. The opposition finished about January, when a cable message was received stating that Admiral Jellicoe nnd Field-Marshal Haig had placed themselves at the head of a movement to recognise the Empire's gratefulness for the work of her men. The speaker said that since that time he had used the Admiral's name in vain, even thpugh by so doing he had been able to collect large sums for the club fund. .He rpologised for the liberty he , had taken. (Laughter.) When they heard that the Admiral was to visit these waters, they made every

savagery and sourness of the wolf came to the surface. Challenging of Jurors. The comparative rights of the Crown and the defence in a criminal trial in the matter of challenging jurors were briefly commented upon during yesterday afternoon's discussion on the introduction of the Crimes Amendment Bill. Mr H. E. Holland (Grey), speaking as one who had had a more intimate acquaintance with the law than most hon. members, complained that, whereas the accused was allowed only six- challenges, the Crown could stand aside the whole panel if need be. He contended that, at times of industrial upheaval, such as during the 1913 strike, when the public mind was inflamed, man after man had been stood aside by the Crown, merely because he was a wage worker. Later, the Hon. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) agreed that the right of the Crown indiscriminately to stand jurors aside "without cause" was one which should be limited by Statute. "With cause," he said, "you may make as many challenges as you like, but merely to stand aside nine, 10,15, 20 or even 25, at a trial is a wrong proceeding." Mr Holland had not stated that the counsel for the accused had a right to as many challenges as he liked "with cause," but it was often difficult to show cause. Counsel might have heard a juror coming down in the tramcar of a morning express his intention of "settling" such and such an accused if he were on the jury. When that man's name was called, perhaps all the challenges had been exhausted, and counsel had no witnesses to prove that the statement of "intent to settle" had been made, so could not "show cause" to challenge. He must then sit still and see that man go on to the jury. Mr Wilford contended that the right of the Crown to challenge without cause should be reduced to six jurors, and so made equal to the accused's right. Members' Handwriting.

In his Address-in-Reply speech last evening, Mr H. E.'Holland was telling of what had been accomplished by a soldier who lost his right arm at the Front.' "In London he learned to write with his left hand," said the hon. member for Grey, "and he writes a good deal better hand than some of the members of this House. I have seen some of their writing. I can hardly read my own, but I cannot read that of some other hon. members at all." •

endeavour to get him to lay the foundation stone, and, by cabling to him in Sydney, they were told that the request would be acceded to. Even today they were not ready for the Admiral, and for many weeks the stone would be a lonely one. The soldiers of the association throughout Canterbury would have loved dearly to have had the stone laid by the King, or his muchbeloved soldier-son, who had endeared himself to the soldiers in France by his gameness and bonhomie. (Cheers.) Next to those two august personages, the one man they would have liked to lay the stone was Admiral Jellicoe. (Cheers.) In saying that, he was speaking for the soldiers who paid tribute to the name arid career of the Admiral and to the Royal Navy. New Zealand soldiers loved the Navy with an ardour and devotion that was real.. The men had wanted to get to "the show" in France, but to crqss those 16.000 miles of ocean they needed the protection of the Navy. (Cheers.) , Mr Alpers then referred to the regret felt* at Lady Jellicoe's absence. He called on his little daughter to present Admiral Jellicoe with a posy for Lady Jellicoe. Mr Alpers then presented the Admiral with the trowel,' which, he humorously remarked, could be used as a fish knife. The trowel had been provided by Mr J. S. Guthrie, architect for the new club-house. With it Lord Jellicoe descended from the dais, and declared the foundation stone well and' truly laid. THE ADMIRAL'S ADDRESS. Admiral Jellicoe, who was received with loud cheers, said that he had just done a job he "had never done before, and he certainly had never done a job with such great pleasure. He hoped it would not be. long before .the stone he hus just laid was followed by many other stones, and by the completion of the club which discharged soldiers —and he was proud to be one of them —wanted. It was a very great honour which had been paid to the Royal Navy by asking him to. perform the ceremony. It was a sign of the comradeship which existeel between the two Services, and which was evidenced by the treatment of the officers and men of H.M.S. New Zealand. It was a sign of that comradeship which was started when the New Zealand Expeditionary Force left these shores, which was continued 1 at Gallipoli, and which would never die. (Cheers.) They in the Navy were very proud of the deeds of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which were commenced on Gallipoli in 1914-15, were carried on at Messiries Ridge and Passchendaele in 1917, and helped to stem the German offensive in 1918, and wipe the Germans out of France in the latter half of 1918. They were proud that -both Services should co-operate in the fulfilment of their desires. The Military District of Canterbury took a very fine part in the War. Altogether it sent 23,000 men, and two Victoria Crosses were -earned ,by men attached to military forces from the' district. One had' paid | the supreme sacrifice, and the other, Lieut. S. Frickleton—(cheers) —he was glad to say, was them that day. Mention had been made of his association with the question.of clubs for returned soldiers. He was very proud to say that at the present time he was chairman of the Overseas Association of~ the United Service Club. He and Sir Douglas Haig l had worked for the asosciation, which was designed to promote comradeship between all classes who had served in the War. The objects of the association were much the same as those of the club they were forming. He was not quite sure that, as a returned soldier, he would not' slightly alter the, objects, for which the club was given. The second object was to perpetuate in civil life the principles for which they fought, that should be the first, object of the Returned Soldiers' Association. (Cheers.) It was an unselfish object. Clubs did not always have unselfish objects. He instanced his-own clu* at Home; where ladies were excluded. (Laughter.) Another disadvantage of some clubs "was that they took father of families rather too much away from their wives and children. He hoped the new club /would not do that. What the men had done for the Dominion was good for the Empire, but if they neglected the children that was not good for the Empire. He hoped that returned soldiers would not object -to his advice which proceeded from experience of the world. Lord Jellicoe then referred to the veterans before him. They were the men who had started this great Dominion. They had started it, and it was the children who would carry On. The men before him bore the medals of the Indian Mutiny and the Crimea; they had fought in the past, and the "kids" were going to fight, the Empire's battles in the, future. (Cheers.) Their aims should be unselfish, and in the whole Empire they should foster and that comradeship, started in the War, between the Army and Navy and all classes of the cpmmunity. If they maintained that unity which had sprung into existence during the War, the Empire would ever remain supreme, (Cheers.) In conclusion, he hoped that all possible . success would atterfd the efforts of those responsible for building the club, and he hoped that everyone who stood within its walls would remember why it was built. (Prolonged cheering.) Mr N. B. McCallum (president of the Returned Soldiers' Association) expressed, on behalf of the returned men, thanks to Lord Jellicoe for having consented to lay the foundation stone of the new club. He paid a tribute to the work of the Royal Navy and to the wonderful courage displayed by the men of all ranks. They were pleased indeed to have Lord Jellicoe, his officers and men, in Christchurch, and he. hoped that before many years had passed that they would all meet again. Mr McCallum concluded by calling for three cheers for the men of the Royal Navy. This was heartily responded to. On the call of Admiral Jellicoe to "beat that," three rousing cheers for the discharged soldiers were given by the sailors of H.M.S. New Zealand. AN APPEAL FOR 1 FUNDS. The Mayor then made an appeal to those present for financial assistance towards the cost of the erection of the new club. He called upon the commercial men of Christchurch to remember that these soldiers had saved the Empire, saved civilisation, and saved the people's property. He hoped that the £4OOO required would be forthcoming that afternoon. • On the call of the Mayor those present, sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in honour of Lord Jellicoe and the proceedings concluded with "God Save the King."