COMING OF AGE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3893, 23 April 1937, Page 3

COMING OF AGE

R.S.A.’s 21st BIRTHDAY. A MERITORIOUS RECORD. Much has been said about the folly and futility of war, and no one would gainsay the truth of these accusations, but as there is always “some soul of goodnes in things evil, would men abservingly distil it out,” so even the Great War, which exceeded all other struggles in its utter frightfulness and horror, was not waged entirely in vain. The one good effect of war is that it makes a whole nation at one with itself. Politics becomes a national concern, none are for the party and all are for the state the hundred and one social distinctions, castes or classes, disappear, the entire community is resolved into its highest common factor by the pressure of a common danger and the sharing of a common sorrow, and the ideal of democracy is for the time realised. As it is then in civilian life, so, too, is it in the army, even taking into account the distinction of rank necessary to the orderly conduct of war and the preservation of discipline. SPIRIT OF COMRADESHIP. In fact, the spirit of comradeship glows even more strongly there where danger is not seen through a glass darkly but face to face,-and where the chains of brotherhood with which mutual dependence binds together officers and men are forged in the fire of the enemy barrage. For those who experienced and learned to, love that common fellowship of danger, the war was not fought in vain, for something fine had been brought out of chaos. But would it live in peace-time? That was the question some New Zealand soldiers must have asked themselves in 1916, for i>i that year was founded an organisation which has since become a great power in this Dominion but whose very existence is due to the fact that the wartime spirit of fellowship, instead of dying away, has gone on from strength to strength. That organisation is the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. Ex-servicemen’s associations there have been in the other Dominions as well as in the Old Country, but it's doubtful whether any of these other bodies have done as much good, mem-

her for member, as the N.Z.R.S.A., which celebrates its Coming of Age, its 21st birthday, on Wednesday next. THE TE AWAMUTU BRANCH. The original minute book reveals that the first meeting of returned soldiers of Te Awamutu and district was held in the Town Hall, Te Awamutu, on Saturday, March 29th, 1919, when about sixty-five returned soldiers were present. Mr Andrews, the secretary of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association, attended by special invitation to explain the objects and aims of the Association. Mr L. G. Armstrong, chairman of the Te Awamutu Chamber cf Commerce, opened the meeting by explaining the object of calling the meeting and then vacated the chair in favour of SergeantMajor Innes. The chairman briefly introduced Mr E. F. Andrews and Mr Andrews gave an interesting address on the objects and purposes of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, and answered questions. Mr J Oliphant was elected secretary for the purpose of the meeting.

Mr E. J. Walter moved and Mr D. M. C. Mcßurney seconded that a Returned Soldiers’ Association be formed at Te Awamutu. This was carried unanimously, and the following officers and committee were elected: President: Mr J. Oliphant.

Vice-Presidents: Colonel H. R. Ryder, Major Hope-Johnstone, and Mr E. J. Walter.

Committee: Sergeant-Major V. J. Innes, Messrs S. Atkinson, E. Clarke, F. Taylor, W. Teddy, H, Kay and D. M. C. Mcßurney (secretary). The following patrons were elected: Colonel J. G. Wynyard, Colonel Ryder, Major Hope-Johnstone, Major J. H. Luxford, Dr Henderson. Dr Hall, Dr Blundell, Dr Brough, Messrs A. S. Wallace, L. G. Armstrong, W. Taylor, A. Kay, W. G. Park, C. J. Storey, F. F. Hockly, H. T. Collins, F. Quin, G. M. A. Ahier, J. Houston, A. Young, J. B. Teasdale, H. Innes-Jones, Robinsen, A. E. Langley, W. Morgan, J. D. Jack (the last four representing Kawhia), C. M. Alexander. R. J. Linton, W. J. Macky, A. Johnston, H. C. Speedy. E. J. Taylor, Sydney Clark, W. Jegery, W. McKinnon, L. Bayly, and E. E. Rushbrooke. Country representatives on the committee were appointed as follows: Messrs H. Lindsay (Kawhia), R. Johnston (Pirongia). 11. Henderson ( Otorohanga). C. Riddle (Ngaroma), R. Donaldson (Ohaupo). and B. Candy (Pokuru). One of the first matters passed advocated the ‘‘White New Zealand” policy, the meeting drawing “the attention of the Government to the increasing numbers of Hindus arriving in New Zealand and requesting that the Immigration Restriction Act be amended to prevent the influx.”

Following this meeting, the Association subsequently decided to parade in uniform on Anzac Day and attend divine service, and to hold a dinner and smoke concert in the evening. FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. The minutes are full of motions dealing with problems concerning returned soldiers, repatriation, gratuities and land settlement figuring prominently in the records. At J.he first annual meeting, Mr Spenceley Walker was elected president and Mr J. Oliphant, H. S. Atkinson and F. Taylor vice-presidents. Mr Mcßurney remained as secretary and the executive consisted of Messrs E. J. Walter. J. Edwards, W. Teddy, A. Taylor, H. T. Haselden, N. E. Lee and V. J. Innes. The country representatives were: Messrs J. Anderson (Kihikihi), F. M. Jones (Pirongia), N. Lindsay (Kawhia), H. Mossman (Otorohanga), F. Gooder (Wharepuhunga), W. Kurth (Pukeatua), and J. Teddy (Puahue).

SUBSEQUENT CHANGES. In the ensuing years many changes were made in the personnel of the officers, but it is noteworthy that ever since the inception of the local branch, Mr James Oliphant has held an executive position and, in this connection is closely followed by Mi- H. T. Haselden, who became an officer only a fewmonths later. The complete list of presidents and secretaries—the two chief executive offices—is as follows: PRESIDENT. 1919. —Mr James Oliphant. 1920. —Mr Spenceley Walker. 1921. Mr N. E. Lee. 1922. —-Mr Janies Oliphant. 1923. —M,r James Oliphant. 1924. —Mr Joseph Chadwick. 1925. —Mi- James Oliphant. 1926. —Mr G. D. W. Osborne. 1927. Mr G. D. W. Osborne. 1928. —Mr G. D. W. Osborne. 1929. —(Mr F. J. Armstrong. 1930. —Dr J. B, W. Roberton. 1931. —Dr J. B. W. Roberton. 1932. —Mr N. McAlister. 1933. —Mr N, McAlister. 1934. —Mr N. McAlister. 1935. —Mr N. McAlister. 1936. Mr Walter McGill. 1937. —Mr Walter McGill. SECRETARIES. 1919-20-21.—Mr D. M. C._ Mcßurney. 1922-23-24.—Mr I. F. McDonald. 1925. —Mr S. A. McNamara. 1926-27-28.—Mr J. S. Garner. 1929. —Mr J. G. Reidpath. 1930. —Mr J. G. Reidpath. 1931. —Mr J. G. Reidpath. 1932. Mr J. G. Reidpath. 1933. —Mr J. G. Reidpath, the vacancy on his death being filled by Mr H. T. Haselden. 1934. Mr H. T. Haselden. 1935. —Mr H. T. Haselden. 1936. —MI- H. T. Haselden. 1937. Mr H. T. Haselden. MANY ACTIVITIES. As the Te Awamutu R.S.A. is but a branch of the Dominion organisation, its work is closely interwoven with that of the main body, but there is also special district work done, as the minutes bear eloquent testimony all manner of subjects of concern to

“the Diggers” being dealt with. In the Association work pensions have always loomed large, and the care of pensioners and their dependents has always been a primary consideration. Land and housing have also figured largely in the work and many exservicemen are now living in happier circumstances through the good offices of the branch. Relief of distress has become cf late years an increasingly important part of the branch activities. It would be impossible to deal with all the activities of the Association in the gaining of privileges for pensioners, disabled men and war pensioners, to say nothing of that very important person

in this district, the soldier-settler. Many notable achievemnts lie to the seem to many that after these accredit of the local R.S.A. It might complishments the members might well sit back and feel justified in doing no more, but much still remains to be done, as was emphasised by the present president, Mr Walter McGill at the annual meeting on Monday night. HIGH IDEALS. In common with the other branches, the Te Awamutu R.S.A. has set a very high ideal and are striving valiantly to attain it. That ideal is best set out in a message from Lord Bledisloe: I recognise in you, and more especially in your Association, a valuable nucleus of brave-hearted patriots who, by virtue of warexperience, with its discipline, its comradeship, and its readiness to face suffering and privation with cheerfulness, patience and pluck, are especially fitted to point the way to the exercise by your fellow countrymen of these same qualities during a period of unprecedented national economic stress when they are much needed in order to safeguard the welfare of this Dominion and hasten its return to prosperity and contentment. In the case of most, if not all, of you, your outlook on life and its problems was largely changed by your wartime service: you became more receptive to new ideas and in-

fluences, and you developed a wiser and truer sense of proportion, a more accurate estimate of the real values 1 in life. It is this breadth and sanity of view, coupled with the realisation of the immeasurable value of sympathetic comradeship in time of trouble and upheaval, that I confidently look to you to radiate around you, and this you can do most effectively as members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, to which I trust that most of you who read this message belong, or will ioin, if you are not already members. In union, is strength, and what you can do individually you can do still more effectively by maintaining or re-establishing your old war-time companionship. From such an Association obvious material benefits are to be derived, but is there not also a spiritual gain flowing from it to the whole community in the existence of an organisation whose aims and objects in themselves demand the profession and practice of high ideals? Even if we fail to attain these high ideals, the process of striving after them is wholesome and stimulating. It is, moreover, calculated to develop our self-respect and enhance the greatness! of the British Empire to which it is our pride to belong and df which, during the present period, it is especially incumbent upon us toi show ourselves worthy and encourage others to do the same.