TARANAKI VETERANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1916, Page 6

TARANAKI VETERANS.

ANNUAL REUNION. ' A NOTABLE GATHERING. The annual re-union of the Taranaki veterans was held in the Foresters' Hall on Tuesday evening, when the veterans were the guests of the citizens of New Plymouth.

During the early part of the evening Colonel Allen, Minister of Defence. Mr H. J. Okev, M.P., and Mr. C. 11. Burgess, Mayor of New iPlymouth, were Mr. T. C. List presided. There was a good attendance of Ta-

i..i..il;i veterans, though one missed a manlier of faces that have been regular attenders ill years past. A special feature was the presence of a number of returned soldiers from Gallipoli —present-day veterans.

After the usual loyal toast of the Kiijg had been honored, the chairman [»:opo3ed "The Minister of Defence." Ihree or foui' years ago, he remarked, (•toi/.inel Allen. Sir lan Hamilton and General rjodloy were preesnt at a .similar vetreans* function. Since then a great many things had happened. The Minister of Defence hold the most important position in New Zealand at the present time, because defence was the only department that really mattered, and probably Colonel Allen was at the same time the most criticised and abused man in the Dominion. They must all I agree, however, tliat Colonel Allen had given, and tf'as giving, of his best, and deserved the help, co-operation and sympathy of all, for he had the hardest task of anyone in New Zealand The speaker referred to the presenec 'of the veterans, who had not only fought in New Zealand, but in the Crimea, in the Indian Mutiny, and in Afghanistan, and of the soldiers who had returned from the present war impaired physically and broken in health. Colonel Allen, who was 'with applause, said he was pleased to be with the old soldiers. He did not care one straw for criticisms and pinpricks when lie knew that such a gathering gave him a reception as it had. It certainly helped on the road. lie expressed his pleasure at seeing the veterans of the Empire of old days together with the young soldiers. He hoped the Association would long continue, and that the veterans of India and of Gallipoli would tell each other stories of their campaigns. When looking at their medals in the? afternoon, lie could not help thinking what they owed to the energy, ability and self-sacrifice of men of whom there were many present that evening. They had that day been celebrating Anzae Day, a day of which they could always justly feel proud. The Zealand soldiers had there shown a spirit given to them by their forefathers. The story of Gallipoli had yet to bo written. We knew something of what they had done. We knew the name they had earned in New Zealand and in Great Britain. Any New Zealander who visited Great Britain was certain of being received with open hearts, because they knew the stuff of which New Zealanders were made. Some of the best men of the Mother-* land came out to New Zealand, and some of the best work had been done by their sons of New Zealand-and Australia. Those who had fought alongside the Imperial soldier in the old days would realise that there wer e soldiers of the King in other countries and also of our Allies, all good soldier 3, who were fighting to bring about the peace that we should determine, not our enemies. (Applause). He next referred to the growth of New Zealand's Army. No one anticipated that m the space of a few years it would have developed as it had. When a few years ago it \fiis suggested that an expeditionary force of SOOO should be prepared, the 'suggestion was ridiculed. To-day there were 1 either away or in training over 50,000 men, who .had been clothed, equipped and trained. He would like' to say a word in connection with the training. In this respect they owed a great deal to their efficient staff, without whom it would have been impossible to turn out men ready to send away in four months. He was certain those who had seen'thc contingents Jepart had felt confident that they would do credit to New Zealand, as had indeed proved the .ase. From SOOO. the army hiid developed until they now had in Egypt a standing army of 23.000 men, armed and <?(ficcred almost entirely by New Zealanders, and whether they were sent to Salonika, France or Mesopotamia, we know in our hearts they would follow the example set fiy the heroes of Anzae. They had already met the Turk, who had learnt to respect them, and may meet the Germans, an/1 he hoped they would, for he knew what the Germans would then have to say of the New Zealanders. He 'was looking forward to the day when ' the New Zealanders. with the rest of the Empire, would teach the Germans the lesson they had got to learn, viz., that they cannot dominate ,the world by fighting in the barbaric way in which . they had done. New Zealanders were " prepared to do their share and hang on. it" necessary ,to grim death. If asked to advance, over a fire-swept zone they v.ould get tliere and stick there. The men that had gone 1q the front were all good stuff; they had good training «ind the experience of .the men who had gone before them to guide them, and when the story was written of their doings it would be read with pride. They should not praise themselves too much, hut he wanted them all to realise the value of the .services rendered by the pluck and endurance of tliesd' men and their uncomplaining action through it all. One tiling he urged> the men going forward -to cultivate was the goodnatured humor so characteristic of Tommy Atkins, which carried him so easilv thyouffh difficulties, trials and 1 roubles. When they held territoiial [■amps, which would have to he'kept going after the war, he hoped to hear a spark of humor from every tent.

"Parliament" was proposed by J[r. R. Cock, wlio considered that Parliament should have imposed stifier war taxation At present Wealth in the back country was not subscribing in proportion to the working man. He suggested that a tax should lie placed on exports, amusements and luxuries.

Mr. Tf. J. Okey, M.P., who replied, pointed out that last session Parliament l>ad increased taxation to ihe extent 9/' over £2,000,000, and everyone took it smilingly. Tie could not say what Parliament might do when it niet in about 14 days' time, but he pointed out thai when a tax on benzine was proposed owners of motor-cars and milking-nu:-fhines set up such a protest that tho tax was kept off. He made an appeal for recruiting by suggesting thai everyone should make a. personal appeal to every eligible young man. All were not 1 wanted at one time. New PlvincutH wanted 14 jouug men every month, and in order that New Plymouth might riot fee behind in its quota, he suggested (hat a committee of young men should arrange when they would go forward,

; An mterjector: Conscription! ■Mr. Okey: Conscription will have to come. lam soirv that it was not "introduced when war was declared, lint if men arc forced, to go. it will to a certain extent lower the status of the 50,(100 who have voluntarily gone, and whom we must consider.

Hon. Allen, ill'. Okey stud the Mayo: then left for the theatre, cheers bein; accorded ilie Minister as he 'eft.

"Veterans, young and old," was proposed by Rev. A. 11. Colville, who stated that the old veteran-, hal ir» the past built up great traditions for the country, traditions of couragv, hard' hood and endurance, which the youiijr veterans had accentuated and "i-owned with glory. They -should thin* w.a'i sympathetic and reverent silence ot those veterans whose bodies wbro iai.l )n a far-off land. There was something pathetic about a sacrifice when the immediate object was not attained, a.» was the case at Gallipoli—pathetic but glorious, inasmuch a-s there was something that to'kl us that the sacrifice had not been in vain, and the result would be achieved in future.

Captain Hartnellj in response, thanked the veterans for the opportunity of participating in 'the gathering. He did not consider that a man was a veteran until liis ,fighting days were over and lie personally hoped soon to be buck ait.tny the boys who were upholding the traditions of this nation. * ' ■>

Colonel Ellis and Private Roch, who also responded, gaVe some interesting r 'miriscences.

Other toasts were: "The Army -and Navy," proposed by Mr. D. J, Hughes and responded to by Captain Humphrey 'Wellington); "The Caterer," proposed by the eliai/pivi ard responded to !•■/ Mr. .Wooller; "Jlr, G. W. Browne, or ganiser of the gathering," proposed by Mr. Dockrill and responded t-> by Mr. Browne, who said that he looked upon it as a duty to do what he could lor the comfort of the old 'veterans. "The Chairman", was proposed by Mr. D. J. Hughes and duly responded to. The speeches were interspersed with a programme of songs and recitations, the following contributing:—Corporal Bell, Messrs Keycs, Asher, Uoldsworthy and Captain Allen. Trooper Somnierville and Mr. W. Perry played the accompaniments.