"THE DIGGERS"

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1920, Page 5

"THE DIGGERS"

RE-UNION OF SOLDIERS, A PLEASANT GATHERING, A convivial evening was spent by a large gathering of returned soldiers at the second annual re-union dinner last evening under the auspices of the New Plymouth R.S.A. There was an attend' ance of about three hundred, and the evening was passed in the honoring of an appropriate toast list, which was interspersed with a musical programme. The president of the Returned Soldiers' Association (Mr. A. M. MacDiarmid) presided. Amongst those who sent apologies for absence were Dr. Home, and Messrß. W. J. Chaney and D. J. Hughes. Mr. Hughes forwarded a cheque towards the expenses of the function. The evening opened with the loyal toast, and the singing of the National Anthem.

"Absent Comrades," a toast revered and honored in military gatherings, was proposed by Padre Bensley. The fallen, he said, had died gloriously, whjle those remaining might yet make "a botch of life;" it depended on the stand they took in the coming years. The absent comrades would never be forgotten, and it was for those remaining behind to carry on. Already there were whispers that the men had idied "to buttress ft worn-out Imperialism, and to help a rotten Capitalism," and soon loud voices would be heard expounding the same opinion. It was for the returned men to counteract this and repeat that their comrades had died for a noble cause. If there were faults at the head of they Empire it behoved them'to'see that the cause their comrades had died for was not going to be beaten. "WAR NOT OVER." Mr. C. H. Burgess proposed ''The Army and Navy," coupling tho names of Chief Officer Enwright and.Mr. ,C. HWeston. Mr. Burgess referred to the navy's position ever since Britain had assumed her place as mistress of the seas. The first line of defence, and the names associated with it, were "ftnown to all. In the last war, thenavy, and its sister branch, the mercantile marine, were always ready to do their bit. The soldiers of the British Army .had nobly done their duty, and those not able to go were grateful for the part taken by the combatants. New Zealand had made a name for herself, and Taranaki.had.nqt been far behind. (Hear, hear.) ! Ho" was "not one of those who believed war was over, and though ho hoped war would never be encountered by the present generation, the speaker felt sure that the descendants of the last fighters would equally do their share of the next fighting; " The reply on behalf of the navy, was made by Chief Officer Enwright (of the Port Pirie). He remarked that in 1914 when Homeward bound, they first heard the news of war when calling at Durban, as hostilities had not been declared when his ship left the Colonies. It was one of the proudest moments of his life, he said, when they learned that the Dominions were rallying round to the assistance of the'M6ther Country; Mr. Enwright proposed tho toast of the Anzacs, and it was drunk in a hearty manner. A very cordial reception was given to Mr. C. H. Weston in rising to respond. Proceeding, he said, he thought the returned men were beginning to forget the hazardous portion of their service and remember only the happy past —times which all had enjoyed to the full. If they had enjoyed the Army life it was, perhaps, in spite of the Army and not because of it—despite the risk of having pay docked and getting C.B. (Laughter). VALUE OF TRAINING. . Mr. Weston said the returned men had a duty to perform, namely to see that tue coming generation were trained to take their part. He believed that none knew .better than the people who had gone through it that it was very necessary an army should be trained forvits work. They knew personally, that if luey had accomplished anything they could have done better if they had. had better training. It was for the exsoldiers to put in their say in favor of the training of future soldiers. Many mistakes could have, been avoided in the last war if they had been longer at the gpme, and the speaker believed this specially applied ,to the officers, and was important in their case, for the mistakes of the leaders were cast on to the men. The heroes of the campaign, said the speaker, reverting to the subject of the toast, were the Anzacs, and there was no one who had a higher respect than ho for that small body of men who fought and died on Gallipoli. (Hear, hear), "Long live the memory of those Anzacs," ho said. "Tho R.SA.," was proposed by the Mayor (Mr. Jas. Clarke). He expressed-. the opinion that the formation of this body was quite justified, and the soldiers were very fortunate in having such an active body to look after their interests. It had been a power for good as between the public and the men. He urged them all to support the Association, The country had sont about 25 per cent, of its adult and the men of the Association comprised the most virile and active portion, and they were a very powerful factor in the life of the Dominion. He did not wish to preach militarism, but he thought the country oughfc to be ready in an emergency, and the Association ought to insist on this. The speaker strongly urged the men to support the Association and keep it alive for many years. SUPPORT FOR R.S.A. ! In the course of hi* reply to the toast of the R.S.A., Mr. MacDiarmid traced the objects and achievements of the Association. Among the names mentioned in connection with the organisation work that of Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., was greeted with cheers by those present. The speaker solicited support for the Association from all the returned men. He remarked tiiat the work of repatriation was nearing completion, and in future social functions would figure ; more prominently in the activities of ' the branch. Referring to the Club, he I recalled that this had been instituted . primarily through the efforts of Mrß. : Burgess, and after being conducted by a ' citizens' committee was taken over by the Association. The installation of a ' new billiard table would shortly be car- ' ried out, and evenings would be held at ' the club. ' Other toasts were "Kindred Associa- ' tions," "The Visitors," "The Ladies," 1 and "The Press." Those who contributed to the programme were: Messrs, Tunbridge, How- ( lett, Sim, North, Roper, Mac Donald, I Bensley, and the quartette party: • steMti, Bafk«v °*ttt S«& «*f M**H I * - "* "" *-tak, -""'.' *■■■■■«■■* *— . —i*-*- 1