RETURNED MEN FRATERNISE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1930, Page 16

RETURNED MEN FRATERNISE

RE-UNION HELD AT OKATO. REVIEW OF ASSOCIATION’S WORK. For at least a couple of hours last night the returned soldiers of the Okato district and a number of their comrades from New Plymouth enjoyed themselves recalling Great War experiences, mostly of a pleasant nature, and singing tlie inarching and digger songs. Tlie occasion was the first annual reunion of the Okato returned soldiers in the Hempton Hall supper room, in which hang the photographs of those men from the district who died in the war. Sergeant G. Eustace, chairman of the Okato committee, presided, and there were associated with him Captain Hartnell,' president of the New Plymouth branch, Majors Bertrand and Varnham. Among those present were Captain MeDiarinid and Mr. E. J. Carr (secretary of the New Plymouth association;. “Absent Comrades” were silently toasted. Their thoughts could go back, said Captain Hartnell, to Gallipoli and France, where were the little wooden crosses to remind them of the many fine men who would never return, and whose memory they would always spare a few moments to revere. The health of South African and Maori war veterans was proposed by Major Bertrand. He expressed regret that the Maori veterans were a fastdiminishing band. They had no returned soldiers association, and very little recognition from the Government. The South African veterans, though the call was not universal, responded nobiy and did their duty nobly. In responding, Mr. Frank Gill stated that his brother was one of the first to volunteer with the late Mr. Tom Hempton, each being presented with a horse by the people of New Plymouth. Mr. Heinpton never returned, and Mr. Gill’s brother still suffered from the effects of a war wound. The late Sergeant Adlam, whom Major Bertrand also had mentioned, had taken a prominent part in the Maori warfare. The Army, Navy and Air Force was proposed by Mr. J. C. Maxwell; In responding on behalf of the Army, Captain Hartnell remarked that reunions were a happy institution, as the men were enabled to go over again the happiest times of their lives, the unpleasant parts forgotten. One reason their division was such a top-notch one was because they had no second division to fall back on, and they perhaps therefore worked above themselvei. - Major Varnham responded on behalf of the Navy, and Lieut. W. J. Wright on behalf of the Air Force. The visitors’ health was proposed by Mr. R. Tisdale, Major Bertrand and Mr. H; Leighton responded. The Returned Soldiers’ Association was toasted. Mr. 11. D. Shaw remarked | that" they were apt to forget what the organisation had done for the returned soldiers, and particularly for those who had lost a limb at the war, or had met ; with misfortune necessitating their : treatment ’in hospital. Captain Hartnell said the association’s work was very,., necessary. In Okato, where everyone had a job they had no idea of the amount of real distress among returned men that was met, even in New Plymouth. The association had thrown open its clubs and other amusements, and was using all i resources to help the men, once proud to call them “cobbers,” but too proud to tell their misfortunes. They had also to assist men! who were unable to help themselves. : They did not give money unless a man was unable to work, or was ill. Their funds were derived from subscriptions and Poppy Day. Over £7OO was spent in wages for returned men last year, the amount having been increased by subsidies on certain works. The association kept in close touch with the hospital, where there were always from six to 14 ex-servicemen. It had also been responsible for cases being successfully heard before the Appeal Board. Despite this they were asked if there were any need for the asociation. Captain Hartnell affirmed that there was greater need for the organisation to-day than ever, and its need would be greater because as the men became over 50 years of age war disabilities would become more apparent. Other toasts were: The Artists, Mr. E. B. Corbett—Mr. F. Baird; The Ladies, Mr. E. J. Carr—Mr. J. Sceats; the Presi-dent—-and the chairman. A musical programme was provided by Messrs. J. C. Maxwell, F. Baird, R. Tisdale, F. Gable and D. Harvey. Major Varnham played the accompaniments. The committee responsible for the organisation of the reunion comprised Messrs. C. Eustace (chairman), H. Ehrhorn, C. Forrester, C. W. Revell, E. Woodward, R. Tisdall, L. Carey and H. D. Shaw (secretary).