GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19783, 26 April 1934, Page 4

GERALDINE

ANZAC DAY IN REMEMBRANCE Under the auspices of the Geraldine Returned Soldiers’ Association, the seating accommodation in the Town Hall was fully taxed. The Mayor (Mr B. R. Macdonald) presided, and associated with him were the Rev. Canon J. F. Coursey, C.P., who gave the address, the Rev. W. J. Couling (Presbyterian) and the Rev. A. C. La wry (Methodist). The proceedings opened with the National Anthem. The hymn “O God Our Help in Ages Past” was followed by prayer by the Rev. W. J. Couling. The hymn “O Valiant Hearts” was followed by a Scripture reading by the Rev. A. C. Lawry, who read extracts from the Old and New Testaments. “God of Our Fathers” was sung, and Mr Lawry then offered up prayer. The anthem “What Are These” (Stainer) was sung by the combined choirs of St. Mary’s Anglican Church and the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. The singing of “Lead Kindly Light” was followed by the address by Canon Coursey. A collection was made for the Geraldine Returned Soldiers’ Association’s relief fund, the singing of “God Defend New Zealand” being followed by the Benediction, which was pronounced by the Rev. W. J. Couling. Miss E. Sherratt presided at the organ. At the conclusion of the service ex-servicemen collected the numerous beautiful wreaths, which were arranged on tiers below the stage, and deposited them at the Great War Memorial. The Geraldine District Band, under the baton of Mr E. Undrill, played the hymn “Deep Harmony,” and Bandsman C. Ashby, sounded “Last Post” and “Reveille.” Before the service a procession was held from the Bank of New Zealand corner to the Town Hall. The parade state was as follows: Geraldine District Band, under Drum-Major J. S. Lorimer and the conductor (Mr E. Undrill), Geraldine Troop, Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry under QuartermasterSergeant H. Mallinson; Geraldine Returned Soldiers’ Association, under the president (Lieutenant W. McClure) 50 all ranks; Geraldine Boy Scout Troop, under Scouter G. Thorp, and AssistantScouter P. Shearer; Geraldine Wolf Cubs, under Wolf Cub Mistress, Miss L. Hawke and Assistant-Cub Mistress, Miss J. Lapthorne; Geraldine Girl Guides, under District Commissioner, Mrs A. J. Hodgkin, Captain B. Steven, Lieutenant N. Kehnan; Woodbury Girl Guides, Captain I. E. Waller and Lieutenant N. Kelman; Geraldine Rangers, Lieutenant E. R. Guinness; Geraldine Brownies, Tawny Owl, L. Coursey : Canon Coursey’s Address. Canon Coursey remarked that once again the privilege had fallen to him to give the address on Anzac Day. His first duty was to give expression to his very deep sympathy with those who felt the loss of dear ones, whose names they were remembering that day. Why are we assembling here, and why are similar gatherings being held throughout New Zealand? he asked. One of the shortest statutes enacted was that constituting Anzac Day, which read:— “In commemoration of the part taken

by New Zealanders in the Great War, and in memory of the men who have given their lives, it is enacted that the 25th day of April shall be known as Anzac Day, and shall be observed throughout New Zealand in all respects as if Anzac Day were a Sunday.” It was a great joy to see so many citizens gather year by year, which showed that a great number regarded the service as a sacred and holy commemoration. He could not and would not disassociate Anzac Day from the men whom they commemorated so lovingly that day. Did they not leave their Homeland and their kith and kin and those dear to them in the defence of all they held dear, and go out willing to die on our behalf? An illustrious and celebrated kinsman of his had recently visited New Zealand and had received the acclamation of the populace. He had had, in the speaker’s opinion, the audacity to say “devilment took our men to the war.”

“To me no greater lie has ever been forged in the mind of man,” Mr Coursey added. “I cannot say what carried our men to storm the heights of Gallipoli. No one could say whence came that courage and heroism, which led them to perform a feat of arms unparalleled in the history of the world —it died not come from the devil. They had behind them a power and a strength that was not theirs. They could not have done those deeds unassisted; they could not have lived on the appalling heights of Gallipoli and in the mud of Flanders facing death, day by day, if a power higher and nobler than themselves had not sustained them. What was that power? It was because they believed, rightly or wrongly, that righteousness, truth and justice were threatened; because they believed that the liberty for which their forefathers had suffered so much was to be taken away from them, and that they believed they were going out to fight a war which would make the end of war.

“Was it a spirit of devilment that sent men out with such objectives? No! No! No! I cry as loud as I can. The spirit came from Heaven to bring an end to war and to bring peace to the world. These men died to end war. We must remember them and carry on the torch which will keep the world free from cruel, blighting, bloody war. We think of them with pride and thankfulness, and are glad and thankful to say ‘Thank you’ for all you have given, so that right might prevail and that might should not prevail.” Duty to the Living.* As they thought of the dead, continued the speaker, they also had a duty to the living. He would make a plea on behalf of the men who went and came back —men who were willing to die if necessary but who did not. Some came back broken and some outwardly the same, but they were all inwardly different men. That day was almost sixteen years after the Armistice bells rang throughout Europe. The men who came back broken and maimed in the hospital ships had been provided with pensions by the Government, Under the stress of recent years others who were nearing middle age found they could not bear up to the strain of modern conditions and the stress of three years depression and care. They were fast breaking down, and physically they could not endure the trials of to-day, while mentally they were not as fit as those who had not suffered war. Only those who knew the awfulness and filthiness of war—and he wanted them to know of war as a bloody and filthy thing—could understand why men broke down, physically

and mentally maybe. They were not “A 1 at Lloyds,” and, because of the depression, were unemployed. If such breakdowns could not be traced to war service they received no pension, and so were dependent on the funds raised by the Returned Soldiers’ Associations. The amount collected on Poppy Day and the collection at the Anzac service was used by the local association to meet the necessities of those men. He knew that in Geraldine it was only necessary for them to be told of the need when there would be a generous and full response. On behalf of the local branch he asked them to help the local men who otherwise would not receive assistance. Let us remember the living as we remember the dead. There was only one power that would end war, he concluded, and that was the power of God in the hearts of men. It was only when the principles of Jesus Christ were adopted in our social, industrial and economic lives that peace would come. It would not be until the principles of Jesus Christ were adopted internationally—that fear suspicion and greed would end; only then would the kingdoms of the earth become the Kingdom of God which would remain forever and ever, and then those they remembered that day would not have died in vain. Flag Presented to School. The pupils of the Primary and Secondary Departments of the Geraldine District High School assembled at the Primary School on Tuesday afternoon, when an Anzac service was held. Proceedings commenced with the singing of “God Defend New Zealand,” and Rev. Canon J. F. Coursey then gave an address on the meaning of Anzac Day. Mr R. A. Dixon, of Woodbury, on behalf of Mrs H. E. L. Porter, of England (nee Miss D. Barker, of “Waihi,” Woodbury), presented the school with a Union Jack which has an historic value. During the Queen Carnival which was organised in South Canterbury to raise funds for patriotic purposes, Miss Barker was elected queen, £IO,OOO having been raised on her behalf in the Geraldine county. The Union Jack had been auctioned in Geraldine and realised £1250, the final purchaser handing it over to “Queen Doris,” queen of the carnival. The headmaster (Mr A. W. Tucker), who accepted the flag on behalf of the school, thanked Mr Dixon, and assured him that the gift would be a precious possession. The flag was hoisted at the flagpole and the National Anthem sung. FOOTBALL CLUB. Mr W. H. Jackson presided at a meeting of the committee of the Geraldine Football Club on Tuesday evening. Messrs T. Lord, A. M. Fyfe and J. S. Lorimer were elected associate members. A motion of thanks was extended to Messrs F. Timms and J. Cairns for their work on the No. 2 ground. The secretary was instructed to apply to the chairman of the Geraldine Domain Board (Mr B. R. Macdonald) for permission to charge admission for the Geraldine-Zingari senior match on Saturday. The committee agreed to issue 10 free unemployed passes. Messrs S. Lawson, M. Ray, F. Timms and J. Stevenson were elected gatekeepers. Following are the teams for Saturday:—

Senior v. Zingari, at 3 p.m.—E. Woods, Dan Callanan, A. Morris, Dan Brett, T. Stapleton, Ray Worner, Allan Morris, M. Polhill, G. Thorp, G. Stringer, A. Loach, S. Callanan, Keith Loach, J. Lorimer, George Metcalf. Emergency —P. Brenton.

Fourth grade, No. 2 ground, at 3 p.m. —H. South, G. Pratt, J. Moyle, J. Rooney, G. M. Metcalfe, G. Patterson, J. South, R. Hayes, W. Metcalfe, J. Earl, J. Davis, P. Brown, G. Hill, G. Sand, J. Collins, A. Wills, R. Brenton, J. Bray, W. Patrick.

Fifty grade trial, seven-a-side match “A” team—W. McCullough, D. Chisnall, A. Taverner, J. Parish, C. Lysaght, W. Vial, H. Lapthorne. Emergencies—J. Leary, P. Leary. “B” team—P. Callanan, G. Glen, D. Pierce, S. Brown, F. Black, W. McShane, W. Leary. Emergencies—J. Opie, I. Chapman. BASKETBALL. Mr D. E. McKechnie presided over a meeting of the Old Girls’ Basketball Club. Miss C. Turner presented a report on the Basketball Sub-Association meeting held in Temuka last week. On the motion of Misses C. Davies and J. Vincent, it was decided to send two teams to Temuka on May 3. The secretary was instructed to write to the secretary of St. Stephen’s Basketball Club, Ashburton, stating that range a friendly game later in the an endeavour would be made to arseason. It was decided to purchase two dozen cups and saucers for club use, and also six rule books for distribution among players. After some discussion it was decided to apply to the Domain Board for permission to use a piece of ground adjoining the hockey ground and for unemployed labour to condition the ground. PERSONAL. The Rev. W. J. Couling and Mr W. F. Maddox, who attended a Toe H meeting at Christchurch, returned to Geraldine on Tuesday. Mr and Mrs S. H. Turner, Peel Forest, have returned from a holiday visit in the North Island. Mr and Mrs C. S. Davies, Raukapuka, have left on a holiday visit to Akaroa. Mr R. J. Bailey, formerly of Temuka, and now inspector of New Zealand Railways, Takune, has undergone a rather severe operation in a private in a private hospital in Auckland. GOLF. The following is the draw for a bogey competition to be played on Saturday:— 1 p.m.—Mrs E. P. Bennett, Mrs D. J. Lack; Miss E. Mcllroy, Mrs G. N Feilden; R. Patrick. G. N. Fielden, D. J. Lack, G. Glen, W. Webb, P. G. Withers, E. P. Bennett, D. C. Williamson. 1.15 p.m.—Mrs A. L. Brenton, Mrs D. C. Williamson, Mrs M. Ritchie, Miss M. L. Grant, Mrs W. McClure, Mrs G. Glen, G. R. Noy, C. J. Kerr, A. C. Symington, F. Chapman. 1.30 p.m.—Miss K. Kerr, Miss E. Parr, Miss Sharpe, Miss M. Symington, D. MacDonald, J. D. McMillan, E. L. Fairhall, E. R. Guinness, Guinness, E. E. Scott, Broadbent, J. D. McKechnie, A. D. Sharpe.