WAIMATE DEFENCE LEAGUE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21279, 24 February 1939, Page 3

WAIMATE DEFENCE LEAGUE

Branch to be Formed Orgapisers Entertained A decision to form a branch of the New Zealand Defence League in Waimate was made at a meeting in the Olympia Hall yesterday afternoon addressed by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., and the organiser of the League, Mr E. Reeves. The Mayor (Mr G. Dash) presided over a moderate attendance. After the visitors had spoken on the lines of their addresses elsewhere, a motion to form a branch in Waimate was moved by Captain N. A. Rattray and carried unanimously. A number of those present at the meeting were enrolled in the organisation, and it was left to the mover of the motion and the seconder, Mr W. Barry, president of the Waimate Returned Soldiers’ Association, to call a later meeting and appoint an executive. Before the meeting, the visitors, together with 20 members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association and other citizens, were the guests of the Mayor at lunch.

In extending a welcome, Mr Dash said that Waimate was delighted to have the opportunity of meeting the visitors, who were held-in high esteem by the members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. He went on to sketch briefly the history of the district, from the time of the first white settler.

Mr W. Barry, president of the Waimate Branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, after thanking the Mayor for the opportunity of meeting the visitors, extended a welcome on behalf of the Association and expressed a hope that their mission would meet with success.

Mr J. Dempsey, president of the Farmers’ Union, also wished success to the visitors and assured them that they

would receive the support of the, farmers. The work on which the visitors were engaged was of the greatest importance to the Empire at the present time, said Mr J. Bitchener, who spoke on behalf of the County residents. No one dreamed 15 years ago that the Empire would be placed in such dire peril. They had had faith in the League of Nations which, in the light of the actions of Hitler and Mussolini, was shown to have had an inherent weakness.

Only three members of the public were present at the inaugural meeting in Waimate to form a branch of the Defence League, said Captain Rattray. That was typical of the apathy of the people towards matters of defence; but they were confident of greater success in the future as a result of the mission of the visitors.He mentioned that the executive of the Waimate Returned Soldiers’ Association had unanimously passed a resolution supporting the aims of the League. The European dictators did not constitute the only menace, he continued. Recently published books indicated a nation nearer home, an ally of Great Britain in the last war.

Sir Andrew Russell, after thanking the Mayor and other speakers for their welcome, referred to the pioneering days of Waimate as outlined by Mr Dash. The old pioneers, he said, did not always get the credit for what they had done for the country. He did not think that the young people of today had the same spirit. He expressed pleasure at being associated with the “Diggers” of Waimate, and said he was pleased to see that they still retained their happy relationship. Mr Perry said that their tour had been very successful so far, and he considered that that success would grow as the tour progressed. As president and ex-president of the Dominion Executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association they were killing two birds with the one stone in advancing the cause of defence and making contact with fellow-members of the Association. The Waimate Association was one of the white-haired boys with the Executive. Its business was efficiently run and it gave less trouble to ’.he Executive than any other.

The Mayor later conducted the visitors on a tour of inspection of the township and its environs.

FITNESS WEEK CONCERT AT OLYMPIA HALL Practical demonstrations of physical exercises, instructional addresses and instrumental items and community singing were included in the programme presented at the Physical Fitness Week concert at the Olympia Hall on Wednesday night. The main address of the evening was given by Miss V. Macmillan ,of the Association of Country Education, whose address on “Nutrition and Diet” was illustrated by lantern slides. Major Allot, of the Salvation Army, spoke briefly on the mental aspect of physical fitness.

Mr M. Leadbetter, Rector of the Waimate High School, who was scheduled to speak on physical exercises, gave with the assistance of a High School boy a practical demonstration of a “daily dozen” suitable for persons of varying ages. An interesting demonstration of training methods adopted by boxers and also an exhibition of the various punches used in the ring were given by Messrs D. Eddington and W. O’Connor. Musical items included a flute solo by Mr R. Boulton, songs by Mrs G. Baker and Mr W. Fox and duets by Misses G. Palmer and J. Buchanan. A camp fire scene was presented by the Waimate Boy Scout troup, and the community singing was led by Mr D. Newall, Vhe accompanists being Miss Palmer and Mr A. Jacobs. Mrs E. W. Murphy also assisted with the accompaniments. CRICKET BATTING AND BOWLING AVERAGES The following are the leading batting and bowling averages in the Waimate Cricket Sub-association’s competition:— Batting J. Heasley 55.6 A. Francis .. 38.3 E. Wilson 32,4 S. Fleming 31.6 H. Johnstone 21.2 L. Wilson 18.4 L. Austin 17-4 E. Chapman 17.4 C. Johnstone 15.5 W. Chapman 16.7 R. Barlow 15,2 L. Foote 14.4 L. Leslie 14-3 C. Fleming 14.3 R. Butchard 12.4 A. Guy 12.2 Bowling C. Johnstone 5.7 J. Heasley 5.9 A. Francis .. .' 7.1 C. Fleming 7.4 A. Guy 7.4 L. Foote 8.1 S. Fleming 8.3 H. Johnstone 8,6 J. Jones 10.1 R. Nolan .. 10.6 E. Chapman 11.1 W. Murphy 12,J DEMAND FOR HARVESTERS The spell of dry weather now being experienced in Waimate has ripened the crops very quickly, and there is now a keen demand for both harvesters and millhands. The demand is being met by the local Employment Bureau. It is stated that men have been migrating from the north in search of harvest work, and up to the present all have been placed.

LODGE MEETING A large gathering of members assembled to meet the Provincial Grand Master and the District Officers of the South Canterbury District, M.U., 1.0.0. F. Aftei the address of welcome one candidate was presented and initiated into the Order. The balancesheet showed the funds to be in a healthy state. The addresses by the Grand Master and Deputy-Grand Master were received with marked interest.