A HEARTY WELCOME

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12637, 23 May 1919, Page 3

A HEARTY WELCOME

CEHERAL RICHARDSON AT RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CLUB General Richardson •visited tho Returned Soldiers' Club last night, and the largo attendance, which even overflowed eiery door was a very emphatic testimony to his popularity with the men. A» he entered the room with Colonel Chaffoy he was heartily applauded. , The president (Mr N. B. M’Callunu extended a very hearty welcome to tho General, who, Ho said, had earned the affections of every New Zealand soldier. The association in its short career had. had many nps and downs, but it was a fact on which the men could congratulate themselves that nn officer of such high standing as General Richardson should have oomo hack to take over tho administration of tho Defence forces. In conclusion, the president asked tho General to accept a gold badge of membership in the association. The presentation of the badge was received with applause. General Richardson first thanked the association for conferring on him the badge of membership. To say that it was appreciated, he said, was quite inadequate to express tho pride he had in its possession. Ho would always take tjjo keenest interest in tho men who tod done So much and deserved so much at the hands of their country. W nenever he passed a disabled soldier the vision came back to him of what on obligation the country owed the soldier, for the civilian could not visualise all that tho war had meant to the men. M lien he passed a returned soldier ho asked liimself whether the man was being helped back into civilian life. Ho feared that reconstruction had become a catch word, and that people did not realise what it meant, and in thinking it over be had decided that it must ho applied to ali phases of civil life. He was not there, however, to say whether repatriation or reconstruction in New Zealand had been started early enough. He hoped to get in touch with Sir Andrew Russell and other • senior officers to consider tho whole question of the transition from tho N.ZiE.F. : to civilian life. General Richardson detailed the work of the committee of reconstruction in the Old Country, and the difficulties of civil ro-establishment, especially under such an extended armistice. If the armistice had not drawn the teeth of the enemy demobilisation would not have been possible. The demobilisation of an‘army during an armistice, indeed,- was unprecedented. Owing. to shipping strikes and other factors he was afraid' that the last New Zealanders would not leave London before September, but meanwhile Tt was the duty of the people to work wholeheartedly to place the men safely back info civil'me. There should bo ,the same enthusiasm and high sense of duty on the men’s home-coming as there was_ on their departure. About, 50 pore cent of the returning men. General Richardson said, had no guaranteed employment. They might expect to be criticised because they were unsettled, but the civilian must realise that there was a reason for it. The men must therefore give all their comrades as much, help as possible. Ho had listened with great pleasure to the president’s statement of the objects of the association, firstly to do honour to the real heroes of the war; secondly, to look, after their dependents and* tho children of the disabled, and thirdly, to secure the civil re-cstablishment of its members. Later the men might remain banded, together for the sake of good fellowship and_ mutual self-help, and for the maintaining of the traditions which they had all earned for Npw Zealand, and for inculcating in the minds of the younger generation a sfriso of duty. He was not going to talk militarism to them, but they had all been soldiers, and would spurn and scorn the , man who would not do his bit when the Empire was in danger; and-possibly the organisation in later years would see that future generations wore placed in such a position as would ensure the integrity of tho Empire, in other words, that they should keep the defences sound- This was not militarism. Militarism was the thing that Hold sway in and ran tho whole show, dictating what should ba done and forcing the Government to go to war. No such tiling could exist under a democratic Government, where the soldier simply conformed to the instructions of the people, and was only an instrument of policy. In urging -the men not to turn themselves into a political organisation General Richardson said that any such action would alienate the sympathy of those in a position^to help, and would lead to inevitable internal dissensions, the men would agree on the present objects of the_ association, but he was sure he was right in advising them to retain their organisation for that purpose. They should not allow anybody to try to get their votes. If they knew what splendid men were behind the scenes trying to do their best for the men, it would be a great pleasure to them. He had oome away from tho Repatriation Board full of* confidence that it consisted of a number of levelheaded men, who were sympathetic towards the soldier. The Government had set up regulations, and if properly administered everything would go There was only one little link required, and that was an advisory committee which might get into personal touch with a man and direct him into the right channels, whether the Repatriation Board, the Lands Department or elsewhere. It was all very well to say that dt was all in a book. He had seen soldiers with hooks, and if he wanted a man to read anything lie vyould put it on one sheet of paper. Theoretically tho work of directing the men was done now by the secretary of the Repatriation Board, but he was & very busy man, and delays were dangerous, The men coming back included many disabled men, who were too big a problem for the Repatriation Board and ho would try to think the matter out. In conclusion, Genera] Richardson said that in his new position he would try to do his best for the men. Already he was in touch with the Repatriation Board and the Lands Department, the latter well-meaning but slow. He was in touch with business men and also with the C.D.C., which had done sin. immense amount of good work. ■Every man must be helped back into the position for which he was fitted temperamentally and by education and training. There were many butchers Tvho wanted to Ijq bank managers • ; laughter)—but they must get down to bedrock, and give every man his opportunity. He hoped there were few men who were not ready to help themselves. He appealed to the men to look aheadlie ventured to predict that New Zealand was in tor a prosperous time, for there was a demand tor everything that could be produced; < Therefore he urged every man to get into harness and all would he well. (Applause.) Mr M’Callum, in thanking the General for addressing the men, wished him every success in his new department. Should war break out again ho could give the General an assurance that the returned ( men who were -fit to serve would wish to serve under no better leader.