MR COATES SPEAKS AT HUNTERVILLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18448, 26 April 1928, Page 5

MR COATES SPEAKS AT HUNTERVILLE.

“ SOLDIERS ALMOST ACHIEVED IMPOSSIBLE.”

Per Press Association. MARTON, April 26. The Prime Minister, accompanied by Mrs Coates, addressed a gathering at the Anzac Day service at Hunterville yesterday. “ There are many of us here who vividly remember those dark days of 1915, when members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps won their spurs in their first real battle," said Mr Coates. 41 I want to say that those men were not found lacking in the highest qualities of a British soldier, nor did they betray the high traditions of the British Empire. “ The soldiers were set an almost hopeless task, but through pluck, courage and determination they almost achieved the impossible, and it has been said since the the War by writers who knew the position from the TurkishGerman standpoint, that with greater forces the whole Peninsula would have been won.” The debt owed to the soldiers should never be forgotten. In every field of action men from our Dominion had worked like Trojans, sometimes against terrible odds, and yet a characteristic spirit of camaraderie had always existed. 14 It was not always the most deserving who got decorations,” he remarked. “With characteristic, modesty* many deeds of bravery and heroism went by unnoticed, and when, as we used to say over there, the decorations were dishad out from the ration waggon, many a hero was just unlucky.” To give some indication of the magnitude of the struggle, the Prime Minister then gave the figures showing the losses of the Allies. It was a costly business. It called for

sacrifices and caused heartaches and misery. He continued: “ And yet the person who says it was not worth it has not grasped the real meaning of things. It was a struggle to defend our constitution, our freedom, our right to control our destinies; and to govern ourselves free from dictation, and I think that every soldier’s mother in this Dominion is filled with the greatest gratitude, in spite of regrets and bereavements, that she was blessed with a son who could throw in his lot in defence of these things.” POPPY DAY LEVY IS ABOUT £4OO. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 26. The Anzac Day observance here was as impressive as ever, over 10,000 taking part. The parade numbered 2373, including returned men. Territorials, Cadets, Scouts, Guides, etc. Waitara, Inglewood and the country townships also had ceremonies. At the New Plymouth cemetery 260 wreaths were deposited at the soldiers’ plot. The Poppy Day collection reached about £4OO. MAORIS CO-OPERATE IN MEMORIAL EFFORT. Per Press Association. GISBORNE. April 26. Two thousand people. Native and European, assembled at Tararoa, in the East Cape district, yesterday for the unveiling of a w'ar memorial. The Maoris prepared a great feast for the occasion. A welcome was extended to the Hon K. S. Williams. Sir A. T. Ngata led a party of chiefs singing a Maori lament for the soldiers who failed to return to their hapus. Mr Williams, in replying, spoke in Maori, to the great delight of the Natives, and proceeded to unveil the memorial, a granite obelisk erected by the joint efforts of the Maoris and pakehas in memory of the dead of both races. The dedication was preceded by a procession, including 200 returned An impressive Anzac Day service was held at the war memorial at Gisborne, there being a large muster of returned men, Territorials and the public. HOSPITAL OPENED IN HAWKE’S BAY. Per Press Association. HASTINGS. April 26. The sacred observance here of Anzac Day has not diminished as the years pass by. The attendance at the morning service was so great that vast numbers were unable to gain admission. Further commemoration of the day took place in the afternoon, when the Minister of Health opened the Hawke’s Bay Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in the presence of some 3000 people. This hospital has been built by public subscription of £17.000, with a Government subsidy of £9OOO. The cost of the building and site was £23.000. The Minister, accompanied by Dr Valintine, returned to Wellington this morning. BAD WEATHER STOPS HOKITIKA PARADE. Per Press Association. HOKITIKA, April 26. Yesterday’s weather was very unfavourable for the out-door eommemoraion of Anzac Day. Church services in the morning were well attended, as was also a united service in the theatre in the afternoon. There was a large military parade. Canon Hamilton was the speaker. The weather was too rough and wet for a parade at* the memorial but many wreaths were deposited. Returned men visited the Hokitika cemetery where 34 wreaths were deposited on the graves of comrades and departed war workers including hospital nurses. The returned men were subsequently entertained at afternoon tea. A statement of the club’s financial position showed that all debts of the hall had been discharged and now had property valued at £1230 clear of debt. The Hon H. E. Michel. Canon Hamilton, the Rev Knowles Smith and the Mayor, Mr Perry, congratulated the club on the position and wished the returned soldiers’ movement every sucBECKENHAM SCHOOL. There was a good gathering of parents and scholars for the Anzac Day ceremony at the Beckenham School. The chairman (Mr F. J. Colmer) presided and appropriate addresses were delivered by the Mayor (the Rev T. K. Archer), the Rev Odell, and the headmaster (Mr Irwin). A laurel wreath in memory of old boys who lost their lives, made by Mrs Marshall, was afterwards placed on the stand at the Cathedral. UNWOOD METHODIST CHURCH. Tn connection with the Anzac Day celebrations yesterday Chaplain H. Sharp conducted an impressive service in the grounds of the Lin wood Methodist Church for the Scouts, Cubs, Girl Guides and Brownie companies connected with that church. Altogether there were one hundred girls and bovs in uniform and ten officers. The officers attending were: Miss Lowry, of the Girl Guides; Misses I. and R. Francis, of the Brownies; Misses I. and L. Chesterton, of the Cubs; and Messrs Mackintosh, Olds, Berry, Muirson and Clarkson, of the Cubs, and Messrs J. Stokes and IV. Francis, of the Scouts.