FATHER AND SON BANQUET IS HELD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18888, 14 October 1929, Page 13

FATHER AND SON BANQUET IS HELD.

ADDRJESS GIVEN BY MR A- K. ANDERSON.

The annual “Father apd Son” banquet held under the auspices of the Boys’ Gordon Hall, the junior division , of the Y.M.CA., on Saturday evening 1 attracted an attendance of over three hundred. The president of the Christchurch Rotary Club, Mr E. H S. Hamilton, presided. The chairman adopted the unusual procedure of speaking to the toast of “King and Country.” In doing so, he suggested that the toast should read “Coxmtry and King,” which in his opinion would be more appropriate for the gathering that evening. It depended, he said, on what we were as individuals, what the country would be. It was their duty to live straight and honourably. The British nation would not be the great country it was to-day if its people had not been industrious, and it was for the younger generation to carry on the ideals of their forefathers, be honest, play the game and preserve their allegiance to the King. “Dad, Our Partner,” was the next toast proposed, this time by Stan Nicholls. He said all the boys were pleased to have their fathers with them at the gathering that evening to tell them how much they were appreciated. Fathers extended a helping hand to their sons in their earlier years, and for that matter the helping hand was sometimes applied more forcibly than they thought - the occasion warranted. As they grew tip, their fathers became their pals, taught them how to play a straight bat to the difficulties of life and steered them through the troubled waters of youth. The brief speech met with general approval, and the proposer was accorded hearty applause. Musical honours w r ere given to the toast. Mr G. M. Hall, in replying for the fathers, said he neither wanted to preach a sermon nor give a lecture. He quoted a prayer bung at Sandringham, the gist of which was “Make me a good loser,” and told that the boys that, if they took that to heart, the battle of life would be made much easier. There would he lots of battles to .fight ans big ones .at that He thought that the boys of the present generation were given too much assistance, spoon-fed and made too soft. He himself was trying to put some respon sjfoility on the shoulders of his young son to teach him to rely on himself. Mr A. K. Anderson, MA., head master of St Andrew’s College, gave a short address dealing with the relationship of fathers and sons. In opening, he said that he had had no idea that the Boys’ Gordon Hall movement was so strong. The institution supplied a great want in the community. At the age when boys were eligible to join up with them, they were looking for companionship, and it served to divert their interests to good channels and at the same time help along the interests, of the country. The war had taken away a great many of the prospective leaders of the country, and the young men now had a great opportunity to graduate to positions of trust. The adolescent youths had peculiarities all their own. First of all they went about in gangs. It was just a phase of the age and their fathers could not worry if they found that fellowship with the Gordon Hall movement. They were also very cocksure even to the point of being egotistical. That attitude covered a great deal of doubt and uncertainty. It was quite right that they should assert themselves and develop their sense of

independence. Again they are very inconsistent. They bucked against authority, but at the same time stood together to defend it if it was assailed by others. They developed little ideas of their own and squabbles were liable to arise between father and son. Healthy friction in the home was, however, a good sign. Fathers very often had an obnoxious habit of making comparisons with their earlier days and the farther away they got from those days the better they appeared. “Dad” became a guide, sometimes even too complete. The wise father was one who would keep an eye on his son’s doings, but with discretion, give praise where due and sympathy when it was required. A wise father knew also when to apply the brakes. In later years the father developed irfto a chum, and there was no better

relationship. Sometimes the fathers were accused of being too old fashioned, but the children had to remember that they themselves would be old fashioned some day. Too often they forgot that their fathers sweated for * their sons’ existence. Affection existed between them from the day of the son’s birth and confidences between them in later life was the natural out-

come. Obedience should be invariably observed by the sons. Everything led to the biggest thing in life—the building up of character. Small things had the knack of developing into big things. A smile, a good wish or an honest deed would go a long way. There should be no such thing on the part of the sons

as the sowing of wild oats. “We are apt to strike snags throughout life,” said the speaker in conclusion, “and we should steer always for the clear waters ahead!”

The boys’ work director. Mr D. W. Ross, in making a few announcements at the conclusion of the evening, said that the membership of the Boys’ Gordon Hall this year was a record. He urged the fathers to see that their boys stayed more than one year with the institution. It was in the second, third, and fourth years that they received most benefit from it. He announced that the annual camp this year would be held at Wainui, commencing three days before Christmas and running on to the end of January. He moved a vote of thanks to the performers and the speakers for their contributions to the entertainment of the evening. Items were given by:—Messrs Good land, Woodward and Maddam (instrumental trio), Miss M. Ritchie (recitation), Miss Elaine Moody’s party (Hawaiian trio), Miss Lilly Kinsella (monologue). Choruses were also sung during the evening under the conductorship of Mr G. M. Watson. The pianist was Miss D. Webb.