DIGGERS’ RE-UNION.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXII, Issue 96, 31 July 1935, Page 3

DIGGERS’ RE-UNION.

A VERY HAPPY GATHERING. Between sixty and seventy returned soldiers met in the Municipal Concert Hall last evening for their annual re-union, and the gathering was characterised by that feeling of camaraderie which meant so much to the boys when on active service. Toast, song 1 , and story alternated in quick succession, and when the time came for the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” everyone was of opinion that the function had been quite worth while.

Mr H. T. Limbrick (president of the Waipawa branch) presided, and among the guests were Mr A. E. Jull, M.P., P. A. McHardy (life honorary member of the R.S.A.), Mr N. M. Paulsen (chairman of the Waipawa County Council), Mr C. Pattison (chairman of the Patangata County Council), Mr T. Dunn (president of the Napier branch of the R.S.A.), Mr G. Menzies (secretary of the Napier branch), Mr J. L. Brathwaite (vicepresident of the Waipukurau branch), Mr J. N. Barrie (president of the H. War Relief Association), Mr C. Nairn, Mr G. Hunt; and Dr. T. Seton Norris. Apologies were received on behalf of General Sir Andrew Russell, and Messrs A. O. Williams and Baron de Castro.

After the toast of “The King” had been duly honored, and the orchestra (mainly comprised of returned men) had played a selection, Dr. T. Seton Norris proposed the toast of “The Army, the Navy, and the Air Force,” stressing the importance of unified control. Mr Paulsen, a ‘ ‘ digger ’ ’ and one of the original members of the Takapau branch of the R.S.A., replied, emphasising’ that the men while on active service learnt what good comradeship and good fellowship really meant. It was gratifying to know that the R.S.A. was steadily increasing its membership, and this was more essential now than at any period since the war.

Mr C. Pattison, proposing the toast of “The R.5.A.,” declared that there was no organisation more worthy of support. It had been stated, he said, that the Great War was a war to end war, and to make the world safe for democracy, hut it would seem that little progress had been made in that direction. Real progress would only come from a better understanding of the other person’s viewpoint. Replying to the toast the chairman said it was very gratifying- to see such a large attendance, considering the weather conditions. It was also pleasing to know that the membership of the R.S.A. was steadily increasing, showing that as the years passed re-

turned men realised more and more its value, that while individually they might get nothing out of it they were helping’ comrades in need. Without the R.S.A. there would be no. re-unions, and the programmes for the Anzac Day ceremonials would not he so well organised. Proposing the toast of “The H.B. War Relief Association,” Mr C. G. Harker paid tribute to the assiduous manner in which members of the executive and the branches had devoted themselves to the task of administering the funds subscribed by the public, and warmly eulogised the farsighted policy adopted by the original members of the association.

Replying, Mr J. N. Barrie referred to the controversy concerning the administration expenses of the association, pointing out that loans involved far more secretarial work than straight-out grants. He gratefully acknowledged the help . which had been given by returned men in dealing with applications which came before the executive.' The suggestion for the amalgamation of the smaller branches had been made for reasons of economy, but it had been turned down and that was the end of it. The health of Mr P. A. McHardy was then toasted with great enthusiasm to musical honors, and in acknowledging the compliment Mr McHardy urged the men to stick together as they did at the front. He paid tribute to the noble service rendered by the women during the period of the war.

Mr A. E. Jull proposed the toast of “Local Bodies.” He stressed the important part which local bodies had played in the development of the country over a period of 75 years. There was, he said, an agitation amongst a certain section for amalgamation, principally by men who had not rendered two hours’ service in the public interest. Whilst there might be room for some improvement in the present system, any alteration which would rob local government of the personal interest should he guarded against. It was gratifying to know that many returned men were doing their duty in eivie life, the speaker instancing the Mayors of Waipawa and Waipukurau and the chairman of the County Council. The toast was acknowledged by Mr Hunt. Mr Sawyer proposed “Absent Comrades,” and the toast was honored in silence. Mr G. Menzies gave a very interesting resume of the business of the last annual conference of the R.S.A. Mr Eagle proposed the toast of “The Visitors,” which was responded to by Mr Dunn. During intervals in the toasts songs were contributed by Messrs W. A. Sawyer, C. Woods, and J. Barker, elocutionary numbers by Mr Jull, stories by Mr Brathwaite, and violin solos by Mr Angell, whilst the orchestra assisted with selections and accompaniments to choruses of digger days. The s'-Lr-popt*!**!** to the songs were played by Mr S. Scott.