SONGS AND SPEECHES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 11

SONGS AND SPEECHES

PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES WAR VETERANS' MEETING Songs that were favourites with the men at the World War were sung again by ex-soliders at the annual meeting (in. the form of a smoke concert) of the Wanganui Empire Veterans’ Association on Saturday night. Mr E. \\. Mercwether occupied the chair until the election of the new president, Mr W. H. Cannan. There was a good attendance, the time passing quickly with songs, speeches ami toasts. In his opening speech, following the Royal Toast, Mr Mercwether said that when difficult times like the present came round, law and order might be likely to disappear. But it was a welcome thought that 90 per cent of the Diggers stood for law and order under all circumstances. While they could keep the Association going, and while there were returned soldiers in New Zealand, the country had nothing to l< ar from extremes such as the, country was going through to-day. Ho welcomed the Mayor (Mr N. G. Armstrong) both in the capacity of Mayor and be cause he had been such a power of strength to the volunteer movement, and for the work thsit ho had done for the boys that had gone overseas (applause). Proposing the toast of ”The Association,” Mr Mercwether said it was means of keeping them together. He instanced how the passing of the Wanganui Returned Soldiers’ Association had prevented the buying of poppies at wholesale rates and their sale for disabled soldiers. He urged all to keep to the Association and continue coming tu the re-unions every year. If the R.S.A. in'the Dominion went out of existence certain benefits would not be available. It was the spirit of the Association that counted, and if they had some spirit to keep them together it would pull them through whatever difficulties they might encounter. Replying, Mr C. S. Brown thanked the meeting for the manner of the response, ft was the essence of such an institution that it had a spirit beyond that of those who composed it. I'he Association was built and based on memories and a common viewpoint of the past. He trusted that the organisation would keep together for many years to come and keep on the good work. The chairman proposed the least uf “'i’he Imperial Forces.” He said all knew what a spirit they had imparted to those who followed. All knew how fine the spirit of the First Hundred Thousand had been. Replying to the toast, Mr IL V. (‘humleigh said that with the discipline, that so many did not understand, the building of that spirit had been possible. Every regiment, battery ot battalion tried tu maintain its wonder ful traditions. Those from Australia and New Zealand owed to the Imperia! forces’ men that spirit which they ; brought out with them. Li passing or that wonderful spirit they built up th< | comradeship between forces at Home I and forces in the Dominions. It was I the aim of those at Homo to have that -pirit the same throughout the Empire Til l' the whole lighting force of the i Empire would be as one. The fosterin; I of the spirit of the Imperial For< < i would make that possible, and thus tin whole would become and be regards* as the Imperial Forces. “Past Office-bearers and Musicians’ was proposed by Colonel Annabell. M Mercwether replied. Mr G. Jones pro posed tin- toast uf “Absent Com Items were rendered by Messrs Paw i son, Buchan, (’humleigh, Howell am Whelan. 'l'he sinfin!' el’ tin- National Anthei