Community Scroll as Christmas Greeting to Ist Echelon

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 53, 13 December 1940, Page 2

Community Scroll as Christmas Greeting to Ist Echelon

Contains 350 Signatures

Work of Mr. Reg. H. Stillwell

A community scroll, bearing Christmas greetings and signatures from a large number of people, representing a crosssection of the Dominion, is on its way to Major-General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., and the men of the Ist Echelon in Egypt. The idea of the scroll came from Mr. R. H. Stillwell ,of Wellington, and formerly of Christchurch.

Three feet long and two feet wide, the scroll has a New Zealand scene, in natural colours, with a Maori whare, lakes, hills, trees, ferns, and a kiwi above the greeting and below it a gold seal bearing the words, “New Zealand” and “Good Luck, Boys.” -

Mr. Stillwell’s object was to send a greeting represnetative of the whole of New Zealand, and the eight weeks devoted to the task produced a worthy effort, there being 350 signatures, including those of the Governor-General (Lord Galway), the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), all Cabinet Ministers, heads of departments, and representatives of the armed forces —Commodore W. E. Parry,,formerly captain of Achilles, Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, and Group Captain H. W. L. Saunders.

“Barmen and Bishops.”

The scroll is signed by message boys and children, Plunket nurses and old-age pensioners, barmen and bishops, street cleaners and Judges, waterside workers and knights, politicians and priests.

“It represents a message of sincere goodwill from the people of New Zealand in all walks of life,” said Mr. Stillwell, during a visit to Christchurch. “Everywhere I went the idea was received with enthusiasm, and everyone was anxious to fix their signature to the scroll, which proves the unity of spirit in the war effort, a community spirit which will do much to bring victory.”

Everyone signed the scroll while doing their own particular job, the Governor-General at Government House, a blacksmith in his smithy, a painter while chipping paint off a house, a barman and grocer at their respective counters, the Rev. Percy Paris at a prayer meeting, and a policeman on his beat.

Road Cleaner Signs.

A road cleaner signed the scroll at 1 a.m. on the street, and a newspaper boy, who has four uncles in the services, while selling his papers. At the Te Aro School, Iris Hamilton was chosen to sign for the children. An English refugee child was among those to sign at the Wellington Technical College.

Councilor Margaret Semple, wife of the Hon. R. Semple, signed at her home in Kilbirnie, Mr. John A. Lee on a motor-car seat after being stopped in the street, and Mr. S. Frickleton, V.C., at his office desk in Lower Hutt.

The Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., president of the Returned Soldiers Association, added his name to the scroll at the conclusion of the ceremony at the Wellington Cenotaph on Armistice Day, and the Queen of Raratonga signed at the home of Mrs. Ripeka Love. Among those of the Maori race to sign was Mr. King Tahiwi, who added the message, “Kia toa, kia ka kaha, kia manawanui” (“Be brave, be strong, be of stout heart.”)

Mr. Stillwell bore the cost of producing the scroll.

(ILLUSTRATED ON PAGE 4)