C.D.C.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16429, 24 January 1919, Page 8

C.D.C.

ANNUAL REUNION. Tho annual meeting and re-uni.cn ot tiip Citizens' Defence Corps was. held lust evening, the president. Mr C. Harper, presiding over a very Jarge and enthusiastic attendance. Amongst the many apologies for absence read was that of his Excellency the Governor-General, who, although he had previously accepted the invitation to he present, was unable to do so owing to the death of Prince John. The chairman, in a brief recapitulation of the past year's work, said that ' tho corps was now entering upon the fifth year of its existence. \ Peace was 1 now in sight, but "that did not ' i'v any means signify that tho activitios ol' tho C.D.C. should bo lessoned. For about two years to

como the Citizens' Defence Corps would bo required to continue the good -work il hud already done. Incidentally, Mr Harper remarked , that over 5()U0 volunteers had been securcd voluntarily through the Citizens' Defence •Corps. Such l work, thank God, was *110 longer necessary, but thero was still a lot of work for the Citizens' Defence Corps to do, over and above what it had done during the last three years or so. The corps must keep on its good work, the work of the organisation in civil life, as it were, during the war. The activities of the coFps, Mr Harper went on, had been increasing daily. That work must be continued, and it would be increased in view of' the numbers of men now coming back. Mr Harper spoke Drleffy on various ways in -which 'soldiiers and their dependants had been worked i'or by the C.D.C., and the concessions that had been obtained for them through that body, in addition to what had been done in the way of helping j

ilio Returned Soldiers' Association, and in labour work. AH the work of the corps might be removed by the larger scheme of the Government, but nevertheless, the first threo or four .years' work had been carried out by the C.D.C. Mr Harper ended by emphatically statins that the work of tho corps must bo continued, particularly for thosa fine men who had done so well for us, fought so well for us, and suffered so well for us.TL. x: ~..... Ir_ T> T T <tr>. •» M

The treasurer, Mr It. H. Mitchell, submitted the annual balance-sheet! ■which showed a credit balance of £367 6s 3d. The receipts, he reported, had amounted to £4832 2s Bd,-and the expenditure £5199 4s lid. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Mr George Harper; hon. treasurer, Mr R. H. Mitchell; .secretary, Mr A. >J. Syniouds; general.committee, Messrs A. Boyle, S. Hardey. P. R. Climie. C. Throp, J. A. Poulton, H. C. Godfrey, J. S. Middleton, H J. Bowlker, 1) Hoare, W. S. Wharton, and E. U ( .lust; executive committee, Messrs J £ Dougall C. Wood, J. D. Million, H Holland, J. jF. Collins, A. C. MaxT D. Bishop, J. M McLean, W. W. Charters, and W. Johnson. At the conclusion of the annual meeting, the annual re-union was held, and the proceedings at this function were oven more enthusiastic than thoso of the more formal meeting , After the toast of had been honoured, Mr G. T. Booth, in «i stirring speech, proposed the toast of the "Army and Navy.", in the coui so or -which the speaker expressed manv fine patriotic sentiments Characteristic replies vere gircn oy Mi Alex. -Boyle on.. benau of the Navy, and Colonel R. A. Ciiaffcy on behalf or t;t» Army. Mr O. T. J. _ Alpers made a characteristic speech in proposing the health of "Tho Returned Soldi«-s." V Colonel G. J. Smith, who responded to tho toast, 6aid that there was nothing, that could be done for tho New Zealand soldier which was not deserved. The New Zealanders, on,, the fields of Gallipoli, Prance, and Manders had made a name for themselves equal to that even of the British Guards. Originally, they had been merely citizens, out as soldiers they had "played tho game" on the field, and so much so' off the field that tho slouched hat in Engknd and elsewhere, had .become svmbolicalwith "gentleman.". New Zealand, undoubtedly had reason to be proud cf the men who had gone to Egypt and Europe. Colonel Smith continued that the men who came back fit would fend for themselves, but as for the others— those who were crippled, etc. —the citizens must see that they were always well cavod for, and that they never wanted for anything.

The flavor, Mr H. Holland, spoke very culogistically of the Citizens' Defence Corps in proposing the health of that hody. Mr C. Wood responded to the toast, ■on behalf of the C.D.C., and incidentally referred to the conrtesy the C.D.O. had received, no matter what part of the community it had approached. The motto of the C.D.C. right through had been to win the war, and the chief endeavours of the corps had been towards alleviating any difficulties that might spring up in connexion with that end.* As regards the returned soldiers, the C.D.C. had always been with thorn, and were always "out to do what they could for them." Mr George Harper next proposed the liealth of the sister branch of the Citizens' Defence Corps, the "Women's National Reserve, and the toast was drunk with much enthusiasm. Mr William Wood briefly responded on behalf of the Women's Reserve. The toast of the president was proposed in suitable terms by Mr Cyrus iWilliams, and Mr Harper, when rising |o respond, was greeted with loud

cliccrs. but his whole speech amounted to. "Gentlemen, you will excuse mo, but [ thank you," which evoked rounds of applause. ' • The toast of '"'Our Guosts" was entrusted to Mr M. J. Gresson, who in brevity and wit. met with instantaneous success. Sir John Denniston replied to the toast, and in doing so, said that he was an old volunteer. In fact, his volunteering d.ny.s dated back to 18G0. In lStiS. he had beta a full iuomb.jr of the Volunteer Corps in Westport, and later on he had worn the "busby''- ot what was in those days the bost artillery corns in vN'cw Zealand, tho •'B" Battery "of New Zealand. Sir John sjxiko briefly of the very fine "work of tiio Citizens' Defence Corps, to havo been a member of which, if it had been possible for him, ho would havei counted a very groal honour. Mr C. Wood proposed the health, of Mr J. D. Millton, who for a long time, until he became n member of ono of the Military Service Boards, was a very urn ruin on t. and active momber of the Citizens' Defence Corps. Mr Million briefly replied. Mr J. J. Dougall proposed the toast of the ladies, and tho toast was responded to in a humorous spoaeh. by» Mr J. M. McLean. Tho reunion proved a most successful | one in every respect. Mr Symonds looked after the refreshments in tho very best style, and Messrs J. M. [McLean and W. 15. T>. Bishop selected a musical programme.- The entertaining talent,. by Ihe way, was easily tho lwst that has boon met with in Christehurch for some time past. During the evening, musical items were ;;ivon by Messrs Lawn, J. M. Cocks, S. Rankin G. March, V. Cookson, V. .Toll. A. L.' Cropp, H. McD. Vincent, U. Clarke, Harold Mathieson, Arthur Maedonald, Lawrenco Bros." Dr. Frank A'Court acted as accompanist