FROM 1899 TO 1946

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1946, Page 4

FROM 1899 TO 1946

— — VElERANS OF SOUTH AFRICAN WAR REUNITE PLEASANT SMOKE CONCERT Although it -is nearly fifty years since the young fifieh df New Zealahd first left these shbtes td fight for the Empire in Soutli Africa, it iS stiil f ound that those men have not forgotten the comradeship of those dayS. it was the desire to carry oft this spirit that brought a large number of South AfriCan Veterans together fof their annuai re-Uhioh, which was held in Levin on Saturday evening. TCO those guests Who were not members of the association, and' therefore somewhatyounger in years, the spirit and ehthusiasm with which these -old eOmtades joined in singing and other activities completely jUstified the saying "that old soldiers never die." The tables were decorated in the branch's colours, and were well laden with refreshments. The chair was occupied by the pfesident df the branch, Mr. E. Hdgg. Among the guests were His Worship the Mayor (Mr. H; B. Butdekin), the president of the Levin R.S.A. (Mr. H. J. Lancaster), Mr. H. A. Fenh, repfesenting the Levin Homesef-^ vicemen's Association, Mr. J, I. Goldsmith, of the Wellington S.A. Veterans' Association, and Visitors from Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, the Hutt and other- districts. Apologies were received from Mr. Bell, General Young, and Wanganui and Bush districts. Mr. Hogg welcomed the visitors and proposed the toast of thr "Kiftg," which was honoured by the linging of the National Antheih. The memory of falien comrades was then honoured by the playing of the "Last Post" by Mr. G. R. Lester, the company standing in silence at the rdquest of the chairman. ^Levin and Distridt" The toast of "Levin and District" was proposed by Mr. F. E. Parker, who said that he considered himself well qualified to do so, as he had been a resident of the district for some forty years, and had visited all parts of New Zealand with the exception of North Auckland. The fertility of the soil -and the fffie farming community resulted in a production which was unsurpassed. The town itself was destined to grow, and it was the duty of the Levin Borough Council to see that industry was developed so that future generations might have (Vbrk Which would keep them ih the lOwh. Another matter was the need for the development of the Horowhenua Lake, which deserved the iihmediate attention of local bodies. In reply, Mr. Burdekin said that as the years passed the membefs of the association did not' seem to bhahge with age; in fact they seeffled to become younger every year. He endorsed Mr. Pafkef'S' contention that he was well qualified to speak of Levin and district. The natural advantages enjoyed by Levin would be one of the factors contributing to the rise of Levin, which before loiig would be one of the most important towns on the coast. Mr. Burdekin, indicated hiis agreement with the views expressed by Mr. Parker on the need fof Industrial development and the use pf the lake. The speaker also referred to the urgency of the question of the provision of an airpoft for Levin with the progresS made in uir transport. Time was short ahd something had to be done in the next two months or the opportunity would be lost. "The R.S.A."

Mr. J. I. Goldsmith proposed the tpast of "The R.S.A." He drew-the 'arientiom;Pt:;^U-pre$.efxt to the fact that although he ' was pr'oposing ihe toast, |i;e was .himself one of the oidest members of e the N.Z.R.S.A.y ahd took the oppo'rturiity to IhVite Jie chairman and members of the Levin branch to the reunion of the vVellington branch! It had been noped that the Governor-General", Geheral Sir Bernard Freyberg, woUld be present, but of course this was not possible now. Mr. Goldsmith related an interesting ana sometimes amusing account of the efforts of the New Zealand SbUth African War Veterans to present Mr. Winston Churchill with the gold badge of the association. After some diffieulty and negotiation, the badge was conveyed to England by the Prime Minister (Mr. P. Fraser1 and duly presented to Mf. Churchill. Only now that Mr. Churchill was no longer in office, was it possible to blake the presentation public, said Mr. Goldsmith. The speaker Went on to acknoWiedge the debt owed by the • S.A. veterans t'o the R.S.A.. explaining how the South African veterans were always considered wheh. decisions were made by the R.SiA. executive.. _ Mr. H.-J. Lancaster replied, saying that anything that the R.S.A. had done was just a gesture of gtatitude for what the men who rought in the Boer War had done for tis. He considered that any exserViceman who had serVed at horiie ot overseas in any war should be able to demand all that was due to hini. "Our British Eriipire" The toast, "Our British Empire," Was eloquently proposed by Dr. L, J. Bunter, O.B.E., who pointed oUt that it was fitting, at the first reuniOn since the end of the war, .To iioiiour the sister Dominions and coldhies. He outlined the building of the empire and emphasised the point that, by Whatever the tneans ob the motives of the growth of our eommonwealth, ifc was a fact chat all its countries had people Who Were free to govern themseives as they .desired, as far as this was pos-

sible. It was not always possible for-1''" _ various reasons, strategic consider- - ; " * ; ations being a most imortant one, The manner in which the Domin-: » • ions and colonies had flocked to ' Britain's aid in 1939 was a tribute to, ; fche way in which the' people of the * Empire were governed. Dr. Hunter ; went on to talk of the problems that ' " were before the Empire to-day, Egypt being one which at present was of great importance to us, al- »vv-. = fchough perhaps lessened by advance of air power. The speaker v concluded by saying that if England Should ever fall, Providence would, surely raise up a nation whicn. would inherit the characteristics of _ t ihe Emnire and carry on its work. , At this stage a "stand to" of fit'n '.y, - : teen minutes enabled those present ' j ' !to renew ,old friendsliips, and the,,; ;;'' old comrades met' and talked , f ormer days with obvious pleasure"/ * , " T "The Allied Services" Mr. R. Metcalf e proppsed the next „ ^ toast, which was "Tlle Allied Ser- * x ' vices, Army,.Navy, Air, Force and rNursing Service." Mr." Metcalfe referred to the toast as an --important one, and recalled the part that a haval detachment had played in ihe relief of Ladysmith during the ^ . j Boer War. The wonderful work done by the navy in the past two wars, said the speaker, was a good-— indicatioh that "Britahhia ruled the waves." The men who had fouglit in the army during the Boer War had set an example which had been carried 011 by following generations. Mention of the air force made one recall the words Of Mr. Churchill; how so few had fought for so many, and we should be , . proud to think that so many New Zealanders were outstanding in the air, said Mr. Metcaife. He concluded by referring to the difficulties and hardships faced by the nurses . -in the Boer War, and how the traditions they established had gone On with the wonderful work of New Zealand girls in this war. Dr. S.' J-. Thompson Replied, jafid stated that the .xeunipp ' was one i of the highlights'lpf- Iii'ihdnouring the ser'vicesihb rnbde' spbclal mention o"f the men of the MerChant Navy, who, in spite of the trials they had faced at sea, always went back to do their duty to the . nation. Dr. Thompson concluded his remarks by reminding his iisteners that the peace would not be brought about by force alone, but by sound and careful planning. Other Toasts The toast of "The Visitors" was • proposed by Mr. I. D. Parsons. He | expressed his pleasure at being able to welcome visitors from such long distahces-. It was good to see present not only old comrades but also members of the R.S.A. and Homeservicemen's Association. Mr. H. E. Goodwin," in a short reply, extended the thanks of the Visitors to the association for the toast. Other toasts were to "The Police Force," proposed by Mr. Hogg and responded to by Sgt. W. Grainger; to "The Secretary and his Wife," proposed by Mr. D. Morgan and replied to by Mr. I. D. Parsons; "The Artists and the Press," proposed by Mr. R. W. Evans and replied to by Mr. H. L. Jenkins, for the artists and Mr. E. P. Malohe for the Press. Between the toasts the time was ^ passed with instrumental and vocal jr items. An orchestra composed of , Messrs. H. L. Jenkins, J. W. Hayfield, B. Langtry, G. R. Lester, M. Boyce, W. S. Penny, A. C. Kennerley and L. R. Spencer played throughout the proceedings. Individual items were provided by Mr. Langtry (clarinet) , Mr. Lester (cornet) , Mr. Penny (violin) and others. Mr. Carr also created interest with his playing of a one-string fiddle and musicai saw. Community singing of old "veldt" sorigs added to the cohvivial atmo- ". •' sphere, the orchestra providing the accompaniment. , , r . The gathering was brought to a close with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne." f