KARORI'S WAR RECORD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 308, 17 September 1918, Page 8

KARORI'S WAR RECORD

AN HONOURS BOARD THE UNVEILING CEREMONY An honours board' bearing the names of the men of Karori 'district who have fought in the war Ims been erected in the Borough Council Chamber. The memorial was unveiled by the Act-ing-Primo Minister (Sir James Allen) last night in the presence of a representative gathering of residents. . The Mayor (Mr. .13. G. 11. Burn) presided. The Mayor congratulated the people of Karori on having turned out in such numbers to he present at the ceremony for the unveiling of the honours board. Before calling on Sir James Allen to perform the unveiling he said that there were 104 names on the board, and twenty were still to be added. On a population basis this worked out at 13 per cent., which made the record a very proud one for the little suburb. The Names. The names of those killed and of those who had won decorations were: — Killed.—S. C. G. Downard, F. N. Johnston, R. O. Johnston, S. S. Lowe, J. W. Maxwell, A. J. G. Pell, W. Ross, K. :J. Tait, C. Williams, F. AVilliams. Military Cross.—l l '. E. Greenish, E. E. Lewei', R. F. Mackenzie, E. ,N. Picot, K. J, Tait. Military Medal.—G. M. Cowie. The Mayor said that he hoped there would be no further need t6 call on married men, and that those with three children would never have to be called. He thought that the British might with advantage have, adopted reprisals much earlier. Mr. Burn made feeling reference to the list of killed on the board. The Spirit of the Nation. Sir James Allen unveiled the honours hoard, and th 6 audience sang the National. Anthem. . '' The Minist'en. said that the list was a very long one, for 13 per cent, was a very high percentage of the population. Ho took it that many of the men must have volunteered before the Military Servico Act came into operation. Ho approved strongly of ,the setting up of honours boards to commemorate the service to the nation of the young men who fought and died for their country in this great war. The past years had been'years of trial for the British 'people, but they were enduring their sufferings as they, knew how to endure them.- At the" outset the British were unready, but they had had time to prepare. To-day the prospects wero bright, and nobody had a doubt in his mind as to what the end would be. "There are those," he said, "who have been talking about peace. Wo all desire peace, hut we don't desire a peace which will make the sacrifices of those lads' of yours of no use." (Head, hear.) These lionmirs boards wero'to remain for ever, amPthey would have a wonderful effect on the esprit of the nation. For a nation was not built up only of prosperous' businesses. Rather it was the men, women, and children that made the nation. . And the war had done much to develop the men and women of the race, and to teach them their civic duty. The Three Children Men. The Mayor had expressed the hope that, men with three children would nevei be called up for service. That wish ho (the Minister) reciprocated fuliy. Nothing would please him more than to know soon that as Jliiiister of Defence he would never liavo to ask men with three children to go to fight. But if the need did arise he believed the people of New Zealand and the wives and children of these men would ratlier give them than see' Neiv Zealand fail. He did not anticipate that meti with three children .would be balloted for until 1919, and ho hoped that, although some of them might have, to go to camp, not one of them would have to leave New Zealand. Sound Policy. Though it might not'be proper to boast of what our' men had done we had a right to be proud' of what Our men had done on the West front, in Palestine, and in Mesopotamia. Ho had accounts from outside sources about the New Zealand Division, and it was a satisfaction to know that New Zealand was looked upon as one of the best, if not the best, on the Western front. Owing to the policy of keeping up reinforcements the division had been kept, at full strength, whereas some British divisions had been reduced in strength. The result had been thatwhen the New. Zealanders .were called upon to do*, any great work tliey had never failed. Sacrifio® Not in Vain. ,Ho offered sympatuy to we relatives of those men who liadhuiado the supreme sacrifice. Jrle would not have it tnal these men had died in vain. Tliey had left somctning of their virtue behind them by their splendid example. So by tut), traditions of her, people' had the ifritish nation been mado great, and in this way also NW Zealand might achieve traditions making for her future greatness. The board would remain here for ever, an inspiration to tba people. 'The Government was taking measures to preserve a complete war record. He hoped that before the end of the year tho first volume of a history of the war would be written—a volume dealing with the Gallipoli campaign: It would not be the otncial history of the war, but would be a stofv from the pomi of view, of the soldier, compiled from letters, diaries, and photographs sent by soldiers from Over 1000 such letters had been sent to Base Records Office in 'Wellington. When tins volume was written others dealing with the later campaigns would bo written. Care for Returned Men. For the men returniiig from the war he bespoke sympathetic aid and encouragement. The Government and Parliament had determiiied to help the disabled men in every way possible, and to recognise the lifelong obligation of the country to the men disabled in the country's service. In this matter of preparing the soldier for civilian life the Govment had dwie much, and was not standing stiil. General Richardsou's latest achievement was to organise an educational course for disabled men ,and a scheme- of vocational training for partially disabled men. There would be a long period—probably twelve months—of demobilisation, and lor this difficult period General Richardson had arranged educational classes suitable to the civilian needs of the men. As the scheme developed ■ arrangements would be made for the continuance of these (educational classes' on the returning transports. Sir James Allen went on to speak generally and in detail about the orthopaedic treatment of patrially disabled men. lie told of the orthopaedic unit to enme here soon to be established "in Christehurch. and of the chief requirement—the "orthopaedic conscience"— of the men in such work as the tender care of the wounded. Minister's Difficult Task. Mr. R. A. Wriglit, member for the district, said that he was glad to join in congratulating tho people of Karori on their war effort, lie knew, as everybody knew, that the Minister of Defence was in an unpopular position, the most unpopular position in a very unpopular Government. The war had made it necessary for tho Governmentj to got up against eyery sect-ion of the

community. Hut in all tho House there whs no other man who could have done tho Minister's task so well, and there were many who could not have done it halt' so well. Mr. Wright spoke of tho griefs caused by tho war, saying that he hoped there would be at tho end of the war a league of nations which would bo strong enough to enforce discipline on any criminal nation. When tho time for peace camo tho Germans would supplicate on their knees, making all sorts of protestations of future good conduct. lint the good nations of the world ought never to trust tho Germans again. The Germans understood no argument but that of force, and the Germans ;hould be given plenty of this argument of force. He joined with the Minister in asking tho v people to keep sympathy for returned soldiers. Cheers were given at the call of tho Mayor for "The boys at the front." On the motion of Councillor AY. Skeatr, a, vote of thanks was accorded to Sir James Allen '.and Mr. Wright-.