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The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1919. A NATIONAL WELCOME

The national welcome extended on Saturday to MajorGeneral Sir Andrew Russell was in every way worthy of the occasion. Any soldier would take justifiable pride in the tremendous popular ovation which greeted the able and gallant commander of the New Zealand Division. The most impressive feature of the day was the deep note of earnestness •which'was at all times evident and found free expression at the great gathering in the Town Hall, where General Russell was formally but very heartily welcomed home by the Acting-Prime Minister and his colleagues and by the Mayor as. representing the citizens of AYellirigton. The demonstration in honour of General Russell was at the same time a national acknowledgment of the debt the Dominion owes to its soldiers of all ranks, whether they served in Gallipoli, France, Palestine, or any other theatre of war. First and last there was a. credit able absence of cheap bombast. In paying honour to General Russell lor his own sake and that of all the fighting men he represents, the speakers of the day and the people they addressed did not forget that victory in the war was won at a great price, and that honour is not more due to the living than to the memory of the brave men who died for their country and the Empire. It was an occasion on which the deepest, feelings were stirred, and a fine spirit was shown throughout by all concerned,, not least by the distinguished officer to whom the day was primarily dedicated. Martial achievements were celebrated and the tribute paid 1 to the living and the dead was splendidly spontaneous and came from the heart. But it has never been better emphasised than on this redletter day in New Zealand history that the British race does not seek martial glory for its own sake, and that the ultimate concern of its citizens, including those of whom fate demands for a time the duty and sacrifice of the soldier, is with the problems of peace. This ruling tendency found expression in all the speeches, very conspicuously . in that made by General Russell himself. He had much to.say of the valour and de-. votion of the officers and men of the Expeditionary ■ Force, and of the good qualities of those with whom he was associated in command, ' but his last words bore on the future of the Dominion, and more especially upon the problems by which it is immediately confronted. It is not in doubt that he touched the heart of these problems when he expressed a hope that the people of the Dominion would show themselves capable of uniting' on essentials instead of fighting over artificial differences. "Human sympathy and human touch" undoubtedly will do much to help this country to shape its future on right lines, and it cannot be too much regretted that these _ qualities are as little as they are in evidence in our public and political life at the present'day. A widespread perception of the urgent need of making a new departure in politics gives additional interest to the' suggestion made on Saturday by ,Ins namesake (the Hon. G. W. Russell) that General Russell himself should take an active part in the public life of the Dominion. In his reply, General Russell did not indicate whether he has any thought of accepting such arj invitation. Very possibly.the matter is one in which he is not prepared offhand to form a definite decision. It is hardly in doubt that in the public life of the Dominion he would add to the distinguished reputation he has earned while, leading its troops in the field, but the long and exhausting'strain of work and responsibility to which he has been subjected, not \ without some injury to his health, may havo left him little inclined to enter upon a political career, at all events for the time being. All will agree with the Minister of Public Health that any constituency in the Dominion would' count it an honour to be represented by General Russell, but whether the latter is inclined to seek election has yet to .appear. General Russell's ultimate decision will be awaited with much interest by his countrymen. . But even if he should never enter the political arena it stands to his credit that in this critical /hour he has confidently and with sound judgment struck the true note of progress _ and crisply stated 1 the conditions which must be satisfied . if ' progress commensurate with the opportuniI ties and resources of tho Dominion is to be achieved. While the recognition is fairly general that pre-war political methods wil-T .no longer serve and are no longer to be tolerated, there is more than an inclination in some quarters to emphasise and embitter sectional differences. It is to be hoped that these tendencies are rather aberrations of the moment than of a lasting character. They run,, at all events, directly counter to sound and healthy progress. The cardinal need of the time is constructive development, using that term in a wide and full sense, and the first thing demanded in order that this need may bo satisfied is, to employ General. Russell's phrase, "unity on essentials." It is difficult at tho present stage to forecast even approximately the changes and developments that are to bo expected in politics. But a demand is raised (bow fai; effectively has yet to appear) for something much more sweeping and fundamental than a mere readjustment of political parties. It is less a new arrangement than a new spirit that is called for if the problems of tho day are to be faced and attacked as they should be. In the politics, of this country and most other countries at a similar stage of progress much time and energy havo Been wasted hitherto in move sparring, trivial in itself, but potent as a standing impediment to progress and constructive reform. Most people have come to regard the average politician with more or less tolerant contempt, though it is fairly evident that a lack of effective enterprise in elected representatives unfailingly reflects similar shortcomings in those' who elect them. To-day, chiefly as a. result of the stress of the war, there is a definite call for the adoption of more intelligent methods. There is at least a general sense of

urgency, a feeling that it is no longer possible to trifle with big problems of national organisation, development, and welfare. If this spirit is to tell as it should in politics there must be first and foremost an effective pooling and combination of effort and a determination to sink all petty ;tnd unreal differences. In assisting as he has done to coiiccntrate public attention upon these vital necessities General Russell has added not a little to the debt of gratitude under which he had already laid the Dominion b,y his capable leadership of its principal fighting unit.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190519.2.12

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 200, 19 May 1919, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,160

The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1919. A NATIONAL WELCOME Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 200, 19 May 1919, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1919. A NATIONAL WELCOME Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 200, 19 May 1919, Page 4

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