GENERAL RUSSELL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 201, 20 May 1919, Page 5

GENERAL RUSSELL

RECEPTION AT HASTINGS

VALUE OP MILITARY TRAINING

By Tejegraph,—Press Association.

r . , Hastings, May 19. General Sir.Andrew Russell and Lady ..Russell were given a great reception at Hastings to-day. Owing to the .heavy ram during the morning the military parade and other features in the openair programme were cancelled, but at tho Moment of the arrival of tho special train the clouds lifted, and in bright sunshine the General was given an enthusiastic welcome 'by town and countrv people. ,

A civio reception was -held .at the Municipal Theatre, where': addresses were Riven by the. Mayor, the. president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and representatives of the New Zealand Teterans, the Maori race, and tho old Hawke's Bay Mounted Hides,

In reply, General Russell said: "'When I think of the receptions I have received nt Christchurch, : Wellington, at places along the line, and now here nt Hastings, I realise that the welcome is not to myself' alone, but to all who had gono to the tfar—tho.«e who.had returned, and in the spirit those who had not come back." - In , paying a tribute' to his. old command, the Howke's Bay Mounted .Rifles, /General Russell eaid he owed lu'i present position, to them • and . the Territorials, in . which branch of tho sei'vico lie had gained much' of ; Ilia trainings He, spoke highly of the services rendered by the Maori Battalion on .Gallipoli and in France. .Speaking, of the English, he said it had •been stated thnt. Britain was decadent. His experience- wiis that , the- British people had shown themselves great and steadfast, accepting with common-sense the great burdens and restrictions placed upon them, which proved' that the heart of England -was on -sound as ever. Speaking of. New ; Zealand , defence, General Russell said he did not think they . could abandon military training, but ,he was- sure- thKt ,if'' they brought up good citizens to 20 years of age, after that there would'be 110 need for • week or fortnightly drills. He Would do what ho could to help rethrned. soldiers, Referring to' the. possibility! of lis entry into politics. General Russell said very few men ,who bad sncceedcd in the fioFd had succeeded in the House, 60 they had better be cureful. He concluded, by-saying-that 'by working together, instead of looking for differences' and quarrelling over them, they could make this country as (rood as aiiy coun.try -ini the ..world.He\ thought every man, woman, and child slkuld be happy. "It's no good colling 011 Gqd to h§lp -us in the,war, if when the war is over ■ifii are going: to v pnt the Almighty by and His teachings on the shelf, God lias helped us to jvin the war, arid fow we have won we must : ,not ( . banish Him from onr lives." ' .• ' CIVIC! WELCOME AT D'ANNE-. • TIRKF/. Dannevirke, May 19. ...•General Russell.received a' civic welcome when passing" through Dannevirke to-day. The Mayor, Mr. E. A. Sanson, delivered a speech of welcome, which, was fittingly replied to by General Russell. Cheers-were given for and. Lady Russell.' There wos n big attendance, including many returned 1 soldiers. °