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Y.M.C.A. & "DIGGERS"

ADDRESS BY GENERAL RICHARDSON

A PLEASANT GATHERING

The Wellington Y.M.CA. authorities marked the anniversary of the armistice by entertaining a number of returned soldiers in, tlie ovoning. Mr. It. Brown presided over the Catherine:, which was held in tho social hall of the AVillis Street rooms. Among those present was Briga-dier-General 6. S. ltiehardson. A few remarks by the chairman prefaced the singing of the National Anthem. General Eichardson, on rising to speak, was given three heartv cheers. He felt, he said, that the right thing for the occasion was not to talk about the war, but to talk about the future. He gave, however, one or two reminiscences of armistice day last year. Tho Diggers, as he saw them, could not grasp fully what had occurred The whole world owed its present state of confusion largc-lv, to the mental attitude of i.he people (hiring the years of tension. What was chiefly wanted to-day was good citizenship. The general impression was that the war was now ended. But it was wonderful to consider what a big fight was going on in Europe even to-day, in Kussia. 'Ho could not help comparing the present 6tate of Russia with that of America. Tho potential riches_ of Russia were as great as those of America. Wherein lay the difference to be observed between the two counrrics? Simply in the citizenship of the people.

"Work and Save," Education and citizenship were tho great factors in advancement. Every man's actions inlluenced the life of others. He would try to define the right aim for tho nation to pursue in tho future. Tho aim of all. he believed, should be to work and to save. Every individual coming back hero to work hard and save .was going to help himself, and help the country. A definite aim for the whole nation was required, and the best aim, in his opinion, that a nation could have was to increase its production, and so increase its wealth m to make life better for all. There wis a great future before tho boys who came back. He was sure most of them realised that of all countries this waß the best to live in. There was an environment here that was not to bo had in the Old Country.. There never was a better time than to-day, becau.se today offered such opportunities. He urged the men never to belong to the ranks of those who merely drifted. They should continue to be animated by the spirit that had animated them when they were with the forces. Officers.nnd, men should do all they could to help one Another! but every man should cultivate selihelo' to the utmost. - All the soldiers had shown how they were ready to die for their country, but more difficult, perhaps, than dying for one's country was living righlly for it.

The Disablsd Soldier. The General referred to the sacrifice of the fallen, and then spoke of tho disabled. The problem of the disabled men was one that the country lu:d 'to face. In talking to returned soldiers he was always going to urge one thing— that all the money raised by patriotio organisations for their work should bo used for disabled soldiers and for disabled soldiers only. (Applause.)

Work of the Y.M.C.A. In conclusion, General Richardson paid a tribute to the work of the Y.M.C.A. for tho soldiers, and for the nation. He also complimented Mr. J. L. Hay, the local secretary. Mr. Hay, he was sure, would manage the organisation to the satisfaction of all. Properly run, the Y.M.C.A. wo.uld improve the youth of tho nation physically, mentally, and morally. He hoped that branches would,spread all over the country, because our greatest asset was our youth. > Lieut.-Colonel .Mitchell,, in ■_ a brief nddress, spoke of ,a. national ideal that General-Richardson' had not mentioned— the ideal of grenter unselfishness and greater love by each for his. fellow-men. A branch of the Exneditionary Forces that was ant to be forgotten was that composed of the nurses. The memory of the work that the nurses had done shrsild never be allowed to die. (Loud applause.) H<? looked to the cutting down of militarism, in New Zealand to a minimum. Exnenditure upon defence might he reduced for some years to come. All must work hard if the country was to Ijo made worthv of the IG.MO men whose srravp.s sanctified the battlefields on which Npw Zealanders had fought.

A highly-diverting comic film was Rcrened at the ooenin? of the proceedings, and i* provoked many. a heartv lnugh. Other interesting films shown later included n. picture of a great review held in France. A nleasiug programme of song nnd o'oonfion v>s nnde i'in of items br 4l '« follo^n?— Orcbestrn and M*=st=. TV. H. Spencer. W. 15. Crewes, nnd R. Brown.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19191112.2.10

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
802

Y.M.C.A. & "DIGGERS" Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 3

Y.M.C.A. & "DIGGERS" Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 3

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