NEW ZEALAND CLUB

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 42, 13 November 1919, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND CLUB

A DISTINGUISHED GUEST

VIEWS OF SIR ANDREW RUSSELL Major-Goneral Sir Andrew Russell, K.C.li., K.C.M.l'i., who was General Officer Commanding tiro .New Zealand l.*iri:iion, was tho principal guest at a luncheon given by tlie Mow Zealand Club yesterday. Olhur specially invited guests were:—Major-lieneral Sir All red liobin,. Brigadier-General G. S. Jiiehardson, and Mr. J. ]). Harper (president of tho Returned Soldiers' Association). General Itobiu was unable to bo prosent. The president of the club (Mr. W. E. Spencerj said that Sir Andrew l'ussall was the more welcome at the New Zealand Club on account ot tho fact that ho was New Zealand born and bred. All knew how ffell General liussell had served, and what name he had borne with the men who fought under him. For his gallant services he had been fittinglyrewarded by tho King. (Applause.) Jn Now Zealand he would always be known as the friend of the .soldier. In tho phrase of a member of the forces, he had "just, done his job quietly." A better epitome of his work it would have been difficult to hit upon.,, (Applause.) General Russell expressed appreciation o( the. honour that had been done him. He proposed to toll as well as he could some of the lessons for the future that he had learnt from his war experience:'- 'the principles essential for success at tho front had largely the same value in determining civil success. Two or three things had been found essential. One was "liaison"—tho knowing what the men on the right and on tho -left were doing. Want of liaison 'led to waste in business. Want of thought loir problems ahead was rathor a failing of !tho Englishman, and that trouble had to be got over, 'llie Government must jet over it, and the business community must get over it also. Many a time the very mass of details to be dealt with .precluded £.11 opportunity for thought. No man could hope to hold all tho threads of a. business and attend to all its details, however small tho business was. Every head of a business required to have subordinates to whom he could trust details. ]t was necessary that subordinates should bo taken into the conltdsiico of their chiefs in regard to matters of policy. In t-ho Army the attempt had been made to give to all, right down to tho men in the ranks, tho amount of information necessary to a proper understanding by each til' nis part in the operations. The eoniidencu of subordinates must bo won, nnd there must !>c a common uiiu ahead of all the units in a conujrn. Increased l>l eduction was the need of to-day; and in tho absence of a common aim, that end could not be achieved. Each, moreover, should get a fair return for what he contributed to tho increase of production; and not the "working man" alone should bo credited with putting his best efforts into his work. Jivery man at tho front, the siraiker hoped, felt that he had a share in the credit of the victory. In civil there should be an endeavour to imbuo each person with "enlightened self-interest." It was a mistake to think that tho man on tho wharf or the miner in the mines really liked taking high wages and doing no work. Such men were merely like other people, and were quito us apt to bo discontented with tho lifo of a "loafer." While tho menace of Russian ideas was abroad it must be remembered that it was not sufficient to defeat a- dangerous idea, Something constructive must bo ottered in placo of what was defeated. Tho future would call upon us all for our best efforts und our best brains. It was the "thinking-caps'' outside the House, just us much as those inside the House, that were wanted. The House would not succeed in solving the problems ahead unless nil took their Sharp in seeking a solution. "Don't anticipate too many difficulties," concluded the- General "Meet them in a cTiecrful spirit when they come. And don't worry!" Members heartily applauded" their distinguished guest at the end of his speech.

Tho gathering dispersed after singin° a verse of tho JN'ational Anthem.