A STIRLING APPEAR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 214, 4 June 1920, Page 6

A STIRLING APPEAR

BY R.S.A. PRESIDENT " FOR GOl) AND THE WORLD" In returning thanks for his re-election to the presidency of the New Zealand. Returned Soldiers' Association yesterday, Dr. E. Boxer, of Hastings, delivered a stirring appeal to the membeis of tlio association throughout New Zealand. Dr. Bluer said ho wished to thank the conference for the honour it had dono liirn in electing him to a second term of office (is president. Ho thanked the conference for tlio assistance that had been rendered to him, also the members of past executives. It had been a plea-, sure to he associated with Ihein. In regard to the future lie felt quito sure that the new executive would give him the help which lie had a right to cxpect from them. Ho desired to send.out a message to tlio associations in New Zealand. The Returned Soldiers' Association was a power for good in the land, he believed, a power that would to more manifest as the years went by, and ho did not think tho association would' dio a natural death. On the contrary, ho felt that it would rise Phcenix-lik© out of tho ashes of internal dissensions to a greater height of ability to carry on tho good work that had been done. They had won a position for themselves, not by tlio strength of their right arm, but in the strength of their minds and good purposes. . It now remained for them to abide bv what they had stood for and were still striving for.

"Think Imperially." Tho future lay in their own hands and in his, and he asked them not' to treat that responsibility lightly. Ho looked upon it as a great trust. That chargo was also given to the executive and to the local associations themselves. They had their responsibilities, and they must face them by rendering loyal service to the executive. 111 their ideals and ideas they must consider how they could render the greatest good to • the greatest number. Individuals might urge one .strong course, but in doing so they must look upon tho matter in tho light of how the Dominion viewed their ideas and intentions. He asked tho members of tho CO associations to think Imperially, to study their history with the map before, them, to recognise the greatness of the Empire of which tlie Dominion was a part, and to realise that they were taking a part in the world's progress. Ho believed that in tho past the cry was, "For God and Merrie England," but he would urgo them to accept as their slogan, "For God and the World." Out of tlie .travail of tlio past years, tho travail of the soul of the world from 1914 to ISIB, they had hoped that there would come forth a child of the best intentions—a League of Nation's that would insist on peace, that would insist that no more should men be killed ill war. But tho League of Nations had been stillborn. For the future they would havo ■to see to it that they did not relax from the position of bein" able to defend themselves, and the lesser and weaker nations of the world.

"Think of the mandates of the world and what this policeman of our Empire has had to do," continued Dr. Boxer; "think of the hurdens wo have had to carry. There is a nation that will not accept a single mandate ih the wholo wide world, and which retires within the confines of its domain to luxuriate amidst its own dollars. The mandato over Armenia will have to lie taken by this poor Empire of ours, already overburdened by the stress of past years, during which it has poured out its bk'od and treasure."

They themselves as parents would have to go through the pangs that their parents had gone through, in the King of King's keeping. lie took it that there would be no sacrifice in the future that they would refuse. Their parents rejoiced ih them even unto the death, and some 17,000 of their comrades wero not amongst them. "And even so," continued Dr. Boxer, "if I mistake not the sign of the times, we_ may have , to yield' our children's bonny curls and smiling faces to tho Destroyer's touch. I pray it may not come, but the only way to prevent it is to see that we so build up our 6trengthi in days of'peace r.nd prosperity that it shall not be possible for any other nation to attack us. It has always struck mo as a remarkable thing that the Defence Force of this Dominion is not known as a military force—'Defence* is tho right meaning. Tt is dofence with which we are concerned in these little islands." Their main objective should be to defend everything that had been held sacred throughout the past year, and defence of everything for which l the Empire stood.

A Vision of the Future. Ho ranted tho -members of the association to think nationally so far as New Zealand was concerned. They should remember that they were only about 10 per cent, of the total population, and that tho other 90 per cent, had to bear the burden of that 10 ijer cent, iu all matters of economic estimation of values. Lastly, fney should think enthusiastically of their association. They had created (by their own brains'an association tlmt. was something to bo exceedingly proud of. 110 believed that if every member of the association chose to think enthusiastically of Hie association more, would bo done. There were too many cases of men who bad joined the association, not for thb'sake of the association, but the sake of what they could get out of it. That was something cruel. They should not consider what they' could get "out of tho association, but what- they could do for the soldier who was incapacitated 'and tho dependants of tho stricken and tho fallen. A vision had been smiled to them. "Lift up your tfves 'to tho ranges of future greatness," said Dr.. Boxer, ."and seo that from tho high levels conies tho solvation of tho generations born and still yet unborn. Make it your religion to live and strivo as far as you can for others, for tho stricken and their dependants, and so you will find your so\ils and learn the true, joy. of life." Delegates warmly applauded Dr. lioxor for liis address, and assured him of tlilei* loyal support in the coming year.