TRADITIONS OF THE PAST

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 259, 27 July 1920, Page 6

TRADITIONS OF THE PAST

I 1 GENERAL BIRDWOOD MEETS EARLY , • SETTLERS' I VIRILITY OF THE BRITISH i ;r . RACE | , I Praifo of tho wort; dono by the early : pioneers in carrying on tho traditions of the British raco was uttered by General i bir "William Birdwood ,at a gathering held under the-auspices of the En,rly Settlers and Historical Association of Wei- ; lington, at Dustin's Rooms, Cuba Street, [ last night. Among thoso present were ; the Chief Justice (Sir Kobert Stout), Mr. i Justice Chapman, Goneral Sir Edward ' Siaytor (Geiteral Officer Commanding : i] 1 ® No"' Zealand Forces), and tho Mayor l (Mr. J. p. Luke). . . . Mr. J. E. Jenkinson, president of tha I • ,n&iocia(ion, warmly welcomed General Birdwood, to whom he eitended tho best wishes of tho early pioneers.

"Best of the British Blood." Soldiers who had fought in tho late \*ar, said General Birdwood, esteemed Jt .a ~yeiy great, privilege to meet the soldiers of Ithe past, and ho thought lio might class early settlers among the soldiers of the past. It was the old'people who had laid tho foundations on which tho Empire was founded, and tho men who had taken part in tho lato war had been strengthened in their outlook by the traditions and the spirit of the veterans of former waTS. "I always think tho pioneers do represent the very best ef tho British Wood and race," addeel Sir William Birdwood, amidst applause. "They were the most enterprising peoplo, who, for the most part, camo out here because they found the old islands too small for them, and becauso they wanted to find now worlds in which to work. The more ono travels through countries like New Zealand and Australia, the more ono realises itho appalling trials tlio old settlers must havo passed through and tho hearts they must haVo had. It •was dauntless courage that led them." The early pioneers had shown tho great spirit of adventure thait had been exhibited later' by their sons and grandsons. The two great qualities of tho New Zealand troops were their initiative and individuality. They possessed all • the other qualities of tho British soldier •-courage, determined to each other, they also maintested the spirit of initiative npd indivi- ' duality. He used to wonder why this ,was so, but he now roalised that it was due.n great deal to the lives they lived in this country, and tho fact that the characteristics of tho early pioneers had been handed on to them. Although there wore some present who had lost their bravest and best and di-arest in the. late war, lie hoped it watld bo some comfort. to thein to know . that their loved ones had not died in vain. They-had gone forth to ratet death with smiling faces. He believed that fill the soldiers had realised that the Empire was fighting in a iust cunse, and not for aggrandisement in any war. They realised that they were fighting in a cause which was far more vainable than life itself—tho liberty of the country and the freedom of women and children for gderations to come. The people at omo always welcomed the New Zealand soldiers with warn hearts and did everything they possibly could for them, not in any patronising unit It, but ■becauso they realised that the New ZeaJnnders were their own kith and " kin. Wherever they went the Ne-v Zesiajiders behaved like gentleman, and there was .not one oaso w:here they abused tho hospitality extended to them. ' He thought .they should realise ihai. whatever their own losses had been, tley were far more fortunate than those people of Belgium. France, iuid Serbia, whose lands had •.been devastated by the enrmy.

A Thing to be Thankful For, 1 think one of the th'npa that w« Save to be most thankful for is that the victory has proved that we people of the British race ilo still produce the same ( type of .men and women tha.t tho Mce has produced in tho Inst'm hundred years," continued oenti.il Birdw>od. (Applause.) Tho- were sometimes told that their grand/toliers were letter men than they weie, but he Al y ou = ! . lfc than!: Ahnjphtv uod that they still produced men and women, who, like those in rbe dtvs of 1 jne_Armada,-were ever icady to d'e for their "King and country. Tie honed the ' ?!?/ ieCf iv Wo^ <i _v! < ? OTwytMiff possible to £f® r j™ dlfao " s , of inland. They anight say that it was n yoiinK .wuniry mth no history, but the Dominion, had. a history, if not a vrrr old •one. General- Birdwood concluded by Urging the pioneers to rroservo -i his•AZw°k the d(X s, of th ® " ast . for in so tbey would be anting i u the iticrcsw of tho coming' generations. Gsnerol Birdwood was loudij applaud•s address. ; he temaindor of ths evening was SOn? f7ld , nnd Gi'neral Knt • Tilth all those pre-