CITIZEN SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 138, 7 March 1921, Page 8

CITIZEN SOLDIERS

COMMUNITY CLUB CARNIVAL OPENED BY MAJOR-GENERAL RUSSELL PRIME MINISTER ON DEFENCE A week’s carnival for the purpose of raising money with which to provide a Community Club for Territorials and Cadets, instituted by the National , Defence League, was opened at the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon by MajorGeneral Sir Andrew Russell, late Commander of the New Zealand Forces in France. Although the call of the open air and summer attractions prevented many from attending the opening, there was a fairly good assemblage, both -on tho ground floor and in the gallery of the big hall, and the several addresses were listened to with patience and interest up to a point, when tho chairman had to beg for silence to allow Sir Robert Stout to lie heard. Besides the speakers there were present: Major-General Sir Edward Chaytor, Commodore Hothum (of H.M.S. Chatham), Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., Messrs. A Gray, K-C. (chairman of tho Carnival Committee), W. Perry (president of tho Returned Soldiers’ Association), J. P. Maxwell, D. M'Laren. R. A. Wright, M.P., and many other representative' citizens. On With the Good Work. In addressing those present, Sir Andrew Russell said that during the war period everyone had worked heart and soul for the welfare of the soldiers. Ono of the objects of the endeavour to found a Community Club was to restore that good will which had become rather cloudy since the war came to a oohclusion. He had found that there was a misunderstanding on the part of some of their well-wishers in the Navy League, . . . that the National Defence League was not including the Navy in its scope of activities, and that, therefore, they were not interested in the Navy. He wished to make it quite clear that the league favoured a strong Navy. Tho Navy was their first line of defence, which must be maintained at all costs, but the National Defence League, whilst realising that, had not thought to include it in their scope owing to the existence here of a strong Navy League. He wished to give an assurance that the National Defence League would give all the assistance in its power, whenever and wherever it could, to the Navy League. The fact of the matter was that the National Defence League had applied itself to the need that was most pressing, and that was to foster the Territorials and Cadets, and do anything it could for them, henco the resolve to provide them with a home in this Community Club. Was he right in saying that Wellington people had done everything they could for the men at tho front? He knew they had. Well, when people started on the right path, as they had during the war, it was only reasonable that they would wish to continue doing right, and the idea of the Community Club would very largely mean the continuation of that good work for the lads in training. Coe of the objects of the Community Club was to help the Territorials during the time they were becoming competent in the service of their country, a-nd 'he wished the people of Wellington to adopt the same attitude towards them as they had for the soldiers in the field. (Hear, 1 hear.) Need for Efficiency. General Russell said it wns most difficult to avoid giving the impression that the wearing of khaki meant the instilling of the irritant poison of strife. That was alvsolutely buncombe I They did hope to instill into the young men the principles of how to fight most effectually in, the defence of their • country, but at the club they would be taught to know something of the horrors of war—not by illustration, but what such horrors really WOT0 — a nd to create ideals that would make anything to do with fighting ab-j horrent to their natures. He had recently had a talk with a medical officer on the physique of the young men in New Zealand. With all the sick in the hospitals and other institutions, and the homes—siek either in. mind or body—he was convinced that every two men were carrying a third on their shoulders What did that, mean in efficiency? Did it mean that. we were only 60 or 70 per cent, physically efficient? Perhaps it went to 80 per eent. Even if it did, lie thought there was room for much higher efficiency in a country such as Uris- tHenr, hear.) Such efficiency could only be obtained on the part of the individual by entering wholesouled into the spirit of his work and training. To that end the elub hoped to get medical officers to deliver a course of common-sense lectures to the boys, and later on they would null in the dentists. and tlm educationalists, who were able’to explain what was meant by true citizenship in their relations to one another. in the relations of New Zealand to tho British Empire, and of the Empire to the Teague of Nations. (Applause.) Dry stuff would say. but it did not need’ to he dry. it depended on those who delivered the lectures. In paying a compliment to the women ot New Zealand. General Russell to the cabled experience of one Robert Anderson, who on his ;ecent return to England from Germany, said that in Germany he hoard the New Zealanders referred' to as n division of gentlemen. Whether such a thing was oyer said he did not know, but it was a. nice thing to he said, and it should be their firm determination to sustain that reputation. (Applause.) For those high ideals they owed most to their women, who had done such splendid work through and since, tho war .(Applause.) . To manv all ’defence and Territorial schemes seemed like waste of money, he added. It; seemed so -nfertilo. K wns like money paid for insurance—paid away resultlessly as long as one s house did not catch fire. But they did getsomething out of the Territorials, for out of such n scheme came the increased efficiency of the youth of New Zealand. The. investment might be long-dated, but it would return its interest sure. and certain, in their children t nd children. (Applause.) He thanked tie people who had worked so hard for the last few days in preparing the Town Hall as thov had done, and wished the carnival great success. (Applause.) Preparedness. The Mnvor (Mr. J. P- Luke) assured the National Defence League of the good wishes of the Mayor and Council in the achievement of their objects. 1 hey acre all tired of the war, but there was danger in allowing lethargy to ensue, and if. wns wholly desirable tor mon and women to come forward as the club intended to do, to fill the. gap He believed in preparedness, and dint meant the steady trailing of young men to meet the foe when the occasion arose.; to maintain a good standard whilst standing shoulder lo shoulder to poise noy foe tils’- would prevent them enrrving on their national life. On behalf of the citizens of M clhngton, he congratulated the promoters of the carnival. He was sure Hint tho club it was to assist would prove, the very best organisation for the promotion of the happiness and phvsique of the young men, -and he wished it well. (Applause.) "Wise To Be Prepared.”

The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) said he felt it a privilege to be invited to go along to assist the interests of the Community Club and the National Defence I,eague. He took it that it was the duty of everyone to assist

youths to become good citizens and faithful subjects of tho Empire, whether in peace or war. None could tell what would happen twenty or twenty-five years hence, just as no one could say what was going to happen when war broke out in 1914; but if trouble did come to the country and the Empire, they inuet be prepared to do their full duty, as they had done during the evenL ful years now past. He often met people who said that they* had already forgotten the lessons of the war. He would be very sorry to think that was so. To see that such did not happen would be one of tho duties of the Community Club. He was one of the people who thought that if Britain and France had been thoroughly prepared for war in 1914 the invasion of Belgium would never have taken place and many thousands of lives would have been spared, and unfold misery prevented. He had met many people when he was away in England and France, and he had never mot one who. was anxious for war, and ho could say tho same of the people of this country. It-was wise to bo prepared for war, but that preparation was hot to attack other nations. There were those who were envious of England’s power, her commerce, tho strength of her Navy, and the wealth of her Dominions, but no- one would ever suggest that our preparation meant an attack on those people. As to finance, money would bo wanted, and he hoped it would bo forthcoming. It was not now nearly so plentiful as he hoped, but as the people had done their duty in a far more difficult period, there .was little doubt but that they would do it to-day. It was not pleasant to think that if trouble did come it might be a factor under their own eyes. He referred to tho waterfront trouble, and the fact that shipping was at a standstill. It wns not a satisfactory stalo of things, and ho expressed the earnest hope that in the near future wiser counsels would- prevail. (Hear, hear.) The Naval Position.

General Russell had referred to the Navy. Ho (the Prime Minister) considered the Navy just as important as the Army. Only tho other day the Gov-ernor-General had said in Christchurch that the very existence of the Empire depended upon the sea connections being maintained, and Ike Governor-General was one of the very highest, if not the highest authority on naval questions. Most of them knew that, and, knowing it, realised that England must always maintain a strong Navy. He had been much interested in an article from the London "Daily Telegraph” on the naval position by Mr. Archibald Hurd. He knew Mr. Hurd, and knew that he was looked upon as one of tho greatest authorities in naval matters. Ho referred to what had taken place, and stated that had the war gone on there would probably have been no more sinkings by Gorman submarines after the date of the armistice. In all, 203 submarines had been sunk by the British Navy, and of all the up-to-date capital ships in the British Navy not one had. been sunk by a submarine. He bad not seen a submarine attack, but he had seen British destroyers and light cruisers hunting for the German U-boats, and it was easy to see that no submarine could be a match for them in a straight-out fight. Yet, now they wore told that the day of the capital ship was past! In a very short time now they would have a number of ships in these waters that would constitute the New Zealand Navy, under Commodore Hotham, who he was glad to see present, and who would be the com modore of tho little fleet that would have its headquarters in New Zealand. But though they would belong to the New Zealand Navy .they would be British ships, now and always. In that connection he suggested to the people of Wellington that now the Chatham was here they should make the officers and men welcome as fellow-British citizens. (Applause.) He hoped that the carnival and the Community Club would be a very great success, and that that such a useful institution would soon have branches in every centre of the Dominion. (Applause.) A Word to Empire-Wreckers.

isir Robert Stout said that it was about seventy years since the law was enacted that everyone could be compelled to serve the State. H« * considered that the best thing for anyone to do who objected to military training was to leqve the country. No one was going to give up the right to defend themselves. Those who persisted in saying that -no defence was necessary were doing the' best they could to invite war and the destruction of the Empire. Tx>rd Lore-bum had said that had England been prepared for war, Germany would never have gone to war. If England was not prepared for war it was a direct invitation for other na* t.ions to attack the Empire, so it was their duty to see that all men were trained so as to be in a position to defend themselves. He always felt vexed when he heard it stated that some people did not regard the union of the Empire as a matter of much moment. Such people did not seem to realise that it gave the greatest liberty in the world, and that it stood for righteousness and justice. He was reminded of a line in aii old play, which ran: "What fools these mortals-be!” The fact that such people' cried out. for a. free country was the strongest plea for the continuation of union with England. Where was there greater freedom than, under the British fiag? Whore was life and property protected as it. wns under the British flag? The only way to help the Empire was to see that every young man was trained for the benefit of his country, his health, and his .moral well-being. He hoped tho Communitv Club would be a success The Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes and Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., also spoke briefly. . On. the suggestion of Mr. A. Gray, K.C. (chairman of the committee) a vote of thanks was passed to the Mayor and councillors for granting the use of the Town Hall and Concert Chamber free for a week. Mr. Gray also moved a vote of thanks to Major-General Russell for presiding. General Russell then pronounced tho carnival open, and the itall-holders and thoir assistants immediately began to make their presence felt among the visitors.