Hastings Service

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 84, 26 April 1937, Page 9

Hastings Service

j A LARGE PARADE | R.S.A. Resolution of | Thanks j PRESENTATION TO TOWN | With eacfe year the attenciancos Iat the aunttai Anzac Day serviees ln Hastings increases, and yester- » day sfternoon it is considered that 1 there was a record crowd at the | Municipal Theatre, which was filled to overflowing. Certainly | ttie attendancs of returned ^oldiers I was a record, it being estimated that there were close on SOO of | them in the parade and taking part 1 in the service, while there were 27 South African War veteranp. TSough Bimplicity is the keynote ■ oi Anzac Bay service it loses none of its signiflcance, or its impressiveness because of that; rather it ehhantws the signiflcance of the occasion, and familiar thoUgh the order of service might be, there eould be no doubting the earnestcep& and sincerity of those who are present. From the time the big parade of loeal units, Maori and South African War -vOterans and returned soldiers, Seft the bandroom in Warren street with the Hastings Citizens1 Band at. the h ead, and the Haw ke 's Bay Highland Pipe Band bringmg np the rear, there wa? a crowd of interested fpectatcrjj lining the ynite taken for the march. This crowd joined up with those alieady at the theatre and filled every soat in the building. The stage was suitably draped in purple with a streemer on which the word "Anzac" was prominent across the cuTtain, and Rudiug off into the body of the hall was a stand covered with wreaths and other floral tibutes. Mr. P. J. Priest, prebident of the Hastings Returned Soldiers* Assooiation, presided, The service opened with the National A nthem and was followed by a prayer by the Rev. K. M. Leggitt, then a b.ymn, "O Yaliant Hearts," and Scrip-t\-re reading by the Rev. D. J. Shaw. The principal address was given by Golonel C. H. Weston, K.C., D.S.O., of Wellington, and is reported elsewherw m this issue. While a colleetion. was takeu up the Citizens' Band played a selection, and then Mr. Priest made the presentation of resolution of thanks passed by the; New Zealand Returned goldigtrs' Association to the citizens of Hastings and Havelock North. In doing so he pointed out that on April 28 next it would be the 21st anniversary of the founding of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers1 Association, and it had been considered fitting that on this occasion the association should mark its appreciation of the work, sympaihy and support so generously given Oy the public to those who took part in the Great War. The resolution, which was engraved and ffamed, read as follows:—

Terms of Resolution. "The New Zealand Returned Soldiers1 Association, which was forined in April, 1916, for the purpose of guarding the interests of returned soldiers and perpetuating the spirit of comradeship and mutuai assistance born of the war years, will this year celebrate the 21st anniversary of its foundation. Our association considers that this anniversary is an appropriate occasion to indicate how deeply conscious its members are of aU that which has been done for the ex-sol-diers of the Dominion and their dependants, eommencing with the supply of comforts to the men and nurses while overseas and the provision of large sums of money for the Telief of those who suffered as . aresult of their war service, continuing through all the years, right dcwn to the present time. "This simple memorial is intendec therefore on our part, to bo expressive of a message of national thanks and appreciation to all those who have in any way (be it great or small) contributed to the support and assistance of the association and its branches and of the returned soldiers generally throughout the Dominion. In particular, it is the desire of the

Pssoeiation and its members that this should convey to the various iastitutions and to the citizens of 3 our particular commuiiity, "a spn•.cial message and provide a permanent record that we are not unmindful of the wotiderful support ihat has (been accorded to the branch of the association operatiug in your locality and the generous PBsistance that has always been lorthcoming for any effort that has been' prordoted by our memVers. Our association boasts a great record of achievement on behalf of the returned soldiers, but we gratefully recognise that sueh achievement would have been impossible but for tlxe sympathy and support that has been extended to us by all classes and for the coniidence that has been reposed in olir org&nisation nationally and locally. "For all this and to all we repeat our deep and sincere thanks and appreciation and as we have in the past endeavoured to merit what has been bestowed upon our association and upon our fellows, bo too we hope to enjoy the' eontinued confldence of the citizens of eveiy part of the Dominion. 11 The Town's Reply. Accepting the presentafcion on behalf of tho citizens of Hastings, tl»e Mayor, Mr. Cl. A. Maddison, said that there was really no need for the rego--lution to remind or thank the people for what thoy had done, for ho assured the association and all returned men that the people of Hastings held the interests and service of those men very close to hejart, He congratulated the association, on attaining its 21st birthday and wished it "many happy returns of the day, 1 1 and gave an assurance that the memorial was appreciated and woiild occapy a prominent placo in the history of the borough. Mr. II. It. Von Dadelszdn, chairman of the Havelock N6rth Town BOard, to whom was also handed a replica of the resolution, expreised the appreciation of tho townspeople of Havelock North. The fcinglng of the hyntn "O God, Our Help in Ageg past'; .^nd the pronouncing of the Benediction, brought to a close one of the inost tuccess|Hil| [mmediately afterwardg the parade reassembled outside and marched to the Cenotaph in Russell street, where vol leys were iired, ihe "Last Post11 and the "Itevoille1' soueded and wreuth? were placed on the memorial, bringing to a clos one of the most succe&sful Anzac Day services yet conducted by the a&sociation,