TO SOLDIERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1920, Page 3

TO SOLDIERS.

j v DTJTV TO THE PEOPLE.

'‘l have a. message for every member

of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association,” said Dr E. lloxer, president, to the, delegates in conference re-

cently. “I want it to go forth as a clarion cry as to where the duty of 'every returned soldier lies. The past was buried in small things, and gradually, there came an acknowledgment of what soidiers have done for their country. AVe have been accepted by the public and the Government. We have a power for good. It has been stated that the Returned Soldiers’ Association will die.yi natural death, hut T hold that on' the contrary it will Use Sphinx-like out of the ashes of our own internal dissension to a height of nohi.i. ty. Wo have to carry into effect all we have striven 'for. The future is in your haiids and mine. Individual members of the association with strong ideas arise from time to time, but I beseech them always to bear in mind that say. ing which is the keynote of success: “The greatest good fo r the greatest

number.” “ Think Imperially,” continued Dr Boxer, ‘‘study your history with a. mnp before you. The old teaching comes to my mind—‘For God and Metric England’—l would rather say ‘For (jlod and the world.’ Out of the travail of the past years of misery consequent upon the war, I had hoped there would be born a child of the best intentions, a

child of peace, ltnown as file League of Nations, that could insist on peace. ! Alas, that child was still born. We must not think of ourselves, but ever of. fhose smaller nations fliat it is our dijty to protect. Unfortunately, there is one> nation in the world that will not accept the mandate of the world, apart from herself. She sinks back into her shell—a covering of dollars. My soul ’goes out to those who have, made sacduring these past years of war. I had hoped that those sacrifices would, have made for the peace of the world. Hut no. And yet, I know* that we will not bo called on to make sacrifice in the future in vain. It is probable that we will have to sacrifice the curly heads of our own to the destroyer’s touch. Realising this, we must build up a defence scheme which will make it impossible for any other nation of i the world to take action. j I

‘‘Our present force is known as the ‘Defence Force.’ It is always ‘Defence’ never ‘Offence.’ That defence is of everything that has been held sacred throughout the years of our Empire—for vyhat wo were striving for during the recent years of war. ■

‘‘Secondly, we must think nationally. Only 10 per cent, of the population of the Dominion are returned soldiers, and that 90 per cent, have to help carry the burden of the 10 per cent. That was something- pvy.rv picmber should bear in mind, always. Lastly, we should think enthusiastically rff the association. It lias been created by our qwyi brains and is something to be, proud qf. Eyef-y mqmber should strive qqf to do lihs bpsj for himself, huf for thp dpjiendppfs, of those who has fallen by the way, foy. those who, had beqn maimed, yyd for. the country. Justify the future and thy vysio'n vouchsafed us. Lift your fives to thy ranges qf future greatness, from whence comes the salvation of 'fhe future, gonpratioiys. Mykq rf your ■ religion to S.t r ivp fqr qthyrti, foy the stricken, aj|d flip dependents. So wilt you find the true joy of life.”