GENERAL BIRDWOOD

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1920, Page 3

GENERAL BIRDWOOD

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

■ (Received this day at 9.20 a.m.)

• LONDON, Sept. 30. i Mr Fisher, presided at the Australian and New Zealand Clubs luncheon to General Birdwood, at which 150 guests were present including Sir J. Allen, Hutton, Galway, and Justice Powers. General Birdwood in a long speech

paid a tribute to the ‘Australian Government’s'treatment of returned men. He could not believe any other country had done more. It was also amazing what municipalities and private committees were doing. He ascribed the excellent results of repatriation firstly to adaptability of the resources of returned men; secondly to the generosity and far sighted policy of the Dominion Governments; thirdly to the loyal co-operation of employers and civil communities; fourthly, to the enthusiasm of employment committees.

General Birdwood, commenting on the vast productive areas unpopulated, said lie had told Australians that if the British race did not populate the vacant spaces, the time might come when others would think' they could do better and would make an attempt. He urged Australians to welcome British comrades to develop their resources. Birdwood referred to the .great handicap of constant breaks of the railway guage, entailing terrible losses of time power, demurrage pilfering and the expense of man handling. He was pleased Mr Hughes had convened a committee to discuss the problem. He was delighted with the shipbuilding construction, because until Australia, with its magnificent natural harbours, could build her own ships she could not rise to the full zenith of prosperity. Australia and New Zealand were workmen’s paradises, but he felt sad a;t the numerous strikes. He longed for sanity on the part of labour, a cessation of agitation and for employers to give genuine evidence of willing co-opera-tion and concessions at the right time Both Dominions were naturally going slow on defence policies, in consequence of the enormous burdens of the war. They- were anxious to curtail expenditure to the minimum consistent with safety. Birdwood hoped the fine prewar citizen service would be fostered, and not allowed to fade away. He hoped Australia and New Zealand would encourage interchanges of officio's with India and also exchanges of uni- 1 versify professors, school masters and civil servants between Dominions and England. He was disagreeably . shocked at the beat and strength of sectarian feeling in Australia, amounting nearly to exasperation in certain parts of the country. Surely a free people should live harmoniously together irrespective of religious feelings.

Birdwood concluded with an appreciation of bis treatment by the Dominion Governments.

The speech was punctuated with a humorous series of experiences with soldiers and parents, which the large audience thoroughly enjoyed. lie prefaced his speech by holding up a small picture of a placard which “Diggers” displayed at Freemantle on his arrival. It was the picture of an outstretched hand inscribed “Diggers greetings” with a diminutive sketch of Birdwood and the words, “Put it there Birdie”.

Birdwood remarked—“ That was my first greetings in Australia.” The speech gave evidence of most remarkable powers of observation and studv of Australian conditions.