FUNCTION AT TURUA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5082, 31 January 1927, Page 3

FUNCTION AT TURUA.

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ “SMOKER.” HAURAKI SERVICE ASSOCIATION. The. Hauraki Plains ex-Servicemen’s Association, and organisation of returned soldiers apd sailors resident on the Hauraki Plains, held its inaugural meeting and a smoke concert at Tur.ua on Thursday evening. About 80 members were present. The Rev. W. Averill presided, and, after Reveille was sounded, in opening the “smoker.” expressed the hope that it would be the forerunner of many such functions, which tended to kgep alive the old spirit of the trenches. A .toast to “Fallen Comrades” was honoured, members standing in silence while the Last Post was sounded. The Loyal toast was followed by a couple of songs by the Rev. Averill, and a toast to “Absent Diggers,” by Mr Stead, of Kaihere. Diggers’ then joined in singing some old choruses, and were afterwards entertained with songs by Mr J. Hands, Of Kerepeehi, and recitations by Mr I* Holden, of Orongo. A welcome ,to all diggers’ from outside Turua was extended by Mr F. L. Hamilton, and their toast w?s duly honoured. Mr A. Bradley of Orongo, contributed Irish songs, and Mr A. Hogg, of Kerepeehi, proved a favourite, songster. Mr P. Bryden, on behalf of the visiting ex-servicemen, expressed pleasure at being invited and regret that mere of the diggers were not present. He. hoped that there would be more such functions, when diggers could gather together in the spirit of the. old days, but, without the horrors of those days and without the tyranny of n.c.o.’s or ‘one-pip’ artists. Mr .C Clarke, of Waitakaruru, explained that most of the diggers from his district were now married, and were therefore busy fighting on another front, so could not be present in person, though they were all present in spirit. He would convey to them an indication of the enthusiastic •manner in which their ■‘-past had been honoured. A!fte,r a song by Mr J. Gardiner, "Orongo, Mr B. Nolan; of Kaihere, in proposing the toast o'f “Local Bodies, said thpt councillors were judged by their work, and one had only to look round Turua and the rest of the Haur.aki. Plains and compare the state of ‘the roads .with what it was. ten years ago to see that the men who had been elected to public office had done their duty wisely and well. The county reading scheme of the present county chairman showed that he was a man with the. interests of the whole county rather than of one paht, at heart. After .Mr L. McCoid, Of Turu'ai, had contributed a song Mr E'. Walton responded to the toast. He thanked the. soldiers, for the way they had honoured the toast, yvhich showed the good spirit that prevailed between the soldier settlers and the local bodies. The country owed a debt of gratitude to its soldiers, and it had attempted to square that debt by settling them on the. land. In some cases this had - not been satisfactory. After seven years, some soldiers had to walk off their farms. It was the plain duty of the Government to give them good farm's. Likewise, it was the duty of the local h°dy to write off "the rates owing by these soldiers and not let the debt hang over their heads. It was the wish and the desire off 1 the County Council to help the returned soldiers as much as. possible, but it was necessary to understand that it was governed by stricter rules than the Army Regulations. The Plains •County. Council had been repremanded on account of the amount of rate ■arrears, but he was of opinion that .the councillors, were better able to judge conditions under which the soldiers worked than the officers, of the -Audit Department. The council collected rates from those able, to pay, but did not press those unable to pay. It aimed to be just, but not generous. Mr J. Mules, chairman of the Tur.ua Town Board,’also responded to the toast and explained that he was glad of .the opportunity to publicly thank the chairman and members of the Plains County Council for the assistance given the town board on numerous occasions. A «one by Mr McElroy, of Turua, was the. next item. Mr A. Ebbley of • Turua contributed several ponular - parodies, and was followed by Mr C. t Clarke of Waitakaruru. -The ’next toast, “The Ladies,” was ■ ably ’proposed by Mr E. A. Mahoney, of 'Ngatea fvho referred particularly to the. Army purses. It was 3nthusi--astically honoured, and the chorus of •“The rose of-no-rinan’s land was sling. Mr J l * Hands, of Kerepeehi, contributed another, song, and Mr E. A. - Booth, «f Turua,. led several popular .choruses. :Mr A. 'Bradley - briefly - responded to the toast to the ladies. A toast to the, mess orderlies, and -■‘The Chairman, the Rev. W. WAverill,” termintaed a very pleasant "function.