BACK FROM THE FRONT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1804, 21 March 1918, Page 3

BACK FROM THE FRONT.

SOLDIERS WELCOMED AT ’ OROUA DOWNS. At the Oroua Downs hall on Tuesday afternoon a public reception was given Gunner Davey and Privates E. and C. Conlan, on their return from the front. Gunner Davey, w r ho was among the first to leave the district!, took part in the Gallipoli landing, and has been on active service until a few' months ago. The" Conlan brothers have seen twelve months active service in France. All three, and especially Gunner Davey, are looking very well, notwithstanding the hardships they endured. Although the weather on Tuesday afternoon was inclement, almost everyone in the district turned out to welcome the heroes hack. Mr Mills, in brief and well-chosen words, addressed the gathering, and said that the patriotism of the people of Oroua .Downs and the popularity of the boys just returned was evidenced by the large crowd present. Father Dore, of Foxton, who himself was at the landing at Gallipoli, and who some time later w T as severely wounded whilst rescuing if wounded soldier, from the effects of which he still suffers, was then called upon to speak, and made a presentation front the Oroua Downs Red Cross .Society of five guineas each to the heroes. In the course of his address, Father Dore said: “It is my privilege to welcome you, my comrades, back tb New Zealand and your native heath. I rejoice with your relatives and friends thaf-you have returned so fit and w r ell from the most terrible and destructive of all w'ars. You have endured for a considerable time hardships and privations which none but those who have been on the field can realise, and you have come through it all smiling. You inspire us with a feeling that this whole gruesome affair will be finished and won by the solid grit and determination of our boys. Being a membef of the Executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, I am very pleased to see the enthusiasm of people of this district on your return, and I beg leave of those present to sound a warning note on the question of returned soldiers. They will be, and they are being, misunderstood. Let me explain myself by giving an example. A short time ago, in a certain place not a thousand miles from here, a certain Mayor and his Councillors attended on a deputation to the Premier, Mr Massey, respecting certain local affairs. Amongst other things, the Mayor suggested that a certain scheme should he carried out before the war was over m the interests of returned "Soldiers. This work, which the Mayor explained, consisted chiefly of making tunnels through the hills —and this was the work that the citizens of that town-were prepared to offer to men who had fought for their country. It is probably the hardest work that a man‘can he, asked to do. Now, I don’t suppose this Mayor or his councillors meant to be unpatriotic, but they displayed a very prevalent form of ignorance of the condition of the returned soldier. They ’ did not realise that the average discharged soldier is a man who is broken down in health and unfit to do hard work of any kind until his health is restored. They forgot that his medical history sheet as a man unfit for hard work because of nervous trouble, lung or heart disease. Superficially he looks well, and if he does not actually walk with a Jimp or present some maimed appearance he ought to work, and if he doesn’t he is a waster. Already in this country we are hearing the word “waster” applied to the returned soldier. What will it be when the British hospitals are emptied after the war and our own lads Hood the country ? The hero of to-day becomes the waster of to-morrow, and all through the want of consideration from the unthinking public. I appeal to you to be kind to the returned soldiers. They were unselfish enough to go and fight for you that you might live in peace and comfort. They,deserve your first consideration.” Fat her Dore concluded by asking for three cheers for the returned boys, which were lustily given. He then presented each of the soldiers with a cheque given by the Oroua Downs Red Cross Guild. Privates Conlan and Gunner Davey each briefly responded, and expressed their thanks for the gift and their appreciation in being in their native heath in God’s Own Country,