RETURNED SOLDIERS’ RE-UNION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3941, 11 May 1929, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ RE-UNION.

A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION,

Upwards of one hundred returned men assembled in the Masonic Hall on Thursday evening on the occasion of the annual re-union organised by the Foxton Returned Soldiers’ Committee. The function was presided over by AH’. H. Reid (President) and was a great success, a most pleasant social time being spent by all present. The “rum ration” was served after the honouring of the Loyal Toast and the President proposed the toast of “Absent Comrades.” In doing so, M]r. Reid referred to the large number of men who went over but did not come back. He also made reference to the great number of returned men who had crossed into the Great Beyond since the war and coupled with the toast the names of Keith Anderson and “Bobby” Hitchcock, “two good Aussies who had gone out in true Digger spirit.” The toast was lioncured in silence.

The toast of the “South African Veterans” was proposed by Air. AI. B. Bergin, who said lie felt pleased and privileged to be called on to propose the toast of their predecessors in arms, the South African Veterans, and he congratulated the Returned Soldiers’ Committee for including the toast oil their list. The toast served to remind those present that others had answered the call to arms when many of those who participated in the Great War were infants. It reminded them that others besides those who participated in the Great War had to put up with hardships, possibly bin known to the average civilian. Today, overshadowed by a greater carnage and devilish practices of a more enlightened age we were sometimes inclined to forget the suffering, loyalty and bravery of the South African Veterans and it was only right and proper on such an occasion, to pause and consider the great sacrifices our men made on the Rand and Veldt, sacrifices which were just as great to those men as the sacrifices made on the bank of the Somme weire to the returned men. The shell and bayonet of the Boer were just as cutting to them as those of Fritz and death was just as unwelcome from an 18 pounder as from a 9.2. A remark often heard to-day was that the 'South African War was nothing compared with the time the men had in the last war. AH. Bergin agreed with this. Their sufferings were equal but could the joys of the men who had to spend ten days leave on an open veldt be compared with the joys of the men on leave in France with "its estaminets and other attractions. (Laughter). Continuing, Air. Bergin said that the South Africans had laid - traditions or foundations for New Zealand as an overseas lighting force and set a standard by which we were now judged. They had credited New Zealand with loyalty and a willingness to stand shoulder to shoulder by the Alother Country in her hour of need. The lessons learnt in South Africa were the lessons by which they had been schooled for, their soldiering days and lessons by which the leaders had learned to ease the discomforts of the men in the last war. The South Africans never had the comforts that they had aud Air. Bergin gave one or two amusing little sidelights on the “little things” that had troubled the South African veterans. The South African veterans, said Mr. Bergin, in conclusion, are old enough to be our fathers but by reason of their service they are brothers. They c-ould talk of their Somme, Ales’sines aud Passehendale but they could never take Ladyslmith and Alafeking from the veterans. They should, therefore cry quits, share the honours, invite them to their camp and drink the soldiers freedom, the cup of friendship. (Applause). The toast was drunk with musical honours and Air. J. Linklater, ALP., on rising to reply was greeted with applause and cries of “Good eld Joe.” AH’. Linklater thanked the men for the wa.y in which they had honoured the toast so ably proposed by Air. Bergin. He outlined some of his experiences in South Africa and said that the work they had to do over there could in no way be compared with the work of the boys in the trenches during the recent war. They had a great variety of'work in South Africa and during the time he was there (he did not lose a minute'of active service during the campaign as a member of the 6th New 1 Zealanders) they travelled 6000 miles on horseba'rik. Their wounded had a fairly rough time of it, said Mr. linklater, as the medical corps was far from well equipped and the men often had to be taken long distances over bad roads to receive attention. He thought that the lessons learnt in the South African war had possibly been of great help in the last war. They had done their best and had laid down traditions which had been well upheld by the men in the Great War. Air. Linklater referred to their own reunion which was still held annually but it was very sad, he said, to see the many empty places at the table now. Over fifty per cent, of the South African veterans had now joined the great majority. He congratulated the Committee on (the fine attendance that evening and urged the returned men to stick together. Unity is strength, he concluded and you will find it is in your best interests to keep together, Mjr. F. G. Raikes also spoke on behalf of the Veterans and expressed his appreciation of the manner in which the toast had been hon-

cured. Their experience in the South African war made them able to appreciate to a great extent the scjrvice of the men in the Great War. They appreciated the work of tiie men in the Great War and he regarded it as a great courtesy on their behalf to be invited to he present at t'heir reunions.

Air. F. Robinson also thanked the committee for its invitation to be present and the men for the manner in which they had honoured the toast. They had possibly had the same feeling, lie said, when they left the shores of New Zealand as the men did when they went away. They had done t'heir best- as the returned men had done in the Great War.

The toast of “The New Zealand Expeditionary Forces and Kindred Units” was proposed by Air. J. K. Hornblow who referred to the various units which had made up the expeditionary forces and the good , account the men had given of themselves at the front. He was pleased to see amongst, those present that evening a member of the “Old Contemptibles” in the person of Constable J. V. Bell. They were proud to have in Foxton a member of the Contemptibles and were particularly pleased to see him amongst them that night. There was also present a member of the Pioneers (Mr. J. .McGregor) and Air. HornbloAV referred to the traditions laid down by the Maori people which had been well upheld by (he Pioneers in the Great War. He also referred to the Royal Air Force, which was represented by Mr. S. Austin and various other units. Respones were made by Air. Win. Trueiman (Canterbury Regiment), who spoke of his association with his regiment, and touched on some of their experiences on Gallipoli and referred to the recent death of Alajor General Stockfard who had had charge of the “Tommy” regiments which were to have supported the Anzaes on the Peninsula, the action of whom had created a good deal of discussion.

Other responses were made by Alessrs C. Aloulden (Auckland Regiment), 11. Rouse (Otago), H. Reid (Wellington), V. Betty (Rifle Brigade), J. AfcGiregor (Pioneers), S. Bryant ajid S. Barber (Mounteds), while Constable Bell replied on behalf of the Contemptibles. Constable Bell referred in humorous vein to his association with the Contemptibles and said he was a- (member of the Permanents when war broke out and they had to go whether they liked it or not. It seemed to him that they had started the row and left the others to finish it, but there were very few of them left to-day to tell the tale.

At the conclusion of Constable Bell’s remarks the toast of “The Contemptibles” was honoured and “Fofr He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” sung.

Mi’. A. E. Scott proposed the toast of “Billets” and said lie wanted the Diggers to turn their thoughts back to happy days spent in billets. When lie thought of some of the good times they had spent behind the lines he felt sorry for the South African veterans and those who had 'been unable to get to France. Despite the hard times they v ere called on to go .through there had ibeen some happy days and it was good to remember them and he called on the men to charge their glasses and drink to the memory of “Billets.” The toast of Foxton and district” was entrusted to Mr. F. 'C. Raikes. Mr. Raikes said Foxton vas the oldest town in the Manawatu and one of the oldest in the North Island. It had never shown any great, amount of progress in the past but it was not a bad little place and he was perfectly, certain that the thoughts of many of those present when overseas often returned to Foxton. Foxton possessed certain resources and there was no doubt in the speaker’s mind that in a few years Foxton would progress to a great extent. Its main industries, which were well known to those present were dairying, flax and poultry and of these flax was possibly on the threshold of a new •era. 'Flax growing' commercially had not been previously tried and this venture might prove quite successful. In regard to the dairying industry, there was still a lot of land around Foxton which had not been thoroughly worked, the outlying district having received more attention in this respect than the land nearer Foxton. Mr. Raikes considered this land held great possibilities. In ofher ways Fbxfcon also has great possibilities, said Mr. Raikes. The port is considered by some as indifferent yet in years gone by it has been worked very successfully and there is every indication that it is going to be again. A company bad been formed to procure a boat for the local trade and a. very large district could be served through the port of Foxton. The poultry industry might not be considered by'-'many as of -much importance buknevertlieless its progress would be reflected on Foxton. The poultry industry around Foxton was on a better footing than any where else in the North Island. This was due to the fact that grain could be landed much cheaper on local farms through the port of Foxton than elsewhere: Foxton is our town, said Mr. Radices in conclusion, and it is a good thing that we have men at the. bead of affairs like our present. Mayor (applause). As long as we have men of liis calibre governing our affairs we will never go far wrong. (Applause). • Mr. Perreau in reply, thanked Mr. Raikes for his personal reference and for his remarks in regard to Foxton. He was pleased to be at the reunion ‘but it was very sad to see a number of vacant seats. More returned men he said, had “Gone West” since the war than had 'been

killed during the conflict. The lit - tie town had made good progress during the last few years and this Air. Pcrrcau attributed to the fact that the returned men wore taking an active part in local government and wore to be found at the head of the various local bodies or on their committees. Wo have depended on you in our hour of need, said AD'. Perreau, and we are now depending on you again to take an active part *in the government of this country.

Ollier toasts honoured wore “Our Mothers,” proposed by Mr. V. AleDowell, “The Entertainers,’’ proposed by Air. 11. Reid and responded to by Afr. 0. Smith and “The Press.”

During the evening vocal and elocutionary items were rendered by the following:—Messrs G. F. Smith, B. Hinds, D. R. Barron, Osborne (0 rou a Downs), Gardner and Siimins. Newton’s orchestra provided an excellent programme of music and Air. J. Newton played the aeeo mpa aim en Is. The Returned Soldiers’ ICommittee is to lie congratulated on the excellent manner in which the reunion was conducted.