R.S A. Reunion

Mt Benger Mail, 26 October 1938, Page 2

R.S A. Reunion

CHEERY ANNUAL GATHERING The Lawrence Returned Soldiers’ Association lived up to their reputation as capable and cheerful hosts at their annual reunion held in Hart’s buildings, Lawrence, on Saturday evening. The attendance was nearly 100, visitors being present from Dunedin, Tapanui, Milton, Greenfield, Waitahuna and Owaka branches. The Association’s hospitality was fortified in several effective ways —some of them traditional. The “piece de resistance” was the provision of a venison supper. The popularity and excellence of this was proved by the great number of “returns,” even from those to whom venison was a complete novelty. Cooked by accepted processes, and selected from young prime deer shot in the Tuapeka West district,the sample hindquarters stuffed and cooked by practised hands may well result in an invasion of R.S.A, deerstalkers with visions of similar domestic feasts.

The guests of honour were Messrs J. A. Roy, M.P. for Clutha and Mr W. F. Forrester, district vice-president, Dunedin. Apologies were received from Mr T. L. McDonald M.P. and from Roxburgh members. Songs were rendered during the evening by members of the Dunedin R.S.A. choir, with Mr J. E. R. Benton as an effective accompanist. The local president, Mr R. J. Forbes, presided. After the toasts of “The King” ■and “Fallen Comrades” had been honoured Mr F. L. McFarlane proposed the toast of the N.Z. body. He stressed the fine services of such men as Sir Andrew Russell and Sir Won. Perry. In replying, Mr W. F. Forrester remarked that Lawrence R.S.A. was the oldest sub-branch and one of the most useful to the Dunedin body. A good deal of the credit was due to the proposer. The speaker also paid a tribute to the Dominion executive, which had, in conference with the Hon. W. Nash, obtained many benefits for returned men under the Social Security scheme. Pensions work was taking up a great deal of the secretary’s time, and there still existed much justification for the existence of the association after 22 years operation. Widows of soldiers were aided and promising orphans helped to gain higher education. The poppy day funds were valuable in assisting needy cases requiring special attention. A comprehensive toast —the army, navy, air force, Australian forces, territorials and nursing services and South African veterans was proposed by the chaplain, Rev. J. Simpson, who referred to such matters as rearmament, the “stinging” propensities of the Australians, the work of the nursing staffs and the need of support for the territorial forces. Responses were made by Messrs J. McKnight (Imperials), P, Roebuck (Navy), Blair (Air Force) and M. Hastie (territorials). Mr Blair in his response, remarked upon the figures of the world’s chief air forces, published that morning.—Germany 12,000, England 1650, France 2,000, and Russia 6,000. One would realise just what Mr Chamberlain had faced. New Zealand boys did well in the Royal Air Force. We could not build planes here, but we coud train boys to fly, and he, personally, expressed his admiration of the work the present Government was doing to sponsor civil aviation. The territorial representative in a neat response thanked the local R.S.A. for its generous support accorded the local troop of Mounted Rifles.

The toast of “Parliament” coupled with the name of Mr Roy, w r as proposed by Mr R. Robson. Mr Roy in reply remarked that the soldier had no friend like his own “cobbers,” and the spirit of comradeship still lived’ and they wanted to keep it going, particularly for the sake of the “under-dog. ’ To Lawrence men he said: If there is anything I can do for you it makes no difference to me what the political colour is, I am only too pleased to be of assistance to any digger. Other toasts proposed were those of the “visitors” proposed by the vice-president, Mr E. A. Winchester, the choir and artists, proposed by Mr G. W. Stuart. The president his thanks to Mr P. Martin for valuable help in the cooking, to Mr A. Hart for the free rise of the hall, tc Mr J. B. McKinlay for the gift of floral decorations, to Mr Browne for trestles loaned and to the press and the “mess orderlies. ’ ’

Something yon need and is yftu to obtain, Something “laid-by” till jsu tfWfl it again, Something you know and should never forget, Something forgotten will cause you regret, Something effective for treatment of “flu,” Something unfailing for hacking coughs, too, Something most needful relief to assure— Standardised Woods’ Great Peppermint Coro,