TARANAKI WAR VETERANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 263, 29 March 1913, Page 6

TARANAKI WAR VETERANS.

A PATRIOTIC CATHERIXG. On Thursday evening the veterans were the guests of the Empire Picture '.'hoalre Co., where a special programme patriotic films was shown, and subb iciiily they were tendered a banquet in . 'io Brougham Street Hall by the you, -r men of the town. Mr. T. C. List, '-'e-eh;iinmin of the committee, p:\>itl-., over ;i v«ry large gathering. Propo ■: the toast of ''The Army and Navy," A; deacon Evans said that some of the veti is knew what a grand lot of feiiow* li. ' were in the Army—the old Army. had not deteriorated, however, and v> as efficient to-day as it was 40 or .")() v s ago. Referring to the d;>ath of Lord JseU'v. he enlarged upon what tliat faiii ' soldier had done. The -\avy ii-lto came for much eulo--1 gi-tic comment at the Raker's hands, und he gave point to i 'emarks with several interesting aaeei S touching upon the way the an ivy worked together. They could . assured that in any future campaign . military would receive the efficient vipport of the Navy. (Applause). He quoted Admiral King-Ball's statement hj; Wellington recently that the British Navy had never been in a better state of efficiency than it was to-day. and would be able to bold its own and do justice to the nation in any great naval engagement—this ''by the help of Almighty God.'' "I like that ending," commented the speaker. Continuing, Mr. Evans said that we in New Zealand knew how very much we were dependent on the British Navy. Sir Joseph Ward never did v. better act than when he made a gift of a Dreadnought to the Old Country, on behalf of New Zealand. (Applause). The toast was coupled with the names of Colonel Okey, Captain O'Callaghan, R.N.R.. and Sergt.-Major Bezar. Colonel Okey hinged his remarks around the fact that we were proud-of what the Army and Navy had done in the past and that when trouble arose they would again rise to the occasion. As in years gone by their country was safe in the hands of our Army and Navy. (Applause). Captain O'Callaghan, late of the Royal Navy, in a very interesting speech, described ivhat the Navy was when he joined it in 1835. The ships in those days wore very similar to those with which Nelson won his famous victory. Times had changed, but we still kept the same old (lag (lying and the material was good. The bluejackets were a different crowd nowadays, but the discipline hud not gone back. The men were better treated and far more satisfied. The service to-day was one of the best a young man could enter. Contrary to vhat obtained in his time, a young fellow joining as a "Jack Tar" had a good chance of rising to the quarter-deck. ' Sergt.-Major Bezar, late of the 57th, a Crimean, Indian and New Zealand veteran, who came from Wellington specially to attend the function, spoke warmly of the scenic and other .resource* of Taranaki in general, and New Plymouth in particular. The toast of "The Parliament of New Zealand" was in the. hands of the Mayor of New Plymouth (Mr. 0. W. Browne), who, eschewing politics, made laudatory reference to the action of the young men of the town in repeating last year's entertainment to the veterans, and hoped they would make it an annual affair. He was proud that the young men had risen to the occasion and were not unmindful of those who had made Taranaki fit to live in.

Responding, the Hon. 0. Samuel, in an excellent speech, made an eloquent appeal for proper recognition of the services of the veterans. He recalled the hope lie had expressed at last year's function that the Parliament of New Zealand would rise and do its duty and pass a measure recognising the services that the veterans had rendered. "I must not," he stated, "indulge-myself by speaking freely, but I can assure you that the members from the North Island generally, and Taranaki in particular, in both Houses, did their best to wake thdir fellow-members to a sense of their duty, and if thev have failed it has been no fault of theirs." The veterans that evening, in toasting Parliament, bad sung "For they are jolly good fellows," but" Parliamentarians did not deserve, by virtue of the measure they passed last session, such kindly sentiment. The speaker then indulged in a forceful criticism of the party Government system. He concluded his remarks by making feeling reference to the noble rank of the veterans, to whom this province owed so much.

Mr. H. Okey. M.P., thanked the,young, men of the town for being present, and added that he was pleased that they were doing honor to the veterans, and hoped they would continue to do so until the "Last Post" was sounded over the last veteran. We were apt to forget wlftit the veterans had done for this district. Not many years ago it was unsafe to go into the Recreation Grounds—then a tract of fern and scrub—on account of the Maori raiders. If it had been left to the British troops to settle the Maori war, ft would have gone on much longer. (A voice: Till now!). It was only when the volunteers and bushrangrrs'caine out and fought the Maoris in the native style of warfare that men began to see the end of the conflict. He feft sure that the Parliament of New Zealand had not done justice to the veterans. He had hopes, however, that before long the House would amend last year's Act in the direction of making the pension a recognition of services rendered to the country. There should, however, be no connection between the old age pension and the military pension. " Incidentally. Mr. Okey referred fo the injustice of granting the New Zealand war medal to only those who had seen active service. What about those of the veterans who had perforce .Mayeil behind in the tow* and villages to protect the women and children when the others went out to fight? But for them, what would have become of the women and children? Massacre by the natives! And yet these men who bad protected the "weak and young were, through circumstances over which they' had no control, denied the New Zealand war medal. Proposing the toast of the evening, that of 'The Royal Association of His Majesty's Veterans," Mr. T. C. List, vice-chairman, first apologised for the non-attendance of Mr. J. K. Wilson, the chairman. He spoke of how the old fellows used to banquet themselves and their friends, among the latter being many young men who last year thought it more fitting that the position should be reversed, and that the veterans should be the guests and not the hosts. A movement in that direction was initiated, and there was a generous response by the younger people, who were more unmindful than neglectful. When things were brought before them they did not hesitate to assist. Young colonials were considered casual and speculative. This was no doubt a. true bill, but wliat made, them so? "Is it not," continued the speaker, "horn in them? Their forefathers—men like you heremust have been seized with the speculative fever to leave their dear friends, the hallowed land of their Fathers, and all associations that were true and dear, to come here to a veritable new land, inhabited by savages, who later on they found to be resourceful, determined and

brave. As I say, the early settlers must have been speculative as well as brave, and if we young men are possessed of the same spirit, can you blame us? Still, it is good for us younger people to sometimes remember and reflect on what our fathers have done for us. This is certain: had it not been for their efforts, we would not be enjoying the good times we have today. New Zealand would not have been what it is—one of the brighest stars in the Empire's diadem, and one of the most progressive and prosperous countries in the world. This, is saying a lot. but figures prove the statement. Consider for a moment what has-been done during the past fifty or sixty years. Sixty years ago, when the old settlers came, the country, as a whole, was clad with impenetrable bush. One can see wdiat it is like by viewing the bush on Egmont's mountain slopes now. Now nearly all the fertile part has been cleared and is producing; the country is roaded. bridged and railed. We growl at not making more progress. It is but natural. if we did not growl we would not he progressing: we would., be stagnating. Dissatisfaction—growling, if you will—at existing conditions lias born the mainspring of the success of the British Empire. If its sons were not growlers, if they were satisfied with their conditions, they would have stayed at homo and been what the French are to-day—a self-contained, self-satisfied, perhaps self-indulgent—people. There would have been no British Empire, as we know it, to-day. The men we are honoring to-night have taken their full share in Empire-building. They had as great difficulties and trials to face and overcome as any colonists of the Empire, and they rose manfully to the occasion. Had it not been for them, Taranaki would not be what it is to-day—one of the most prosperous parts of the Dominion. It is a privilege and a pleasure to have them with us to-day. Alas! they are steadily growing less. I hope we will have the pleasure of seeing them for a good many years to come, and that the young men in the town will never allow this happy function to die," (Applause). Mr. List also took the opportunity to express satisfaction at the promises of the Hon. 0. Samuel and Mr. Okey. M.P., to do all they could to see that justice was done to the veterans with regard to the military pension. The present Military Pensions Act was a grave injustice —almost an insult—to the veterans.

Response was made by Col. J. Ellis, Captain Mace (N.Z. Cross) and Mr. W. D. Webster. Colonel Ellis, who was greeted with loud applause, said it was almost needless to say that the veterans thanked their hosts for the evening's entertainment, The veterans had done their best for some years past to celebrate the anniversay. and they were pleaseil to see that the young men had now taken up the running. He hoped it would be kept up. In thanking the speakers of the evening for their references to the veterans' pension he emphasised the fact that the veterans had not applied to Parliament for relief.' They had simply asked for recognition of services rendered.

Captain Maee followed with a warm and hearty volume of thanks to the young men of the town. The veterans would never forget the kindness they had received at the hands of their hosts. Mr. W. D. Webster also responded. He said that, as an ex-private, be was never ashamed of the old volunteers. He did not think more than a dozen remained of his late company (No. 1) or of No. 2 company. The speaker paid a warm tribute to the ladies of New Plymouth, who years ago presented the veterans with very beautiful colors. He hoped that on another occasion—if they were permitted to meet here—these colors would receive an airing and adorn the ceiling. Three rousing cheers were then given by the veterans for their hosts. Brief response was made by the chairman, who said that the younger men wished the veterans to think more of the spirit of the gathering than the actual dispensing of their hospitality. The toast of "Local Bodies" was entrusted to Mr. W. T-I. Penn. He said that when bo came here in 1882 the people were almost as anxious to forget. the war as they were now to remember it and do honor to the veterans. The "sores" of the war were then much in evidence, but. thanks to the veterans, that feeling bad passed away. The veterans had done yeoman service and the local bodies had bad their share, and there was still much to do. Serving on a local hodv was one of the most thankless billets'in existence. Taranaki was particularly happily served by its local bodies, and they were shaping well. The toast was coupled with the names of the.Mavor (Mr. 0. AY. Browne) and Cr. -I. Clarke.

Mr. Browne brief!v replied, slating that membership on local bodies involved strenuous work. He instanced the case of the New Plymouth Borough Council, which last year met considerably over 100 times. As regards the Council, he could say that if bad mad" everv endeavor to uplift the town. Cr. Clarke said that it was not all "l, c .ci- and skittles" to act. in the capacity of borough councillor. If the members of the various local bodies in New Zealand did not display ability to any extent, thev certainly did their best for the ratepayers. The speaker appealed to the young men to come and give service on" the local bodies and not leave the work to a few. Mr. R. C. Hughes proposed the toast of "Agriculture. Industries and Commerce," coupled with the names of Messrs K. Griffiths and Veteran J. Andrews, both of whom suitably responded. ... ~ ■During the evening musical items were given by Messrs G. McTsaac. Vinsen; R. Hill-Johnson and AY. Perry, and a recitation by Mr. Blyth. Mr. A. V. Carbines presided at the piano. A splendid spread was laid by Mr. A. Wooller, and was done full justice to.