GENERAL RUSSELL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1919, Page 5

GENERAL RUSSELL.

RECEPTION AT HASTINGS. "WE MUST NOT BANISH GOD FROM OUR LIVES." Hastings, May 10. General Sir Andrew Russell and Lady Russell were given a great reception at Hastings to-day, ,Owing to the heavy rain during the' morning, the militaryparade and other features in the openair programme were cancelled, but at the moment of the arrival of the special train the clouds lifted, and in bright sunshine the General was given an enthusiastic welcome by the town and country people. A civic reception was held in the Municipal Theatre, where addresses were given by the Mayor, the president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and representatives of the New Zealand veterans, the Maori race, and the old Hawke's Bay Mounted Rifles. In reply, General Russell said: "When I think of the receptions I have received at Christchurch, Wellington, at places along the line, and now here at Hastings', I realise that the welcome is not to myself alone, but to all who had gone to the war—those who had returned, and,, in the spirit, those who had not come back." In paying a tribute to his old command, the Hawke's Bay Mounted Rifles, General Russell said he owed his present position to them and the Territorials, in which branch of the service he had gained much of his training. He spoke highly of the services rendered by the Maori Battalion on Gallipoli and in France. Speaking of the English, he said it had been stated that England was decadent. His experience was that the British people had shown themselves great and steadfast, accepting with common-sense the great burdens and restrictions placed upon them, which proved that the heart of England waß as somid as ever.

Speaking of New Zealand defence, General Russell said he did not think they could abandon military' training, but he was sure that if they brought up good citizens to 20 years of age after that there would be no need for weekly or fortnightly drills. He would do what he could to help returned soldiers. Referring to the possibility of his entry into politics, General Russell said Very few men who had succeeded in the field had succeeded In the House, so they had better be careful. He concluded by Baying that by working together, instead of looking for differences and quarelling over them, they could make this country as good as any country in the world. He thought every man, woman, and child should be happy. "It's no good calling on God to help us in the war, If when the War is over we are going to put the Almighty by and his teachings on the shelf. God has helped us to win the war, and now we have won we must not banish Him from our lives."