HUIROA'S ROLL OF HONOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1919, Page 3

HUIROA'S ROLL OF HONOR.

THE UNVEILING CEREMONY. Last Monday was a Red Letter day for Huiroa, for ■ there was unveiled at the school a handsome Roll of Honor recording the. names of the young men of ttye district who had responded to their country's call, gone forth to fciht for the Empire's cause, and in some cases to make the. supreme sacrifice. Mr J. H Perrott, who presided, said it was clear they did not intend to forget the lads who were lying .'asleep in foreign lands, three Huiroa boys being amongst the fallen. Mr R. Masters, ehalrmin of the Education Board, referred to the great part New Zealand had played in the war, as a unit of the Empire, by having sent 100,000 men, and all should be proud of such a record. It was a happy circumstance that the unveiling took place immediately after the signing of peace by Germany, and he sincerely hoped that Germany would never again be in a position to disturb the world's peace. After referirng to the splendid record of the Defence Department in sending away a constant succession of reinforcements to fill the gaps: in the Main Body, and alluding to King George's statement that the New, Zealanders were worthy sons of the Empire, Mr Masters said it was all the more gratifying to note that the people of Huiroa were determined to keep green the memory of the boys who had taken part in the war. He also referred to the great part the women had played in the war, rising to a standard never previously obtained .in the Empire's history, while the nurses' services were unparalleled. After warmly eulogising the services of the Navy, Mr' Masters,, expressed a confident opinion that New Zealand would at any time! back up Britain as she had done in the past. The unveiling ceremony was then performed by Mrs Hine, who removed the Union Jack from the Roll of Honor, on which fifteen names were inscribed, (the work of,Mr J. McAllister), and to which two nanies have ye.fc,jtp be added. Major Hine, who wa's heartilyjapplaudcd. said the' memorial (would be a reminder to the boys and girls at the school of what had been done for them in the great war, and of the anxiety their parents must have eridured during those sad years. Their most fervent prayer should be that they would never have to take part in such, a war as that in which the present generation had engaged- He gave a bvief sketch of a soldier's life, and dwelt on the traits of the New Zealanders' character, adding that even the Indian soldiers exhorted their comrades to be "white" men, and they tried to live up to the New Zealanders' example. He congratulated the Huiroa people on their war cffffr.ts and hoped the boys would soon be all back. On the call of the chairman a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the speakers.