SOLDIERS AS CIVILIANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1920, Page 5

SOLDIERS AS CIVILIANS.

INFLUENCE IN COUNTRY'S FUTURE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S TRIBUTE. S? Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington. Last Night. The Governor-General was the guest of Dr. Ernest Boxer, president of the New Zealand Returned »Soldiers' Association, at dinner at the Midland Hotel on Saturday night. The members of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association' were also guests. Speeches by his Excellency and members of the executive indicated the very important work which the returned soldiers could do in various tasks of national reconstruction.

Proposing the toast of his Excellency, Dr. Boxer said the name of Lord Jelficoe would live on "in the annals of Britain as one worthy of association with the names of Drake, Frobisher, Nelson, Howe, Collingwood, and other great men of the sea. (Applause.) On the confines of a far-flung Empire, with potential enemies within striking distance, the people of 17ew Zealand were necessarily concerned with naval preparedness. If the people here did their part in maintaining the spirit and strength of the navy their peace and prosperity would be assured.

Lord Jellicoe, in reply, said he was proud to wear the badge of honorary membership of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. He praised the great services of New Zealanders in the military, naval, and air forces. He felt it was a great honor to belong to the New Zealand ReturnedTbldiers' Association, because he felt it was out to do good, not only for returned soldiers, but for the whole of this splendid Dominion. An association composed of men who. at the call of the Empire, sprang to the assistance of the Empire, and therefore represented all that was best in the Dominion's manhom], was bound to be a great power in the land. He felt confident that this power would be exerted for the benefit of the country as a whole, and future historians would record that of the splendid soldiers who represented New Zealand' in the Great War those who returned tn their country became splendid civilian members of society, and that they had done a very great part in forwarding the prosperity of this great Dominion, to which he looked forward. with very great confidence. (Applause.) "The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association"- was proposed hv Lieuten-ant-Colonel Mitchell, M.P. He said that the men who were first back from the war had done the foundational work well by their efforts for the sick and needy, and by framing a policy for the future. He was sure that this pioneering work had been a great help to the Government. If a united association had not been formed the result would "have been the establishment of a variety of organisations, and progress would have been retarded. Most of the men had now settled down, but a useful future remained for the Association in fighting for the fair treatment of pensioners, and for other important activities. For a country like New Zealand the future should be bright, but only by industry —only by hard work—could New Zealanders assure the prosperity won by so much blood and treasure during the war. If the people would only concentrate on the development of the country with as much energy as they had put into the war, there' woultl be d very wonderful record of progress during the next five years. If this concentration was done he had every confidence that with the grace of God New Zealand would uphold the name and prestige of the British Empire. (Applause). The words which his Excellency had spoken for the men of the N.Z.E.E. applied as well to the men of all parts of the British Empire. These were as brave men as God ever made. (Applause?) Replying for the Association, Mr. C. W. Batton. the lion, treasurer (who was one of its fowlers and its first general secretary), said the returned soldiers, who formed. aJiont 30,.j)er cent, of the Dominion's virile manhood, were necessarily destined to have an important part in shaping New Zealand's future. He believed New Zealand had done more than any other country for returned soldiers. They appreciated what had been done, and hoped they would have no cause for complaint in future.