ROTARY CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1940, Page 6

ROTARY CLUB

INTERESTING WAR ADDRESS. BY MR H. L. CUNNNINGHAM. "The world craves peace that passes all misunderstanding,” stated Rotarian H. L. Cunningham, of the Palmerston North Rotary Club, in the course of an interesting and timely address at the Masterton Rotary Club yesterday. "When that time comes, may it be permanent, that ’nation with nation, man with man. unarmed may live as comrades free. In every heart and brain shall throb the pulse of one fraternity’,” he said. "Rotarians, Rotary expects every man to do his duty. Two people killed at Sarjeavo resulted in the swift and devastating destruction ' of 20.000,000 men, women and children. All Europe has seen of the dove of peace has been the bill. War determines not who is right, but who is left. I think in these times that 1 would like to erect a huge Neon sign over "Flanders fields, where the poppies grow,” bearing the words "If ye break faith—." "I think that we have broken faith,” continued Mr Cunningham, "if the last war was the war to end all wars. In this time of strain and stress, we can take refuge in these lines of John Operham’s: ‘He writes in characters too grand for our short sight to understand; we catch but broken strokes —try to fathom all the mystery of withered hopes of death, of life, the endless war —the useless strife. But then with larger, clearer sight, we shall see that His way was right.' ” Giving his experiences as an N.C.O. of the Third Battery. N.Z.F.A.. at Gallipoli, Mr Cunningham interspersed his remarks with poems and quotations.

"On behalf of the club. I should like to thank you for your extremely interesting and timely address," stated Mr H. H. Daniell in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker. "I would point out that in this room there is a gentleman of the infantry present, as well as one of the artillery, who was there. When I was there we used to consider that we were safe when we were back with the artillery," added Mr Daniell amidst laughter. (Mr Cunningham had earlier in his address stated that, there were "gentlemen" of the Field Artillery, and "men" of other units present.)