2 president's address. 



the enemy quite failed to realise, namely, bow great moral issues eoukl stir and 

 iinite tree democracies in a great crisis. The return of Anzacs and Diggers, as 

 well as of those who whole-heartedly co-operated with them in all sorts of capaci- 

 ties, and of the men of the Australian Navy, has demonstrated to us the charac- 

 teristic modesty of the modest man, who, thrice armed because the quarrel into 

 which he was drawn was just, then did liis bit, and idayed the game, but is loth 

 to talk about his deeds. We are glad to know that the repatriation and de- 

 mobilisation of the Australian troops has been almost completed; and that the 

 problem of their return to civil life is receiving the attention and consideration 

 which it deserves. 



One of the most moving events of the year was tlie simple but very effective 

 ceremony observed, by the wish of His Majesty, on the eleventh day of the 

 eleventh month, at the eleventh hour, when, standing with uncovered heads, all 

 business suspended and traffic stopped, our hearts took charge of us, and we paid 

 our silent and sincere homage to the memory of the honoured and mighty Dead, 

 who, though dead, yet speak to very many. I think we all hope that the observ- 

 ance of this simple and touching ceremony, "the King's Great Silence,'' as it has 

 been aptly termed, so appealing in its directness and in its naturalness, will be- 

 come an annual fixture; and that, in unison, we shall continue to hold these real 

 and legitimate stop-work Meetings, not only "Lest we forget," but also to show 

 that we have not forgotten. 



Another stiri-ing event in the early part of the year, not without its lessons, 

 was a severe epidemic of influenza of a virulent type, which, as in other countries, 

 not only upset, from top to bottom, the home-life, the educational life, the business- 

 life, the industrial life, and every other grade of our community life, but brought 

 bereavement to many households and aggregates. Nevertheless, the blackness of 

 the calamitous cloud, which overshadowed us for so long, was not without some 

 silver streaks of lining, in the shape of the unselfishness and self-sacrifice, heroic 

 as often as circumstances required, on the part of doctors, nurses, and volunteers 

 of both sexes, intent on doing their utmost, at all risks, for the relief of the pros- 

 trated and the helpless, and the succour and comfort of the bereaved. 



Another great event was the memorable visit of the Triumphant Four, re- 

 gardless of Father Neptune's approval, descending upon Australia like a "bolt 

 from the blue." It was a great achievement, which justly evoked appreciative 

 words and deeds. But have we, as a community, appreciated the real significance, 

 and the inner meaning of this much-needed object lesson? Sir Ross Smith did 

 not tell us how many strikes there were on the aerial \-oyag'e; or how tlie mechanics 

 held a stop-work meeting aloft, and said — "Our mates produced this machine; 

 therefore, we are entitled to all the products of this stunt. If you don't concede 

 that, we will hitch the wagon to a star, and go on strike." Of course, we know 

 why Sir Ross Smith did not mention the subject of strikes. So having shown 

 very great entliusiasm and appreciation over a very successful cnter]>i-ise, because 

 the organisation, co-operation, co-ordination, concentration, single-mindedness, 

 unity of purpose, were about as I'erfect, and as perfectly proxided for as tliey 

 could be, in a very ■ limited space, under very strenuous and exacting conditions, 

 waste of every kind, including energy potential and otherwise, eliminated, and 

 friction reduced to a minimum — what more did the sequel amount to than revenovs 

 a nos moutonn, strikes, discord, ebullitions of accentuated, vituperative party- 

 feeling on the eve of two elections, &c., &c. "Man is a scholar eager imlecd to 

 learn, but most forgetful having learned.'' 



