AU REVOIR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 67, 27 September 1939, Page 5

AU REVOIR

whakatane men farewelled

A SUCCESSFUL DINNER

The first patriotic gathciing i n "Whakatane in the present war was "held in the flag-draped dining room of the Commercial Hotel on Monday night when in rousing fashion three of the first recruits were farewelled before their departure for camp. They were Messrs L. R. Preston, W. H. Sargent and J. A. Stewart, and "there were upwards cl 40 friends present to tender them the dinner and wish them au revoir. Sincere tributes were paid to the guests of honour, and stirring references made to the strength of the Empire, and on this last subject two of th e best addresses of the evening were delivered by Messrs W. Sullivan and F. J. Reynolds.

Patriotic songs and wartime choruses were heard during the evening. The presence of a number of returned men was particularly pleasing and the'r obvious comradeship •demonstrated one of the noblest sides -of war service.The toast Of the King opened the proceedings.

DINNER HAD GROWN.

Later Mr L. B. Savage, manager of 'the Bank of New Zealand, who presided, explained dinner had originally been planned as a gathering o,f about 12 friends, but it had grown to its present prooortions. They were met to say au rcvoir to their three friends. Some great men had gone .away in 1914, but the men Avho were enlisting to-day probably had a better idea of conditions of "warfare than the men who went to the Great War. With most returned men he thought that conscription should have been brought in, and }ie regretted that the general response was not better than it fifW"? proved. However he was sure that "those in en who were going would prove fine soldiers, and he wished aU Whakatanc's recruits the best of luck. Mr F. W. Raymond paid a tri« bute to the quality of Whakatane's ■recruits, and said that as a primary producing centre its quota of 5W men was excellent. He had known 'Mr Preston for two years. He had "been known by various names to his friends, and he thought Hitler would aise a very strong name for him.

GUESTS REPLY,

He was very pleased to be in the first crowd, but anyone in his position would have done exactly the same thing, said Mr Preston, and he looked forward to the comradeship which Mr Raymond had menv tioned. Tn Jack and Bill ha had two great pals. He might be transferred from Whakatane aitei the v-ar but his life here would always be a pleasant memory. Mr Sargent fclt that Mr Prestor# had covered most of the ground and lie 100 thanked all for attending. Thev would have their work cut out to live up to the traditions of the Diggers but they would do their "best. Mr Stewart felt proud to be in the first 6,000, and he looked forward to sharing in the bond whioh joined 'the Diggers of the last war when he came back to Whakatane. The toasls of Parents and Next •*? Kin fell to Mr L. Luxton who emphasised the importance of the fellows who went away remembering their folk at home. Tlicy -would now appreciate what tlieir parents had done for them, and what the parents of the Empire had done.

Mr G. Otley responding to this toast knew that the parents would be proud of! thoir soldier sons. Au Revoiis followed from Messrs H. C. Alexander (Taneatua), the Mayor of V v'hakatane, Mr B. E. P.nrry, Mr F. Tridenux and Mr L. E. Norris.

THE EMPIRE. Those who stayed behind made no - sacrifice comparable to that of the men who went away said Mr W. Sul livan_ speaking to the toast of the British Empire. They had ; no doubt, " learned lessons from the Great War and they Avould see to it that thej T • did their best for the men who served overseas. The toast otf the Empire was a hifi one and he felt honoured to propose it. Hitler could not realise the great resources of the empire or would not have taken up. his pre- - sent stand, and the speaker quoted figures to show the power that would come against the aggressor. The empire stood for freedom and the tact, that it and its institutions could be -criticised was a great thing. New

Zealand was only a flea-bite as Tar as the Empire was concerned but the Mother Country did its best to encourage them to carve their own lives out and it was because wanted to re Lain this right for smalt nations that their young men flocked to the flag. This spirit would bring us through. They thanked God that they lived their lifie under the British flag. Musical honours were giyen to the Navy and Mr F. J. Reynolds replied to Mr Sullivan's toast. His visit to the coronation, said Mr Reynolds, had convinced Uhn Ih vt the Empire was unbeatable. The coronation parade had been a marvellous demonstration of efficiency and organisation and the constant flow of troops and horses, all working to the most rigid had shown him what England could do.. He came away certain that nothing could conquer that. An ancient tradition lay behind it all, and the only way to beat it would be to breed a J fresh race of men. (Hear, Hear). The naval review, too, had been a mighty demonstration of power. British ships lay there in four lines each six miles long and the 21 miles of battleships dressed their decks for the King as he passed. It was a stirring sight. THE DEUTSCHLAND. At the end of the last line lay the visiting French, Italian German, Russian and other battleships. He had been impressed bj r the appearance of the German pocket battleship Dcutschland as slid rode there, groomed and polished to the last inch, and he had said as much to their naval officer host. She was a hit and run craft, said the officcr t and the British ships could sink her in two minutes. Those were Germany's tactics 'hit and run'

He was convinced that the Empire was*unbeatable. The struggle might take longer tlian Ave would like, but we would win. It was suggested by Mr Sullivan that a cablegram of good wishes should be sent to Mr J. G. Cliff MeCulloch who is now serving in the navy, and Mr Barry supported this. Mr McCulloch had brought, a real honour on the district.

There were several other speakers, some of those who had risen earlier adding a few words. They included Messrs Luxton, Alexander, Savage, Raymond, S. McLeod < Arthur Hall, McCracken, and A. Burgess.

Some rousing choruses completed the first stage of the evening and the gathering adjourned.

During the dinner entertainment was provided by Mr Tony Smith. Mr E. L. Montgomery and Mr C. Roberts.