AU REVOIR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 193, 15 December 1941, Page 5

AU REVOIR

FAREWELL TO LOCAL MEN

PARADE AND PRESENTATIONS

o ! nce again to a further group of men who are shortly to leave for overseas service an official farewell was tendered in the s(ame manner which has found l such favour in the past. A group of twenty-one men were thus honoured and the usual parade through the town, headed by the Pipe Band and made up of Returned 1 Soldiers and members of the W.W.S.A. and the Boys' Band took place prior to the ceremony in the Winter Show Hall at which speakers representing town and' country addressed the large gathering.

The Mayor, Mr B. S. Rarrv, said that events had moved rapidly during the past few days indicating more than ever that there was a job for every able-bodied man in the Dominion to serve in either the Home Guard or the K'.P.S. I,n saying farewell to the men on parade he also addressed his appeal to those who had not already joined in either of the above to do so Avithout delay. We could not afford, to let the men down who were leaving our shores. He wished them one and all Godspeed, good luck and above all a safe return tc New Zealand,

Speaking for the residents of the County, the Chairman of the County Council, Mr J. L. Barnctt, said that little by little the people of this countr}' were being brought to the realisation of the grimness of war. He felt he could say that the men leaving to-day would carry out the big job in hand with the same dash and bravery as their comrades already overseas. The Allies had lately experienced some hard knocks. But although the first round or two might go to the enemy the final round was assured and nobody doubted its outcome. The only thing to do was to hit back harder and harder and he knew we could rely upon doing that. If New Zealand's turn came there wculd be no shrinking from realities. He wished the men good luck.

Chief Keep a Tawhio (through Mr A. Stewart as interpreter) said he was pleased once again to note the common ties which bonded together Maori and Pakeha in tlie great cause of freedom. Though in the past he had said his farewells with greater confidence he felt nevertheless that the closeness of the war to New Zealand was going to have- a strengthening effect upon the people. He locked upon the men before him as a link between those behind and those already at the front. To the Maori soldiers he would say, 'go under the man a of your ancestors and the customs of your people. Mr H. N. McDonald, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, assured the men that his association would be only too glad to watch over their interests during their absence. He too wished them the best of luck. The Mayoress, Mrs B. S. Barry, then presented wallets to each of the men who received them in the following Older: — Capt (Padre) C. F. Rangi, B.S.M. J. Graham, Cpl X. T'urei, Cpl R. Solomon, Spr W. Bush, Ptes H. G. Reeve, W. H. Rigliton, o>. W. Mocller, J. B. Hooper, C. G. Johnson, W. J. Coffin, A. Melville, R. Rae, L, Pickles, H. Revell, R. Kecpa, B. Hake, T. W. Riini, P. Poniku, Tpr H. C. McDonald and Aircraftsman H. Armstrong. Responding for the men, Capt. Rangi said that all on parade felt the deepest appreciation for the good wishes expressed. They were grateful also for the kindly gifts which would remind them of their home town. "I am usually," he said in conclusion, "'a man of many words, but to-day my heart is full." Thank you all once again." After cheers for tte men, and the singing of Auld Lang Syne the gathering dispersed.