MEMORIAL SERVICE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 83, 27 July 1942, Page 5

MEMORIAL SERVICE

LATE LIEUT-COL. LOVE

LARGE GATHERING AT RUATOKI

IMPRESS!VE IMTLI TARY PARADE

"To-day I bring to you the heartfelt sympathy of the Pakeha pdo>plte in the loss of a man who was revered by both races and who had proved himself such an able and brave leader in the great conflict in which our Empire is now engaged.'" With these words Mr W. Sullivan, M.P. concluded his address at the Maori Memorial Service at Ruatoki yesterday in honour of the late Lieut-Col. E. T. W. Love, Commander of the Maori Battalion who was killed recently in Egypt. The occasion was a combined one, dedicated to all the local Maori soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice, and was marked by the largest military display Ruatoki has yet seen.

Members of both races gathered to take part, the most striking feaure being the march of some three hundred Home Guardsmen drawn from Poroporo, Waimana, Tancatua and Ruatoki. The fact that practically the whole parade Avas uniform-* ed made a marked difference to the usual parade by Home Guardsmen. The marching from the recreation grounds to the school enclosure where the sciwice Avas held was a splendid tribute to the training and keenness of the men.

In charge of the parade Avas Capt. Jim Merritt Avhile officers from most companies of the Whakatane Battalion toolc part, including the mounted troop. Order of Service Some three to four hundred spectators had gathered at the school where an impressiA'e service Avas conducted by the Anglican and Ringatu ministers. The local chief, Takarua Tamarau extended a AA'arm and hearty aa'clcome to the visitors particularly the pakeha friends Avho had made the trip. He trusted that the occasion AA'ould still further cement the bonds of understanding already existing betAveen the tAvo peoples. Messrs- Tui Tcihi and Wiremu Trainor also spoke, after which hymns in the Maori tongue Ave re sung by the assembly. The parade memvhile Avas draAvn up in platooii formation in front of the school verandah on Avhich the official party Avas accommodated. Mr Sullivan'is Remarks Mr Sullivan said the occasion AA r as a graA r e and serious one. The Empire Avas engaged in a Avar Avhich was testing her poAA-'ers as neA r er before. Those Avho Avere prone to criticise her lack of action in the face of the terrific German drive into Russia should remember the tremendous front she Avas sustaining Avhich extended from Nonvay to the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean and : noAv into the Pacific. Also it had to be recalled that Hitler and Mussolini had planned and prepared for j this Avar for the past 20 years Avhile Britain had sat back in a sitate of self satisfaction carrying out her disarmament programme. After being stabbed in the back by Germany's treachery she Avas now straining her utmost to make up for the lost -years and Avould be fully prepared to play her part when the time came. Paying a tribute, to the men of the Maori Battalion overseas, he said that they had on every occasion lived up to the high traditions of their forerunners lighting and serving Avith the utmost gallantry. The of this country while it might be justly criticised in some directions for its Avar effort could ncA'er be accused of lacking in the manner it had responded to the Empire's call in sending men oA r erseas. Ringatu Ceremony Mr Tare Manihera a leader of the Ringatu sect then spoke, saying that this Avas no ordinary Avar in Avhich they Avere engaged. It Avas a Avar against an evil Avhich Avas the personification of Satan himself. The only Avay of overcoming that evil Avas by a strong and fervent trust in God by Avhose will and instrumentality it Avould be brought to a closie. He then led a form of religious memorial service in which the members of his sect reverently joined. (Continued in next column)