PRESENTATIONS MADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 63, 10 April 1945, Page 5

PRESENTATIONS MADE

LOCAL LADS FAREWELLED TWO MORE FOR OVERSEAS The usual representative gather ing of the Men's Farewell Committee and the ladies of the. Red Cross Patriotic took place in the Borough Council Chambers at f> p.m. on Friday evening when two local Pte. Bill Rivett and Aircraftsman John King who have just completed their linal leave received presentations from the two bodies.

Apologising for the absence of His Worship the Mayor, Mr B .S. Barry, the Deputy Mayor, Mr S. S. Shap-< ley wished the men the best of luck for the future.

"The purpose of this meeting '' he said, "is to say farewell to two more local boys who are proceeding overseas. Wc. all sincerely hope that it will not be long before they will be home with us again. It seems but a few years since the3 r were young lads and few people thought then that the} 7 woukl eventually be called for military service."

To the men themselves., he said that as an old soldier himself he would advise them while they were overseas to see and learn all they could and when they came back to New Zealand lie felt no doubt that they would 'rediscover' the best little country in the world. When they lie said, they would join the ranks of the old soldiers, and would feci pvoud 4 not only of the service they had rendered, but also of the fact that they had rendered it in the New Zealand uniform.

For the R.S.A., Mr C. F. Thomas, apologising for the absence of the President, Mr L. Luxton } stated that it w'as his pleasure to endorse Mr Shapley's remarks. "We are looking forward to the time," he said, "when you will return and take your place in the ranks of the R.S.A. However, we do not intend to wait until you return. Any little service the Association can do for you while you are it will be only too glad to perform if you will merely let us know what is required."

Mrs Shaple3 r , on behalf of the Men's Farewell Committee and Mrs E. Armstrong, for the Ladies of the Red Cross Patriotic then presented the two boys with the usual tokens, a wallet-writing compendium and a small parcel, at the same time wishing them the best of luck. Both lads replied suitably.