SIR JAMES MILLS ENTERTAINED.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18403, 9 June 1925, Page 9

SIR JAMES MILLS ENTERTAINED.

GUEST OF MARINE ENGINEERS. (srscut. to "ran rasas.") WELLINGTON, .June 8. Sir James Mills was entertaiaed at a farewell gatherings by the Marias Engineers' Institute, of which he *» one of the oldest members. . Mr A. Basrie, who acted as chairman, was a boy'in Port Chalmers whew the Union Steam Ship Company had its beginning. He apoke iatemtmgty of the ships that were running m hia boyhood days. Sir James, in responding to the toast of his health, said it waa difficult fohim to find words in which to express adequately his appreciation of th* honour which had beea done Mia, fe«* he wished to thank the members of tfc* Institute for their kind wishes, aad to place on record tha loyalty of ta« engineers, to the company. They had been a tower of strength to the eoa*pany, and he would especially meat»a T the lato Mr Darling, who waa superintending engineer ia the early days of . the company, and whose sound judgment and knowledge had beea of th» greatest assistance in the pioneer day*. Generally speaking, the engineers of *. the Union Company could hold theic own with any engineers in the British Empire, and the company waa proud of them. Sir James went on to apeak Tory ia- ' terestingly of the early days, and of the time when ho was member for Per' Chalmers, and he also took the opportunity of congratulating Mr Coates »<* tho honour which be had received ra being selected as Prime Minister. Responding to the toast of "The , Prime Minister," Mr Coates said ho aj>- "» predated all the very fine things that had been said about him, and h* would do his best to live up to thorn, but time would tell whether he had succeeded or not. He referred to Uts great value of the company's fleet a* a training ground for engineers for tb* mercantile marine, and also its great value to the commercial world to-day. He thanked the members of the Institute for inviting him to be pwseat to do honour to Sir James, aad waohttd them the beat of luck.