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Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1946, Page 4

CIVIC WELCOME HOME

glXTV RETURNED PERSQNNEL HONOURED PLEASANT SQCIAL FUHCTION Last eveping citizens of Leyin gathered 4n iarge numbers to bonqur and Shqw their appreciatiqn of the efforts of local servicemen and women Who have cbntrihuted to the great name tbp s New !5eaianders baye wqn for themseives on all ilgiU'tng" frqnbS. Tne occasion yvas a civic welcqme home to pprsonnei ivn'u recently returned from seryice overseas. The function was l^eld in tlqe Regent Hall, wnicn was pac^ed tq capaoity and the happy atmos-. phere permeated the whole hall, tenvmg no oouDt as to the pieasure Which was. felt with the returning oi so many pf the district's young peoplG. n 4ns Worship the Mayqr (Mr. H. B. i Elurdekin) officiated 'as chairman,' | and with hirn on the platform were UiP president of the Levin R.S.A. j (Mr. H. J. Lancaster), Mr. L. G. ! Lowry, m.p., and Major P. S- Crisp, representing the returned servicen nien.

j The entrance to the hau had bepn effectively decorated with | flags of the Allied Natiohs. The in- ! ter'ior had been bedecked with flags and an abundahce of greenery by jthe Levin Borough CouncU's staff 'and a wiliing band Qf ladies, and , was most aitractive. The Guests Of pqnour I fnyitations had been extended to i £ome eighty returned personnel, of i who.m tne follo'wing were present: j Major P. S. Crisp; Lieut. G. W. iWhite; 2/Lieut. J. G. Gavin; W/O. ! R. D. Mclntre; T/S/Sgt. G. G. MacShane; Sgt, C. D. Grey; T/Sgts. A. L. Adrian and J. L. W. Tantrum; T/L/Sgt. W. S. Qgier; Cpls. O. E. VYiseiey, H. L. MarshaU and C. W. Tait; T/Cpls. A. L. Carkeek and C. j J. Adkin; L/Cpls. H. A. Taylor and A. J. Grey; T/L/Cpl. J. C. G. Curtis; iTprs. E. Eccles, R. Jacob, F. G. ! Aldrich, A. C. Easton, D. G. S. Colj lier and D. J. Coilier; Dvrs. J. W. S. I Carmichael, R. A. Oak, A. Gold- ! emitn, N. O. Taylor and R. J. iWaters; Ptes. W. F. O'Donnell, K. C. iMcDeod, M. L. Marshall, A. G. j Mudgway, J. A. Pirovano, E. Seddon, J. Green, S. J. Geange, D. J. GorIdon, W- Leslie, E. P. Te Tau, J. J. Niel, P. I. N. Curtis, L. Horgan, D. W. Pratt, E. Souter, F. H. Cockrell,G. Thomas and G. Hesp; Sprs. W- E. 'G- Batten, G H. Adl.ngtun U'.d W. H. Young; Bdr. fl. A. Hail-; Gnrs.'L. ■ ti. Denton, G. C. Davie, F. D. Mor.gari, M. G. Stallard.. P. J. Walton i and R. T. Tindaie; T/Sub-Lieut. A. C. Donnellv; A.B. R. F. Juno; ; F/Lie'uts- L. P. Griffith and D.. K. I McDonald ; F/O R.'D. Lester; W/O B. A. Stewart; F/Sgts. H. N. Church iand T. W. Hobos;- Cpl. G. ' L'. Nicholls; L.A.C.'s J. G. Guthrie and T. H. Lancaster; and Sister- I, G. Tomiinson. - , ApQibgies for unavoidable absence Were received •from,f^--Lieut. Wilson; i W/O II A. Tantrum; Sgts.'.H. S. C. ; Hosking and Romans; T/Sgt. R. W. ' Ire'top; L/Cpl. A. J. Scott; 4Bdr. | Feigier; Dvr. G. E. Williams; Tpr. !N. W. Robertspn; Ptes. R. J. Stew- ! art and S. G. Gibson; Sub-Lieuts. D. i F. riienKnor-n ano D. O. Qlose; A.B.'s I G. G. Bartholornew and M. R. Med'dings; F/Lieut, S. H. Gunning; and : L.A.C. JV P. Forsythe. | Excellent Entertainment i Brooeedings commenced at 8 p.m. iwith tne singing of the National 1 ; Aiithem, and then followed an outjscanding programme of yocal, . I elbcutionary, humorous and instru1 mental items. ] Exceedingiy popular with the j lafge assemblage was Mr. Tom 1 iviayne and his vehtriloquil doll, "Jerry Jones." Smartly dressed in i the army's summer uniform -apd Iwearing New Zealand shoulder flasnes "Jerry" kept the crowd simmermg with amusement. Whep Mr. Mayne was overseas "Jerry" bounced his way through the shells, shot and dust of the L.ibyan aetions from Capuzzo to Guzqla, the west>ernmost point reached by New I Zealand fighting buttgiions, and 'provided entertainment for , the troops in camps and desert dug-; outs. It was his first appearanc iii Levin since returning, and his part in the evening's programme iouhd great favour. As a prestidigator, Padre J, H. Datson, of Foxton, is now wellknown tq Leyrn audiences, but his dexterity in an ever-increasing number of new tricks always ensures Ihai he is a highlight on any programme. His exhibitions last evening were no exception. A newcomer to' Levin audien'ces was Miss L. Lind, • of Shannon, who has won numerous honours in e^cution, and her items received well-merifed applause. Supporting these entertainers were several popular local artistes, and their items, whioh were as follows, were warmly received: — Vocal solos, Mrs. Welsh and Mr. F. Baum-:' ber- elooutionar-y items, Miss Rowden' entertainin'g humorous sketch, Mr. 'and Mrs. K- A. Bowater;,and instr-umental numbers, the Swing •Stars Orchestra The accomp.aists W0re Mesdames H. Baumber and J. Todd. A wireless had been installed m i the hall and at 9 p.m. when Big Ben be^alded the per-ior! of silent. prgyer, those present stood -'everently in memory pf and tribute tq those w;ho had paid the supreme sapMfipe. MrG. R. Lester sounded "The Last Post" and "Reveille-." - Welcqme Sneeches Following the speeches an enjpyable supper was provided ahd disp,ensed hy a ladies' committee fprmed /from th'ose who have played a prpminent "part in patriotic wqrk and lieaded bv the Mayoress (Mr§. Burdekin). Dancing was commepced fo music supplied by tbe Swing Stars Grchestra, who, as j usual for suoh functions, gave tb'qir j serviees gratis, and a very happy eyening ooneluded at midnight. His Worship tim Mayor, pp liebalf of the towh, extended a warm wel-'

come. He said that since tbO lasf function some' eighty serYicemeif had returned ho'me to Levin. Every-' one was pleased and deeply thankfu'l for the task whiph had been done, and it was ' gratifying to pee so- many present to do hopqur to those from Levin who.. had helppd to carry out that. task. MrBurdekin said that the note, to strike was not of the past, but of the future. There was still strife and internal trouble in Manchukuo, Ohile, Persia and Indrmesia. Instead of dwelling in the past we i should be spending all our energies j on the huilding up of the ruins. UNO, the body which had bp.ep gft !up, was in danger of collapse, gnd one of the five major powpra was cqusing the trouble. Returned men ^•tarting up again in business would bave difficulties, and it was the duty of everyane to assist them to. rehabilitate themseives. It was for 'everyone to be worthy of the returned men and those who hgd made the supreme sacrifice ip the war. He sincerely welcomed them and extended his good wishes to them. Speaking for tbe Levin R.S.A., Miv Lancaster also warmly welcomed the guests of the evening. He said that although the war was over they still had a duty to perform, and that was to join the R.S.A. In tiirn it was the R.S.A.'s duty to look after returned personnel and ensure that they received their pensions gratuities and other things they were entite'd to. "Some of yq\ir fel-low-comrades are not as fprtunate as you and need helping, and vbu can do that bv iom'ing the R.S.A. " the speaker added. In welcoming the men. Mr. Lowrv -aid he felt it encumbent unon him to thank them for their fipo §01ffice. While they had been qwav oyerseas the people of Levin 4 had "allied rou^d- and had been behind 'hem in thought and prayer. He "a'id it would be difficult for the men to rehabjlitate themseiyes after leaving their comrades. but if they brought to bear that same forL'tads, tenacitv and wfllingn°ss tr "trike out had cbaracterised Hieir fine work overseas. their reliabilitation would not be so hard. Major P. S. Crisp, speakine- for 'he mipats of the evening, said he I would like to thank the speakers for thpir "emarks and all those pres°U*t fc attending aqd helpmg to rr.ake the functiop a suope^s. i yHe said that. the two things the returned ma.n /ooked forward to most of ">h while overseas wpvr tho •nprp^i'sent. from home and fhe letters with lqca.i news. After repiting bui^0!"ous 'ncidents of overseas. Major Orisp again extended tbafik£ to ab ->Voront for their warm welcomV home. The Mayor took the opportunity Ouring the evening to thapk • aO tfiose who had assisted in heiping tq make fbe function a succes§, harticularly mpbt'ionipg the eptpritainer.s, ladies' committee for the sunper and decorations, the borough sfaff for work with the dee oreti one. Mr. W. Clark fpr the use pf hjs pubIfc address system, the Horowhenua Qollege for seating and the Press.