MOTOR AND CYCLE TRADE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2255, 15 September 1914, Page 8

MOTOR AND CYCLE TRADE

.1. ■ • ANNUAL DINNER. There was a gathering of about 150 at the Oriental Bay Kiosk last night, on tho occasion of the second annual dinner of the Wellington Cycle and Motor. Traders. Mr. L. Ashcroft Edwards, presided. •-. . ; .:.Proposing the toast of "The. Army, Navy, ! and .Territorials," Mr. G. Magnus, spoke in' enthusiastic terms about the defenders of the British Empire, who were going to save the nation from 'the. arrogant aggressor, the! Kaiser. In Europe the British had stood their ground against overwhelming odds, and had again made the fame of the British soldier ring throughout the world. The steadfastness of the colonies had been overlooked by the enemies of Britain, but the men of tho outlying lands had claimed their rjyht to stand' shoulder to shoulder and fight, as one people. The Navy had also itssorted a superiority over that of the Germans. In New Zealand they had their Territorials' on-the.eve of departure, prepared to meet hardship and privation. Those left behind felt, with the greatest' confidence, that ihe honour of New' Zealand was safe'in . their hands. (Applause.) .' - . In the absence of Colonel llobin,C.8., Captain W. Beauchamp-l'latts /Motor Reserve) responded in appropriate terms. The three branches of the service, he sa,id, would always uphold the traditions, of the race. There- ■ was ono thing overlooked by the enomiesof England in:the present war. Mid that was tho fighting strength, the fighting desire, and the fighting abilities of the Overseas Dominions. (Applause.) The toast'of "Parliament" was proI posed by Mr. H. J. Rogers. Responding, Dr.. A. K. Newman, M.P., spoke of the anxious and eventful times through which members of Parliament had just gone. . Ono of the features of the war, he said, was the largo use mado of motor-cars, and even moro use was likely to be made of them in that respect in tho future. They had heard many things about deterioration of the race, but tho doings of the English Army in tho present war had shown the race had. not deteriorated. They wore worthily maintaining the Honour aJid glory of the British Empire. (Applause.) Other toasts honoured were:*- Local Bodies," proposed by Mr. J. B. Brinsden and responded to by Messrs. E. Fletcher and A. H. Hindmarsh; lhe Automobile, Mootr Cycle, and Cycle Clubs," proposed by Mr. Hope Gibbons and responded to by Messrs. Beau-champ-Platts and L. E. Dillon-Kelly; "The Trade" (Mr. C. M. Luke), responded to by the chairman; "Tlie Committee" (Mr. J. Bott), responded to by Mr. B. J. Atkinson; "Tho Ladies" (Mr. T. James), responded to by Mr. T. inKlis; and "The Chair"' (Mr. H. A. Bown), responded to by the chairman. During tho evening an enjoyable programme of musical items was given.