RAILWAYMEN WELCOMED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2421, 29 March 1915, Page 6

RAILWAYMEN WELCOMED

OFFER BY GENERAL MANAGER

DEPARTMENT'S GREAT RECORD

Members of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Institute held a smoke concert in their social hall on Saturday night, to welcome back fellow members from Samoa, and to say good-bye to some members. Mr. C. Batten, clia.ii man of the Wellington Branch, presided, and there was an attendance of about eighty, including Colonel E. IJ. Hilev, General Manager of Railways, and Mr. R. W. 7;. l'- v ' 1 ' le Minister of Railways (the Hon. W. H- Herries) and Mr. T. Ronayne, late General Manager, wrote apologising for absence. A lengthy toast-list was honoured, commencing with the toast of tho King, moved by- the chairman. lhe principal toast of the evening, that of "Our Guests," was proposed by Colonel Hiley. It was a difficult one to propose, lie said, for he had both to wolcome friends home and bid others good-bye. It was »u easy thing to welcome friends home, especially in this instance, when tliov were so nroud of their returned guests. He would repeat what he-had said before, that the New Zealand Railway Department had made history in sending a fullyequipped contingent to Samoa; no other railway in the world could do it. i record was also made in that General Gcdley rung him up on a Thursday asking for a contingent of 200 men to report for selection on the following Monday morning. He personally protested a little at the shortage of' time, an there were sixteen units throughout the service who, he then said, would want to be represented. It was not till noon on Friday that he was definitely told that 250 men would be taken, and men from the southernmost unit, Invercargill, had to leave early the next day. The contingent was supplied, &nd he did not think that any other service could have done such a thing— in fact, more men ft an were wanted came, and some had to be weeded out. That was a matter of which railwavmen coukl be proud. They did not then know that they were not going to the fighting line, and the fact that they found themselves in Samoa did not detract at all from their service. Ho and all the other officers were glad they had arrived back safe and sound. (Applause.) Whether they wore to go further was a matter for themselves to decide, but if any of them now came back uito the railway service they would bo justified in feeling that they had done their full share in answering the call of Empire. (Applause.) The men had had a trying time in Samoa, and they would find some difficulty in settling down, but he looked to them as railwaymen to ' show thai they could take a spell of such special duties, and then come back and pick up their ordinary work. (Applause.) Colonel Hiley's Offer. Coming to the second part of the toast, the speeding of the departing guests, he could say that he knew almost every man who was going. They felt proud again in the service that another lot of men wero going forward: if tho serv.ice would allow it many) many more would be willing to go. They wero only kept back by the exigencies of tho railway service. If any ol the Samoan men, for any reason, decided to come back into the service now he would let it bo known that an equal number would be allowed to go to tho front in their place. (Loud applause.) Ho would bo rather pleased to see some of them remain, so as to allow others to gain the service and of their abilities. In conclusion, be oxperience they had already got. Tho toast was coupled with the name of Major Barclay, and he expressed his pleasure that the senior officer going forward with the railwaymen was such a sound, solid man. '• (Applause.) Those officers serving under him had the greatest pleasuro in being under. such a capable man. The service was grateful that the Defence Department had seen fit to givo the command to Major Barclay. Mr. Hiley referred personally to each of tho officers going with tho corps, and spoke in eulogistic terms of their abilities. In conclusion, he wished all the men a safe and speedy return as portion of a conquering army. (Loud applause.) It was the wish of all that they should have God speed and a safe and decoratcd return. (Applause.)

Railway Battalion's Work. Replying, Major Barclay said that he wished to thank Colonel Hiley for the reference he had made to tlis officers. They appreciated very much that they bad been asked to attend that evening; it was another instance of that good fellowship which characterised the Service. When they went abroad, if they wanted cheering, recollections of that good fellowship would help them. Personally, he appreciated very much the command which ho had been given, and he was pleased to have associated with him many members of the Railway Service. (Applause.) The announcement made by Colonel Hiley that he was going to allow a number equal to those who returned to the Service from Samoa to volunteer for service abroad would be hailed with pleasure throughout the Service. (Applause.) Touching on tho railway battalions, he said again that the older membors of tho Service should encourage those who had to serve in the railway, battalions. (Hear, hear.) If that was done he was sure the work would progress. They were not only making those young men better citizens in training them to defend their oountry, but were making for the betterment of the Service. He out that the Service was fortunate in possessing a General manager who look such a. wnole-hearted interest in the railway battalions. (Hear, hear.) He again thanked them for,the kindly wishes expressed that night. "Wa Rallwaymen." The toast of "The Management" was proposed by Mr. J. Young, who said that from the remarks which had fallen from Colonel Hiley they would see lie was heart and soul with the Service. He always referred to them as "we railwaymen," showing that be was one of them. (Applause.)

Mr. Hiley briefly responded, and, in view of the social nature of the gathering, did not touch on _ Departmental matters. Tho only thing lie would mention about management, ho said, was tho necessity of confidence in each other. (Applause.) Ho was a man of his word, and if any of the men of the Service could show him a promise he had not kept they would havo something to bo bitter about. (Apnlause.) It was essential that they should get to know each other, and trust each other. (Applause.) Mr. R-. W. M'Villy i proposed tho "Railway Officers' Institute," and referred to the start and rise of tho institute, from 1894 onwards.

Mr. A. W. ITutciiings replied to t.lio toast, and other toasts were: "Kindred Societies," pronosed by Mr. E. F. Liilcs and resuonded to bv renresentalives <>f (lie A.P.R.S. and E.F.0.A.: and "The Ladies," proposed by Mr. E. A. Dawson, and responded to by Mr. C. Watson.

Rome excellent musical numbers were given by members present.