SPEECHES OF WELCOME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2565, 13 September 1915, Page 6

SPEECHES OF WELCOME

THE VALOUR OF SACRIFICE " WE ARB PROUD OF OUR BOYS" Tho Mayor wolcomed ' the soldiers in the name of Now Zealand..... hero ,to greet our boys who have been fighting; for us at tho Dardanelles, he said, ''.'and I am sure no wo can offer is too good for tbqm. •'•' l6lr sacrificer for tlieir country had been '•great. Some had returned maimed, Cut they- and their#. had-thc.cra.Mlatioiv

| of knowing that the men had given unselfishly all. they had through a proper sense of their responsibilities. Ho had telegrams from the mayors of Christchurch, Dunedui, and Auckland, and messages from other parts, asking him to voice tlio welcome/home those other cities extended to • tho men. All New | Zealand-was anxious to show its admiration of-.'the/ returned soldiers,' '.of i those who had fallen,- of. those, still fighting,.'.and. of; thoso yet;-to embark. n'{.havo' not much; to say;' my.. heart ■is too full"—and His -Worship resumed his-,seat. . [ _.■ '.'I want to echo everything tho Mayor i has .said in welcoming you," said His | Excellency- the' Governor, 'and I wish I to welcome you in behalf of your King. His Excellency- stated, that lie had received a cablegram from the' Admiralty Inspector-General of Hospitals, Mudros, saying that: in compliance .with' an order | "the., Malieno • will proceed via i Malta to England. : The ship [had- ..been continuously employed iat Gallipoli Peninsula, and had dealt [With 2200 cases of sick and woundedShe was a' 1 most complete hospital ship/ and Colonel Collins and his staff had done excellent work, both surgically and medically. His Excellency said that ho'had, had letters from Homo and from .the sceuo of action . expressing pleasure, at'iwhat, New Zealand was .doing. Wliilo bi'j the,'.subject of what we were doing, hejivished'to emphasise; the fact .that, we were apt- to be carried away by our patriotism,.-, and .wo - must check .this , tendency. Wo must trust our leaders, who,-' he'observed, were' united in '.the common cause.- -.- Critics must try not. to impede tho work, of the military and civil commanders in time of war. "Let us.not draw,comparison with what any ■other Dominion is doing: Jet us do our own best." His Excellency extended a hearty welcome to the . returned soldiers,. and he. hoped they would recover, .; and • enjoy themselves among their friends, who were delighted to' havo them home. . ' ■; ,'

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. 1 ,P. : ; Ma!ssey),; who, rose amidst ■ prolonged;.app^a^'::;froil.,;th«,'.'so'ldie^■s':■, aud the publicj joined -in expressing ,hearty "welcome home" to the!'men from .the Dardahelles.'. He .had not the slightest doubt that the men were delighted to be back; among-their friends, and added , the assurance, that we .were just as" de- ; lighted to havo them home again. They' had responded to tho 'call of and how they.had done/their duty wo all knew. "We are proud of our boys," 110 thundered ;'across the- big hall, and •the great' audience echoed;, his' .senlii-! ments in ■ thunderous applause; "Wo are proud of our boys who aro here today, of thoso who are fighting to-day, ' and those .who sleep their last, sleep it foreign soil." (Renewed applause.) Some: of. the best and bravest had fallen,' and many women throughout' New, Zealand wore, like Kachael of. old, weeping for. their children - because they' are riot! .But tho blood of theso brave men had not been shed in vain, for ! it had strengthened the determination of the British, people to , prosecute 'the. war till.!. the -murderersof. helpless' women and innocent' children received the punishriient 'they desorved.' (Applause.) Tlio'fellow-citizens of the',soldiers wished tnem'! every happiness' and all possible prosperity in; the' years to come. (Applause.)

Sir Joseph Ward, Minister of Finance, who also was heartily applauded, endorsed the cordial welcome: extended by;.the other speakers.- New Zealand welcomed the returned soldiers, 'and their, dear., ones, particularly: ; were , .delight^.'to liave them back. ..One : was of tho fact ■ that it seemed but a few months; ago . sinco the men from. the. office, the factory, -and the farm cheerfully to go. out and fight' for .King and country. We Iliad followed 'them • 011 service and ■ knew of tlieir extraordinary; deeds of valour which had made New Zealand so proud of their sons. He quoted-the lines: '■ Y"Nor shall .their.'glory, be' forgot. : While fame her record keeps; ■ . ' -Nor, memory : points to the hallowed ■■ spot . . Where valour proudly sleeps." (Applause.) Tho Hon. James Allen, Minister 'of Defence; said he_ was sure that all Welcomed; : and ; twice ; welcomed, the returned soldiers. Those who bore wounds would bear them 1 proudly;: tho ■ 6ca.rs they would carry to, their , graves were honoured scars.: He had seen that day greetings which' he-would never forget, and they were samples of what would ■bo seen when the remainder of our. :troops returned. All our-men could not i come 'Jiackj but we had the satisfaction of knowing that all had done their duty. (Applause.) : , ! Before' leaving the hall the people I gave cheers 'for our soldiers, present and absent., ■ '■' • ' ,