LABOUR AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2780, 26 May 1916, Page 6

LABOUR AND THE WAR

FAREWELL TO SERGT. E. J. CAREY.

Last evening the Hotel Workers' Union and the Trades and Labour' Council tendered a complimentary social to Sergt. E. J. Carey, .who is shortly to proceed to tho front with the New Zealand Reinforcements. Sergt. Carey was very well known in Labour circles for many years, and was one of the best known officials at tho Trades Hall. Mr. It. J. Re&rdon presided, and the gathering was a very large one. Among those present were Messrs. A. H. Hindmarsh and A. Veiteli, M.P.'s, and Mr.' J. Itigg.. As an indication that Mr. Carey was held in high esteem in fields afar from "Wellington, it might be mentioned that. Messrs. Richardson (Christchurch), Thornton (Napier), "Wright and Smith (Pajmerston North), and Conchie (Wanganui), all representatives of the Hotel Workers' Unions, came to Wellington especially to. attend the farewell. The gathering was enthusiastic through-out,-and scores of tributes were paid to the guest. The toast of the guest was proposed by Mr. Reardou. and spoken to by Messrs. J. M'Cusker, D. Williams, knd. W. T. Young. When Sergt. Carey rose to reply he was received with cheers. He said that ho was very amply rewarded by the gathering that evening for anything lie had doue. While one was actively engaged in the Labour movement he was usually criticised a good deal, sometimes bitterly, but gatherings of this kind washed out all feeling, and he would be able to carry away with him nothing but pleasant memories. He went on to say that in camp he had got the opinion that only numbers could win tho war, so every man was wanted if the Empire was to como out 011 top. He wished to resent the sugir"stioi> tnat Labour was not. doing its share in .Ihe war. There was not a union in' New Zealand which had not dono its share. If all sections of the community had done as much there would he no need for .a Compulsion Bill. He gave instances of prominent union officials-who had donned tho khaki, and mentioned that LanceCorporal .Tacka, a prominent member of the A.W.U., was tho first Australasian to win the V.C. Tf everyone looked at the thing the way ho did, there would lie no jmed to enforce a compulsion measure. There was work for those who could not go, and ho hoped that Parliament and ppople would see that tho women and children were well cared for and provided for. (Applause.)

The following other toasts were honour-ed:—-"The Labour Movement." proposed by Mr. W. H. Hamnton, and responded to by Messrs. A. Collins and W. Nnugbfon ; "The Parliamentary Labour Party," proposed by Mr. ,T. Bigs, and resnondrd to by Messrs. Hiudmarsh nnrl Veitch; "The Ladies," and "The Press."