WELCOME HOME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2790, 7 June 1916, Page 3

WELCOME HOME

TO THE ATHENIC'S DRAFT

A welcome home was accorded <n the Toy/n Hall Concert Chamber yesterday afternoon to the soldiers who arrived back by the Athenic. The Mayor (Mr. .T. P. Luke) made apologies for the doparture from the usual procedure, stating that the Athenic was expected in either on Sunday or Monday, in which case all would have been well, but the big Town Hall had been engaged for a fete that afternoon, and so they had had to use the Concert Chamber. He wished them all a warm welcomo home, and thanked them most heartily for the good work tlicy had done for New Zealand, the Old Country, and tho world at large. The. boys of New Zealand had proved themsolvas to bo worthy sons of the parents who had begotten them. None had done letter the work devolving upon them than the boys of New Zealand, bu.t he did not intend to say that of our boys alone, but those of Australia, Canada, South Africa, in fact all the units of the British Empire. He said with the strength of the people behind him that they had never loved their boys as they did at present. There were very few of them who had arrived at a mature age in citizenship who had not got some representatives at the front, and their hearts wore mingling with those whose loved ones had returned. They ought to thank God that their boys wero back for them to communo with and welcome home. The Mayor referred to Germany's 4C jears' preparation for the undoing of the British Empire, but they (the British) wero a people determined not to be undone. He also referred to the latest news about the great nav.il battle, and voiced his undying gratitude to the men who had fought such a noblo battle. Once more he welcomed warmly the Athei.ic's draft back to their native shores. . The Hon., A. L. VTerdman prefaced lus remarks by saying that he represented the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward, who were unable to be present. On behalf of tho Government he bade them a warm welcome home. Since their departure the people of New Zealand had followed closely their doings in other parts of the world, and to have them home again must be a peace anil comfort to their own people. In further confirmation of the German victory he had to tell them that the nows had been received tliat the Hindenbuirg had been destroyed, and that the Lutrnw, reported to be disabled, had actually been sunk. (Appliuse.) There was also good news from the East, where the Russians had achieved a victory and taken 13,000 prisoners. These few. little events may cause the clouds to begin to riso—ho could not tell any more, but there was every reason to hope for tho best. He could see by the eccentric behaviour of the Emperor of Germany that he had made a. careful study of tho art of deception. On this occasion the streets of the German cities had been hung with flags, speeches of a complimentary character to the Navy hod been made in the Reichstag, and the Emperor himself had almost broken into poetry ! So you must boliove that if you got into battle and sink fourteen ships whilst losing twenty of your own you are recording a great victory; and if youi lose 50,000 men to -kill 20,000 of the enomy it was a great military achievement. (Laughter.) Further . study of the Emperor had caused him to wonder what was a lio, and according to the Kaiser he concluded that it was "an abomination in tho. sight of the Lord,' but a very present help, in time of trouble." (Laughter and applause.) He hoped that the rest the soldiers would now get would restore them to health, and that they would lead a happy and-pros-perous life in the future. (Applause.) A number of attentive ladies provided an appetising afternoon tea, whilst a crowd of interested spectators in the gallery gavo tho men a fine reception.