CIVIC RECEPTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3084, 15 May 1917, Page 7

CIVIC RECEPTION

TO RETURNED SOLDIER

f *PR. MACKENZIE HONOURED.

/ •At the Mayor's room yesterday at-. ..ternoon,. Trooper Clutha Mackenzie, K>n of the New Zealand High Commissioner, was accorded a civic , reception Ot a very hearty- oharaoter. . There nresent tho Acting-Prime Minis- ' ,w (Sir James Allen), the Hon. A. M. Mj-erß, nearly all tho members of the wty Council and staff, and-representa-tive citizens. The Mayor (Mr. ,T. P.. lmke)._ mentioned initially that the , 'gathering was quite an informal one, and _he hoped that it would he his privilege .to arrange'one which the • general public could attend. He had ■ found Trooper Mackenzie a most elusive young man. Ever since the day i he "arrived he had been trying to get «old of him, and it ivas only when r ffleard'that he was leaving for the south that night that he had been able ' ,to meet and arrange anything. The . flavor said 'that he was proud and felt honoured, as the representative of the people of Wellington, to accord Trooper . a very hearty welcome back to Nevr Zealand. (Applause.) Hβ.was 'another of the many who had been sni.mated with a- splendid spirit of duty and sacrifice which had distinguished ffcne sons of New Zealand, whose united action had not only ■ helped Belgium and the smaller Powers in their need, ■out had assisted in checkmating, an en- ■ . ;emy that was nob only out to wreok those people, but was determined to •' retard tie progress and happiness of Tall nations. Mr. Luke' made a refer-. ence to the guest's father (Sir. Thomas Mackenzie), and the work he was do■'sng in England. . He ~had had 'a igood deal to do ; with men ■ had returned broken. Conversing with Trooper. Mackenzie one felt lifted out of oneself,, and. they honoured him as thev did every - man who'had' "done his bit.". ,'Mr.' Luke [.jalso tendered a welcome to Cbrporal ■ ''Xγ. B. Lennard, a friend of Trooper Mackenzie's, who had been, wounded, ■ ; and had returned to New .Zealand in '.company with the guest. ' .-.'.- y Sir James 'Allen joined with His • ."Worship in welcoming Trooper- Mackenzie' back to his homeland. . /After j oppressing regret for the wounds Mr. ; Mackenzie and his' friend had' suetainj'ed,'the Actinc-Prime Minister'• stated ; that- these men were teaching. ■ New IjfZealaiid and. the Army that there axe ! 'ibetter regrets. The great :"point. was'that eo many of the woundi "ed men were settling down to things with true British courage: Trooper i-Mackenzie had occupied his time studying how to make the best of bis future me, and in that had shown the spirit i that' actuated so many of our men. 'The effect of these determined minds i was to import an • element into ■ the •: Country. that'was of great value. He : joined very heartily in the welcome iiaccorded Trooper Mackenzie and hoped .that the couraze which was with, him to-day would never fail him., and that ; he would realise that there was still :a great deal to be got out of life. He 'also welcomed Corporal Lennard .Referring to St. Dunstan's (the home for blind soldiers) : the "Actinc-Prime Minister said that we had some'men there, and stated that it was the Government'e pnlicv'not to have any such stnen leave England -until ■ they had taken advantage -of the facilities provided in the institutions in , England,: "where they were better able to deal with them than we were here! In the case of artificial limbs they might <a- little ]ater undertake repairs and eventually make the limbs here. What they had to remember wa-s that these' men were .vlegacy to tho-peoplo,: andtheymust.be sympathetic with them, not : only to-day, but "for all time. (Applause.) Incidentally' Sir James stated that tho Government was doing, its best to help St. Dunstan's and such institutions at Home. ■ Mr. AvR. Atkinson'said that lie'had _been first introduced to Mr. l&okenzio toy an article in Thb Dominion, which, was permeated with a beautiful spirit, showing a rarer and more inspiring courage than even- that shown by so many of our men on tho battlefield. Mr. John Huteheson also spoke. Ho •hoped that Trooper Mackenzie's dauntless spirit would be a Bright ing example of fortitude to' all others. (Applause) Trooper Mackenzie said he was very gratified at tho warm welcome'that had been accorded him.. "I am not. worthy of it,", he said, "but accept :it on behalf of. all who. tad gone to the front and done theif. bit. . . . I ■was only nineteen when I went oiit. . i. •. I ani afraid I went rather in the spirit of adventure than that ofhelping our smaller Allies of Serbia/and Belgium. . . When we crossed the ■Indian Ocean with that grand fleet, I enjoyed every minute- of it, and would

have regretted to the last not to ha.ro been ono of that force./ At Gallipoli it, was not all so pleasant, perhaps, lmt I would not have missed it. . . . Of course, I did not go knowing that I would lose my sight ]f ] had known that —I would have funked it. A shell got me, and tlmb'settled it. . ... 1 have received :i great deal of sympathy, moro than usual, perhaps, because I happen to h<! tlio son of a. well-known, public man. ■ I liavp had a. groat deal of sympathy' and honour that l\ do not. deserve. ... When f was a 'sighted' person, I always had a deep and .sympathetic feeling for anyono ■■ wlio was blind. : Tt is amazing how one sots accustomed to it. The kindness F have received has been wonderful. With plenty of .occupation one'ran ho as joyful as over. During tho last eighteen months, there has riot been a moment that f have not fully enjoyed. Vox the way I got on I must give the credit to Sir Arthur Pearson. It is his aim to start mo in journalism, more as an entertaining hobby than anything else —not so much as a living as a hobby. Sitting in the dark with nothing to do is not interesting.. St. Dunstan's aimed at turning out useful citizens, and at present there- aro few that do not turn out well. . . '. It's awfully pleasant to be back in New Zealand. I have been welcomed po kindly that I don't know what to say about it. I have met a lot of returned soldiers, and haven't had any time to myself. • ■ .At Homo come of the men were saying; that, returned soldiers here were badly treated by the Government, and tliafc the girls had no time for them. (Langhter.l From what 1 heard at the Soldiers' Club I should gather that they are . being splendidly treated all round. I don't know about the sirls. though. I am deeply grateful; sir, for your kind welcome. You needn't worry over the terrors of being blind—it's, qniln all right!" (Prolonged applause.) Corporal Lennard also replied. ReFerring to the kindness which had been showered upon them, he said: "If the,people who are' shirking knew the amount of kindness to the woundjd they would.be rur,hing_ the recTuitng booths,- instead of avoiding them I" Afternoon tea, served by the Mayoress < and her lady helpers,, and an inormal chat, concluded the function.