PALESTINE CAMPAIGNERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 300, 15 September 1919, Page 5

PALESTINE CAMPAIGNERS

ELLENGA FROM EGYPT.

A large batch of campaigners from Palestine arrived by the troopship Elenga on Saturday, and all on board looked the picture of health Both officers and men assert that the trip out was very pleasant. The vessel was not fitted with a refrigerating plant, aE( i ln consequence only sufficient fresh meat for about eight days was taken. Nevertheless. the men did not mind tlu.s, for they were provided with other comforts, which cost e£2ooo. This money'wag accumulated canteen profits, anil was well spent; The vessel called at Auckland, and discharged the northern troops at that port. A number of; infantrymen who had been convalescing in the northern city were brought down by the Ellenga. As the men canio down the gangway they were each, given some fruit and a packet of cigarettes. There was an ample supply of motor-cars, and disembarkation operations proceeded smoothly and swiftly. The Patriotic Band wan in attendance. and tlio Mayor. (Mr. .T. P. Luke) and Mayoress were also present welcoming tho men home. .A number of Hie southern men left for their homes by the Monowai on Saturday. and the remainder were given lcavo till-to-day, when 'hey will leave bv tho Maori. Tho Ellcnifn. is berthed at the Taranaki Street Wharf.

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS 9 "BIRTHDAY" DINNER. Tho members of tho Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association celebrated the birthday of tikeir association on Saturday evening, , by holding, a dinner ijj the clubhouse. 'The .presi- ' dent of Uio association, Mr. C. W. Rushbrook, was in the chair, and Mr. Massey sat on his right hand and Sir Joseph Ward on his left. Ministers of the Crown present ( were Sir William Eraser, Sir Major Coates. Other guests were liio lion. W. D. S. MaclJonald, Sir James Carroll, the Mayor ol Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke); and the General Manager of Railways (Mr. li. M'Villyj. (( The president, submitted'the toasi, "The Day. We Celebrate," the anniversary of the formation of the association. The membership of the associations throughout New Zealand, lie said, was now about 3000, of whom 900 were in tho Wellington association. .Indeed, the membership of tho Wellington association was increasing so rapidly that they 1 would soon have to vacate the present , clubhouse, or builfl higher into the air. i Tho aim of the association was to build j a fine residential clubhouse such as those . of the C.T.A. in Melbourne and Sydney. I Chrisl-church was moving in the direction, and in fact a challenge had | . .been -issued by the Christchurcli association and accepted by the Wellington association as to who filiould lirst have such a club. If ouly the "wretched licensing question" could bo settled there would soon be a merry race between tho two associations. Ho referred to tho work of members during the war- period. Many of them i had gime to the front, and' .some of them would not come back. Their mem- 1 ories would be ever kept preen among members of the club. Those who could I not. enlist had been able to do a little patriotic work here, in the raising of Hinds for various war purposes. Members- had worked very hard in these efforts, and he-believed that the training that they had had in those periods in organisation and team work would stand them in good stead in peace times for i all their lives. All over New Zealand the commercial, travellers had raised for patriotic purposes no less a sum than lhalf a million. On another occasion the .Government appealed to them to help, in the flotation of one of the war loans, and the Wellington association handed over to the Government tho sum of .£211,000, free, of all charges. The toast was honoured with the greatest enthusiasm. Mr. E. A. Phelps gave the'toast of 'Parliament," coupling with it tho names of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. i Mr. Massey was received with generous applause lyhen he rose to respond. He thanked the company for the very enthusiastic manner in which they had honoured the toast of Parliament, and for the cordial, reception given to him. He said that tho New Zealand ParliaA ment was a very good one. There wero' some very decent fellows in it. Whatever their political opinions might be, they were'all right in other respects. (Laughter.) However, he believed that the New Zealand Parliament was capable of improvement, and lie hoped that the next Parliament would be a better one from his point of view. (Laughter.) Mr. Massey told one or two stories. about his political life, and also a story or so about the Peace Conference in Paris. Referring to the work done by tho commercial traveller in the wnr time, he expressed the hope that they would not cense their efforts. The Government had another loan, and lie hoped ..that the . commercial travellers would give some hglp to make , this one a success. Voices: You will get it. Mr. Massey said that he was sure the ,lielp would be forthcoming from tlie commercial travellers in Wellington and in other parts of New Zealand. (Mr. Massey's remarks, about post-par. conditions' are noted elsewhere.) ; Sir Joseph Ward was also received with applause. Like Mr. Massey, he opened his talk-with « few stories about his political life, and also about incidents of their, trips abroad in recent years. He alro,expressed the opinion; that tho New Zealand' Parliament might lie capable of improvement, and .that it would be improved from his point of view nfter next elections. And lie commended the commercial- travellers for their magnificent war work;- . Other toasts honoured during a long evening were: "Commerce," Rnilwav Department," "Harbour Board," and "Shin ping Companies." There were several entertainment items given in intervals between speeches. -I