SOLDIER M.P.'S

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 302, 17 September 1919, Page 3

SOLDIER M.P.'S

ENTERTAINED BY NEW ZEALAND CLUB

A PLEASANT LUNCHEON

The New Zealand Club yesterday tenJ dored a luncheon in the Y.M.C.A. rooms to.the returued-soldier M.IVs, the Hon. Maior J. G. Coates, M.C., the Hon. ' Maior J..8; Hine/Captain T. E. Y. Seili don. and Lieutenant W. Downie Stewart. . Mr. W. E. Spencer, M.A., president of the , club, was in tho chnir. Among thoso present was' tho Mayor (Mr. J. V, Luke). .- There was a big attendance of club members. ;. In introducing tho gueste, tho chair- ■ man referred to their war servico. It , would have been quite easy for them, ho 6aid, to have avoided going to the war ■ bv pleading their, duty to the public. / Thov saw, however, only ono way, and thev followed it. (Applause.) Tho l'uvi lianient and people of "New Zealand were,

in more souses than one, well represented j at tho war. (Applause.) Tho guests ,j had soucht no armchair billets, but had i sone..where others hail gone. On behalf of the club he. congratulated Major Coates and Major.'Eine on (heir elevation ,to Cabinet rank. Tho cuests wore welcomed with salvos of tho heartiest applause, i

The Latest Crusaders [•' Major Hine thanked the club for the tribute it had paid hinr and the other

■Kuests. He hnd chosen Palestino as the , scene of his war service, ho said, bo- ' <cause of the historic attractions of the land. H6 wished to ho ono of the lat- ( est crusaders who were t6 "imshi the . Turk out of the Holy Laud"- once for all. He paid a tributo to tho' fighting quali- . ties of tho Turk. . The Turk was a fair fighter and a good fighter. Ho had no complaint to inako about the Turk. Tho

whole of the operations in Palestine took

! a turn for good when General Allenby 'arrived on the scene. It was impossible 'to speak too highly of the General's great Services to tho Empire. (Applause.) Ho was pleased to think that Jerusalem was captured without having any shots fired into it. (Applause.) The sight of tho holv places there must "steady a man ud" even in warfare. Ho had enjoyed his military life—would not have missed it "for all tho tea in China." It was a joy to bo back again and well, but his heart and the hearts of others who wero

in a similarly fortunate position went out to those who still suffered as the result of their service. (Applause.) Waior Coates referred to' his fellowguest. Captain Seddon, as "quite an old soldier." There was on impression that Captain Seddon had taken part in n6 battle, but that of Pnsschendaele. As a matter of fact, Cajtain Seddon numbered among tho other engagements he had taken part in the battles of tho Somrne (1916 and 1918), Messines, La Basse Ville, and Passchendaele. He thought that tho country might very well be proud of the general ' deportment of the Now Zenlanders who served abroad. The New Zealand soldier seemed to realise that he had the credit of his country in his hands, and his behaviour had >ieen an honour to.New.Zealand. The knowledge that the men had gained while they wore away must ho of great value now. If that knowledge could be rightly guided, it would bo of much use to the country. ."I'd rather go over tho top than make a-speech," Major Coates concluded with a smile, "but I don't like going over the top, and I admit it." (Loud applause.)

Tho New Zealand Division.i Captain Seddon said that it. had been a privilege to go abroad with New Zealnnd men. Tho people of. this country hardly realised what a name tho Now Zealand Division had made for itself. When tho line was broken—and it was broken, though the newspapers had claimed that it was only bent-it.was the New 'Zealand Division, with two othew, that was sent to fill tho gap. The New Zealanders got to know the men from other parts of tho Empire, and canio to admire their good qualities. It was for the eaders of to-day to take advantage of ■vhat the soldiers had learnod. It,was. .vrong to think that the. men-who fought •'or Britain did so for the -mere sport >f tho thing. •They'fought for sometog higher than that. If New Zealand •vas* going back to the old ways and the 4d partj- politics much good would be frosted. (Loud applause.) One man kj. ourticular had come back to this punlrv who had received hardly as -feat credit as ho deserved. Ho spoke if General Russell. "What Birdwcod was to tho Australians, that was Russell to tho New Zeabindcrs,' said I'aptain Seddon. (Applause.) : Those vho fought, he said, fought not for nonev. but for Empire, and for tins rlorious country, known as Gods Own iountry. (Applause.).

,• "Profiteering," ; The applause that greeted Lieutenant Itewart on rising was deafening- He /■aid. in soldier parlance, that.he felt he > ras a "very humble member of the ontt." and ho did not wish to say much bout the war. He did not Tegret his exeriences, however. The speaker made > slv reference to Major Coates, which .aused a Rood deal of laughter. "When I man goes to the war," he said, "takes ;ho rank of major, takes a Military, Cross, takes a bar to it, and then comes back to assume Cabinet rank, what can one call that but profiteering?"

A heartv vote of thanks to the guests was carried by acclamation.

• Tho National Anthem was sung before the gathering' dispersed. .