A CIVIC RECEPTION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 98, 19 January 1921, Page 3

A CIVIC RECEPTION

TO BELGIAN CONSUL-GENERAL M. SEGAERT WELCOMED A civic reception was yesterday tendered to M. Henri Segacrt, Consul-Gen-eral in Australasia for Belgium. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided, and among those present were the Prime Minister (Right Hon. M. F. Massey), the Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H. Guthrie), city councillors, the consular representatives of several nations, and the president of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr. W. Periy). Mr. Luke said he regarded it as a privilege to have the opportunity of extending a welcome to M. Segaert. In the late war Belgium had displayed a bravery almost unexampled in history, and Britons owed a deep debt of gratitude to the little Continental nation for what it had done in the cause of liberty. In the period of reconstruction, Belgium had set a noble example, and he hoped not only that Belgium would soon recover completely from the effects of the war, but that all the Allied nations would equally recover. He wished the visitor a verv pleasant stay in this country. The Prime Minister welcomed Al. Segeart on ’behalf of the people of New Zealand. He endorsed what the Mayor had’said in praise of Belgium s fight loi liberty. New Zealanders would never, forget that struggle. Treaties had existed guaranteeing the neutrality of Bel„ium, and when war threatened Belgium and Franco had declared their intention to see that the treaties were observed. Germany however, had claimed that necessity’ know no law, and German troops had entered Belgium. The, necessity pleaded was in actual fact the necessity for adhering to long-standing plans, lhe population of the country had undergone terrible hardships and suffered atrocities of every kind, including enslavement. Belgium to-day. however, was the one nation that had thoroughly Pjne back to work." The speaker wished M. Segnert a pleasant experience ot Neu Zealand. ... Mr Perry said that his association was honoured by the invitation to be. represented at the gathering. The who had sone from New Zealand knew what the Belgians had done during the war; they had given their all to the Allied cause to victory. The K.b.A. wished the visitor the best of luck. M Scgaert replied that he was deeply teuciied by the way in which he had been greeted. He felt that in coming to New Zealand he was visiting a country of friends. New Zealand had. done much with men and money to aid Belgium, but the Belgians valued as much as anything the moral support accorded by such a distant country as this. Belgium wa rapidlv recovering from the devastation wrought by the war, and ful to those who had helped her. H hoped to see the bonds of friendship between New Zealand and Belgiuni more and more closely cemented M. Segaert paid a compliment to the local consular representative, of his country, Mr. G. Johnston. . The National Anthem was sung and cheers were given for the visitor befoie the gathering dispersed.