SOLDIER M.P.S.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1919, Page 4

SOLDIER M.P.S.

ENtfTSTAINED BY NEW ZEALAND CLUB.

A luncheon. The New Zealand Club last week tenered a luncheon in the Y.M.C.A. rooms tio the iretumed soldier iM.P.’g, the Hon. Major .J, C. Coates, M. 0., the lion Major J. ft. Hine, Captain T. E. Y. Seddon, and ' Lieutenant 'W. Downie Stewart. Mr.W. E. Spencer, M. A., president of the Club was bn the chair. Among those preseni was the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke). There was a big attendance of club members. In introducing their guests, the chairman referred their war service. It would have been quite easy for them, lie said, 16 have avoided going to the I war by pleading their duty to the puly j lie. They saw, however, only one way, ■ and they followed it. (Applause). The Parliament aud people of New Zealand were, in more senses than one, well'represented at the war. (Applause). The guests had sought no armchair billets, but had gone where others had gone. On behalf of the Club ho congratulated Major Coates and Major Hine on ‘their elevation to Cabinet rank. The guests were welcomed with salvos of the heartiest applause.

THE LATEST CRUSADERS. Major Hine thanked the club for the tribute it had p&id him and the other guests. He had chosen Palestine as the scene of his war service, he said, because of the historic attractions of the | land. He wished to be one of the latj cst crusaders who were to “imshi the j Turk out of the Holy Land” once for i all. HO paid a tribute to the fighting qualities of the Turk. The Turk was a fair fighter and a good fighter. He had no complaint to make about the Turk. The ( whole of the 7 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 the Empire. (Applause). He was pleased to

think that Jerusalem was captured without having any shots fired into it. (Applause). The sight of the holy places here must “steady a man up” even in warfare. He had enjoyed his military life—would not have missed it “for all the tea in China.” It was a joy to be back again and well, but his heart and the hearts of others' who were in a similarly fortunate position went out to those who still suffered as the result of their service. Applause). ~ Major Coates referred to his fellow-

guest, Seddon, ns “quite an old soldier.” There was an impression that Captain 'Seddon had taken part in no battle, but that of Passchendaele. As a matter of fact, Captain Seddon numbered among the other engagements lie had taken part in the battles of the Somme, (1918 and 1918), Messines, La Basse Ville, and Passchendaele. He thought that the country might very well be proud of the general deportment of the New Zealanders who served abroad.’ The New Zealand soldier seemed to realise that he had the credit of his country in his hands, and his behaviour bad been an honour to New Zealand. The knowledge that the men had gained while they were away must be of great value now. If that knowledge ctiiild be rightly’guided, it would be of much use to the country. “I’d rather go over the top than make a speech, “Major Coates admitted with a stnile, “but I don’t like going over the top, and I admit it.” (Loud applause).;,

THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION Captain Soddon said that it had been a privilege to go abroad with New Zealand men. The people of this country hardly realised what a name the New Zealand Division had made for itself. When the lino was broken,—and it was broken, though the newspapers had claimed thnt it was only bent—it was the New Zealand Division,' with twd others that was sent to fill up the gap. The New Zealanders got to know the men from other parts of the Empire, and calne to admire their good qualities; It was for the leaders of to-day to take advantage of what the soldiers had learned. It was wrong to think that the men who fought for Britain did so for the mete sport of the thing. They fought for something higher than that. If New Zealand was going back to the bid way's and the old party politics much good would be wasted. (Loud applause]). One man In particular had come back to this country who had received hardly as grpat cpqdit as ho deserved. He' spoke of General Russell. “What Birdwood was to the Australians, that Was Russell to the New Zealanders,” said Captain Seddon. (Applause.) Those who fought, he said, fought hot for money, but for.. Empire, and for this glqrious pouptry, known as God’f, Own Country. (Applause). “PROFITEERING”. '

The applause that greeted Lieutenant/ Stewart on rising was deafening. He said. In soldier parlance, that hp fe}t. ho was a "very humble member of the outfit,-' and ho did not wish to say much about the war. Ho did not regret his experiences, however. The speaker made a sly reference to Major Coates, Which caused a good deal' of laughter. “When h man goes to the war,” he said, “takes the rank of major, takes a Military Cross, takes a bar |0 it, and then comes back to assume a Cabinet r;iplC tyhaj can one call that but profiteering ?'■> A hearty vote of thanks to the guests was earned by acclamation. The National Anthem was sung before the gathering disported.