NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS AT HOME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1655, 28 December 1916, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS AT HOME.

CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT,

London, Dec. 25

Sir Thomas Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand) presided at a dinner to three hundred New Zealanders on furlough in the Wesleyan Hall at WestminM.er. Air Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Lord Ranfurly, Lord Blanket, Sir James Carroll, Mr Raymond, and Mr Moss Davis were present. The men were picniifally provided with Christinas fare.

Air Massey, addressing them, extended New Zealand Christmas greetings to the soldiers. “Not-

withstanding the Swiss and American Notes,” lie said, “we are not going to lie cheated out of the Hubs of victorv.”

Sir Joseph Ward, in supporting Air Massey, said they were not going to have a premature peace, hut one that would last for ages. They would not have a stoppage of the war, which in reality was meant only to give their enemies breathing time.

Lord Ranfurly recalled what New Zealand had done in the Boer V ar. He had never expected such vast numbers of New Zealanders would he fighting now at the country s call. He thought with wonder on the stream of Reinforcements the Dominion was sending. The men were entertained at a concert and tea in the afternoon and a dance in the evening. The soldiers at Hornchurch and Walton-on-Thauies also were entertained in their respective hospitals. Mr Massey, Sir- Joseph Ward, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie visited, the wounded at Walton.