Serious Note in Crowd’s Final Gesture

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 3, 4 January 1940, Page 8

Serious Note in Crowd’s Final Gesture

WELLINGTON SCENES Per Press Association. 1 WELLINGTON, Jan. 3 Practically all Wellington and the Hutt Valley mast have been concentrated along the route of the march taken by returned soldiers and Trentham members of the first echelon of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force cn their march through the city following the official farewell at Parliament House this morning. The turnout of returned men was so large that people were nearly as impressed as by those in uniform, the returned men taking seven minutes to pass a given point compared with 11 mlnntes by the troops. Five bands participated in the march, •nd the band of H.M.S. RamiUes wat stationed at the citizens’ war memorial which the troops marched past as they left the parade at Parliament House, saluting as they went by. The whole city was at a standstill. Premises were open, but nobody remained inside. In the main it was a •ilent tribute the soldiers received. There were cheers in places and clapping of hands, but the people's patriotism was in then: faces and not in their throats, and a further notable feature was the fact that there was a complete absence of vulgar jostling to see, thousands being content to stand back on the pavements, leaving the front to those obviously intent on picking out their relatives and friends with a word and a cheer as they came along As in England, so here there is a serious note to this war that almost totally submerges lip service, but that it Js purposeful and intent the demeanour of the crowd and its completeness leaves no doubt whatever. The troops came in from Trentham by train, paraded at the station and marched to Parliament House grounds. Long before the hour of the ceremany every vantage point open to the public had been occupied and the addresses were relayed through loudspeakers. Governor-General’s Farewell Addressing the men, the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Galway, said that they were about to leave to answer the nation’s call for assistance against a powerful enemy which challenged the right of other peoples, including the British Empire, to live their own lives. One would have thought that the German people might have learned a lessen from the last war, but apparently <hc gangster Government now in power h that country required to be taught a fresh and salutary lesson. It was because they all appreciated the danger to the Empire and the challenge to that liberty which as British rubjects they had always enjoyed that they were leaving their homes and loved ones to assist the Motherland. Loyalty and devotion to the Throne and Empire were characteristics of New Zealand. Many proofs had been given in the past ,and in its maintenance lay the surest safeguard of the peace end prosperity of that Empire to which we all were so proud to belong. After a reference to the traditions built up by the New Zealand Division in the last war, he expressed the genral hope that hostilities might not be drawn out, but the danger which threatened was so real that every fit man in every part of the Empire should be trained with the least possible delay and made ready for service. He paid a tribute to their leader, Major-General Freyberg, and referred to the fact that the troops’ comfort and well being abroad were being taken in hand, and he congratulated most heartily those who had volunteered for service overseas with the first echelon, wishing them godspeed. Duty of Those At Home. TJie Prime Minister, Mr M. ,T. Savage, prefaced his speech with an apology for the absence of Sir Andrew Russell, tvho returned from the last war trusted, honoured and indeed loved by the men who served under him, and if he was a judge of mvi and men, he predicted that the same thing was going to happen on this occasion. It was historic not only for New Zealand but the British Commonwealth of Nations that twice within memory of the present generation New Zealand men had responded to the call of Empire, and for that we had to thank the men who served in the past and those there to-day who were ready to serve in the future in whatever sphere they might be called upon. Mr Savage spoke of the duty of those j who remained at home. It was the jot j of the Government to organise for war and organise for peace, too. “Let me say to you officers, men and citizens assembled here Rat equality of sacrifice is not going to be an- empty phrase,” he raid. “Those who arc to stay at home *re going to do their part. The* job does not end with the men in the trenches, great as is their part.” He said that he was speaking in the name cf the Government and not the individual. There was only one way to help the Mother Country and the Allies —that was, through the Government. The time had come for unity,, and the day was,here to begin the | .great work of organisation so that the >men going abroad would be able to . say that they were net going to be sacrificed in vain. On behalf of the Government and the he thanked the officers and men. on parade. “Our hearts and prayers bo < with you and our hands outstretched to meet you on your return,” he said. I Reply to Challenge Mr. Adam Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition, said: “You represent the first unhesitating reply to to-day’s challenge to man’s destiny.” He thought that the undaunted and unflinching spirit they had displayed in answering that call was greater evidence of the determination of free i

men to defend te honour and precious privileges of liberty and justice than had ever been made in modern history. New Zealand’s vanguard already in the war, in the air and on the sea had glorified again the name of the New Zealander. “You are worthy successors to carry the high national banner,” he said. He hoped that wherever duty took them they would be given the courage, the strength and the determination to uphold in advance those British and New Zealand traditions of which all were i so proud. “May we at home prove worthy of your trust while you are away,” he added. “I know you will prove worthy of ours and of the honoured name of New Zealand.” Concluding the speeches, Mr W. Perry, said that as Dominion president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, he assured the troops that their interests would ba watched in their absence, and he hoped that on their return they would strengthen the organisation of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. He expressed the wholehearted confidence of the returned men that the present troops would worthily uphold the traditions of Anzac. ‘‘From old Diggers to the lew, good luck to you all, boys, and nay you all come back covered with 'lory and with increased honour to STew Zealand,” he concluded. CHRISTCHURCH SENDS OFF BURNHAM MEN BUSINESSLIKE ARMY Per Prass Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 3. The span ci years between two wars was bridged to-day when 500 veterans of 1914-18 formed a guard of honour for the Burnham-trained section of the first echelon of the Expeditionary Force, which marched through the city streets. It was the city’s farewell to the troops. Not for very many years—in fact, since the days of 191418—has Christchurch seen so impressive an occasion. More than 2000 troops marched to Cranmer Square past th e saluting base, where Colonel P. H. Bell took the salute. Christchurch, it appeared, was there to a man, woman and child. Thousands lined the route from the railway station and back, while the crowd at Cranmer Square was estimated at well over 10,000. After the speeches, when the city gave its official Godspeed through its representatives, the most moving moment of the day came with the singing by the huge crowd to a massed-band accompaniment of the National Anthem and “Auld Lang Syne." The troops marched in drill order. They looked a thoroughly businesslike army, and moved steadily, holding themselves with soldierly erectness and pride. On arrival at Cranmer Square there was a roar of cheering followed by an equally enthusiastic reception of the returned men, who toqk up their positions facing the troops. O'n the platform, in addition to Colonel Bell, were the mayor, Mr R. H. Macfarlane, the Minister of Railways, Mr D. G. Sullivan, the president of the Returned Soldiers’ Assocation, Mr A. £. Ha3*nes, Bishop West-Watson, Bishop Brodie, members of the Legislative •Council, members of Parliament and 'mayors of Canterbury boroughs. AUCKLAND FAREWELLS MEN IN NORTHERN CAMPS Tor Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 3. In brilliant sunshine soldiers of the Special Force number over 2000 from the Hopu Hopu, Papakura and Ngarua- 1 wahia camps paraded at the Domain i to-day in the presence of over 6000 citizens, and afterwards marched back to the railway station through denselylined streets. After their arrival by trains ea*Jy in the forenoon the soldiers marched by a short route to the Domain headed by military bands, and as the respective units formed up on parade at the , Domain they were greeted by rounds j of warm applause These included a unit that is purely Auckland’s, the 18th Auckland Infantry Battalion. So well had they been trained that I it was almost impossible to believe 1 that only three months had passed ' since they set out to become soldiers. The parade was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Parkinson. The magnificent arms drill of the men as they accorded Colonel Weir a general salute brought enthusiastic applause. Addresses were given by Colonel Weir, the mayor. Sir Earnest Davis, and Mr W Nash, representing the Government. At the call of the mayor three rousing cheers were given by the crowd for the soldiers. Crowds of civilians five and six deep lined the streets as the men marched back. Queen street was thickly thronged with cheering crowds, and almost every soldier appeared to have friends in the crowd. Particularly enthusiastic was the scene at the Town Hall, where, during the march past on the way back to the station, the salute was taken by Colonel Weir, Sir Ernest Davis and Mr Nash Thousands had been waiting in Queen street for over an hour, work in the city being at a standstill and the upper windows and verandahs crowded. At the corner of Queen and Customs street the crowd took up the tunc played by the band. “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” broke from that into “Hullo Hullo. Who’s Your Lady Friefid.” Auckland gave a rousing farewell to the smartly-turned-out colliers.

No tobacco! Can you picture what it would mean to millions of people if the world’s supply of tobacco were suddenly and for ever cut off and no more could be had for love or money! Airily classed by this government and that as a mere “luxury”—tobacco has yet become almost as necessary as food to most people. Fortunately there is no danger of such a catastrophic state of things eventuating as a world without its weed. Tho huge output is constantly increasing; demand creates supply. Happily for Maorilanders some of the choicest leaf is grown and manufactured right here in New Zealand. Visiting experts and connoisseurs who have sampled the five popular brands: Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Riverhead Gold, Desert Gold, Cavendish and Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead) havo pronounced them equal, if not superior to, the finest tobacco produced in other lands with the added advantage (an enormous one) that they are practically without nicotine—eliminated by toasting in tho process of manufacture, so that they are powerless to harm even the most inveterate smoker.