VALEDICTORY AT OHUTU.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3337, 15 November 1919, Page 5

VALEDICTORY AT OHUTU.

MR R. C. LALOR FARE~'WEL~LED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Egmont Box Company ’s dining room has been ‘the scene of many a. pleasant gathering, but Monday night last witnessed one of the most successful social evenings that’ has taken place there, the occasion being a smoke concert ‘tendered to Mr R. C. Lalor, yard foreman for the Box Company, and secretary of the Kihg County Sawmill and Timber Workers’ Union, prior to his departure for Sydney, where he takes up a lucrative and responsible position with car large. firm. The room was packed to its utmost capacity, practically all the employees of the Box Company being present to do honoli‘r' to the departing guest. -‘Mr R. W. Campbell made an ideal chairman, and opened the proceedings by saying that they had gathered’ that night to bid farewell -to Mr Lalor, a. task that was indeed a hard one, for their guest had, by his many fine qualities,‘ integrity of character, never failing kindness, consideration for the men with whom he worked, and his good fellowship, had endeared himself to all whom he came in contact with, and therewas the deepest regret felt by the men at his departure, but their regret was temperedby The knowledge that Mr Lalo-r was'bet.tering himself and he. would carry with him the best wishes of all. (Applause) Mr Grifkins then proposed the -toast of ‘the evening ——“Our Guest”—-and in doing so paid a high tribute ‘to Mr lLalor, speaking especially of the great service he had done as secretary of the King Country Sawmill Workers’ Union, a work that would -always keep Mr Lalor’s name green, and he wished the departing guest every good luck in the future. The toast was drunk with musical honours, "For ‘He’s-ya Jolly Good Fellow” being sung with right good will, followed by loud .and prolonged cheering that evidenced the sincerity -of the men’s feelings }towards their guest. Mr Lalor, -in thanking those present, paid a tribute to ,the"secret‘ary of ‘the ‘Union, Mr Dengate. Mr A. Burgoyne, on behalf of the employees" of ‘the Egmont Box Company, then presented Mr La.lor' with ahandsoine travelling bag, _and in doing so spoke highly of Mr '-=Lal'or and ‘wished him every success inhis new p‘6si'tion, expressing the hope that they would again have the pleasure of renewing their friendsliip with Mr Lalor.

Mr Lalor, on ris‘ifi'g' to respond, was greeted with loud applause. He said that the presentajtioh "had come a.s a great surprise to him, seeing that only a. short time preViously—-—wllen‘ called to canlp——~they had presented him with a wristlet watch, .9, preserlt ,he valued, and he assured them that when he used the travelling bag he would always ‘think’ of:his Ohulu friends, and he said that the employees -of the Box Company were as fine a. body of men as ever he had worked with, and while sorry to leave, he looked fohdrwm-d to meeting them again. He again thank--ed them f-orthe honour done him, and‘ resumed his seat amidst applause. In proposing the toast of “King Country Sawmill and Timber Workers’ Union” Mr -'Lalo’r-. spoke of the hardships that had to be faced in bringing the new Union into being, the railway cut, etc., but despite these drawbacks they now were a‘ strong and ifnportant Union and he was sure that under the new secretary, "Mr Dengate, they would attain the greater strength. Various jothe-r ltoasts awere proposed by Messrs White, Campbell, Grifiiths, Laloir and MacMillan. and songs were rendered by ‘Messrs Machen, Dearing, Drummond. Eaton, Jones, .Williams and Gifkins, that met with lhgr aceep--tance‘ of those present. The singing of “Auld Lang '.Syne”, with more cheers for Mr Lalor, brought a. most pleasant gathering to a close. Mr Lalor left for Sydney during the week, and he will be much missed, for the genial “Bob” always took an interest in our social life, and ‘the good wishes of a host of friends will go with Mr, Mrs and Miss Ealor.

I A New Zealander who came back by the Makura offer a visit to the land of the Stars and Stripes, said that so far as he could gather from his ‘observations of and talk with the T Americans, they really do believe that «their army and navy won the war. It is assumed as a f=ac't by_th-ose who read casually, and the Well—infornl'e(l classes seem to hold the same belief. He pro» duced a cutting from a. leading American newspaper, in which the short report of what Haig said about Britain’s doings in the conflict was Headed “Is it so?” Apparently Haig’s statement was regarded as an incredible item of news. Sitting one day at. ;a. table in an hotel. our Ne WZela.a.nder found himself next.f.o 3, party. consisting of an hotel, our New Zealander found newly-returned oificers, and one of the 11.0-stesgcg gave the conversation at new turn by asking her neighbour if he.,felt at liberty to ‘enlighten the company upo-I1 8, point which ‘Was not quite clear—-gnemely, as to which of "the American divisiorfi-‘I fiave the Germans their quietus. ‘The ‘attitude of ~thc States on the subject generally is highly amusing. ’ * ‘