COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1920, Page 6

COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON.

[VISITOR FROM OVERSEAS. SIR ARNOLD GRIDLEY, K.B.E. A representative gathering of about forty New Plymouth business men assembled at May and Arrowsmith's yesterday, when a complimentary luncheon was tendered to Sir Arnold Gridley, representative of the British Electric Company, who has been on a short visit to New Plymouth. He was Director of Electrical Supplies in Britain during the war. The function, was under the auspices of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, the vice-president (Mr. T. C. List) occupying tlie chair, and he was supported on his right by the guest, and on his left by the Mayor (Mr. Jas. Clarke). The chairman tendered apologies from Mr. E. P. Webster (president of the Chamber), Messrs:. Newton King and S. W. Shaw. After the loyal toast, the chairm&n proposed the health of "Our Guest," and in doing so remarked that Sir Arnold, as those present probably knew, l ad taken a leading part in the organisation of affairs at Home during the war. He was in charge of electrical supplies and importance of his work could be gauged from the fact that he was accredited with being Sir Eric Geddes' right-hand man. It would only be re-echoing the feelings of all the members. of the Chamber to say that they were very pleased to have Sir Arnold Gridley present, and to mark the occasion by such a gathering. WAR PERIL RECALLED. The electric branch of the war Work was jjery important—to what extent could be gleaned from the writings of Admiral Sims of America—who, in his latest book, stated that when he arrived in England he was astounded to find the submarine menace so groat, and that the Allies were almost beaten. But England, said the speaker, would not admit defeat, and it was very largely due to the efforts of the electrical engineers that the antidote to the submarine was at last discovered. The chairman expressed pleasure that their guest had been responsible for gaining for Britain one of the largest contracts that had been let in the Dominion, namely the electrification of the Otira Tunnel. The British Electric Co., of which Sir Arnold was the head, gained the contract on their merit, and it was very pleasing to members of the Chamber, as loyal Britishers, to know that Britain could compete successfully with other countries so soon after a devastating war. Regarding New Zealand's part in the war, the speaker thought the country had nothing upon which to upbraid itself, the people having done their duty as they found it awaiting them. As representing the commercial community of the province, they desired to congratulate Sir Arnold upon the work ho had accomplished during the war, and upon the honor done him by His Majesty the King. The toast of "Our Guest" was then drunk, musical honors following. ; Rising to reply, Sir Arnold Gridley was greeted with applause. lie remarked that he could not but be embarrassed by'the extreme cordiality encountered since he had cqpie into' New Zealand, and the very generous hospitality accorded him in New Plymouth. He had hoped after five years of strenuous work to .escape from'the Govi ernment service, and to take a real J holiday. Ho had arrived at this decision when the directors of the concern to which he now belonged approached him, as the man who was responsible for controlling electrical mac'-'nery in Britain during the war. to <?i, out to New Zealand and do what lie could to show that Great Britain was not only willing but anxious to supply the good's th« Dominion required. That was the reason why the speaker was in the country at present. SAD LINK WITH TARANAKT. There were two sad evopts connected with his visit to Taranaki, said Sir Arnold. His wife's uncle had been murdered by the Natives in the earlier days n; the province, and also a bereavement of closer relationship had occurred. His elder brother who came out to try his fortunes in New Zealand unfortunately met his end in Ilawera in ISO!) in the Commercial Hotel fire'. All the visitors itt the hotel escaped except his brother. Sir Arnold stated he had visited Hawera, and had also located his brother's grave in the cemetery at Normally in a picturesque spot, overlooked by the mountain, and near the site of the memorial to the fallen of the Maori War. He had also been able to get into communication with acquaintances of his brother, and the men who had rescued the body from the fire. Speaking of the "warm and generous hospitality" he had received wherever he had been in New Zealand, Sir Arnold paid a tribute to his New Plymouth hosts. He said he had been given an opportunity of seeing something of the district through the kindness of the Mayor, the acting-president of the ..Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Collis, and other officials of the municipality. To the wives o f the gentlemen mentioned he also expressed his thanks. One could not help feeling impre;sed. he said, with the enormous progress shown and which lie understood had been achieved practically during the l'jst decade. Progress- was interrupted by the war, so that practically speaking the forward movement had only taken five years. He said the town was particularly fortunate in having snob a well-run and soundly-engineered electric supply undertaking. Having by force of circumstances during the war had'to consider extensions of practically every electric | undertaking in Great Britain, he had a pretty general , idea of how an undertaking should be run, and how tremendously important a good and ample supply of electricity was to a growing town such as New Plymouth. INSPIRATION IN NATURE. Sir Arnold said that while basking in the Lunshine of one -of the. New Plymouth parks facing the sea, he was struck with the field of inspiration from which the local people could draw in what nature had to show. The seagirt country was a continual reminder so long as the flame of patriotism burned brightly in the hearts of New Zealanders that Great Britain was mistress of the seas, and so long as she remained in this position the country was safe from attack by jealous foes. "Your smiling countryside," he said, "is a reminder that "the more brains and industry that is applied the greater is tho reward and success which she has to offer." The speaker said one was absolutely fascinated by the mountain. There Egmont lifted its head as an emblem of the uuipose of the gre^t

architect of the universe, a perpetual reminder of what we were all here for. Her snows became sun-melted and watered the valleys, making the lands fertile and provided the means to produce power for lighting and heat. The snow-clad summit stood calling upon everyone who could see it to live ivp to the loftiest ideals, always with eyes turned upwards. They were fortunate to live in such a country, and he was only too glad to have the opportunity, though a brief one, of visitng the Dominion. He could not understand why there should be any discontent, and there ought to be no labor troubles, in New Zealand. Those prevalent he did not think were very deeply-rooted. Expressing appreciation of the kindly reception tendered liini, Sir Arnold said he hoped to come back to New Zealand within the next two years, and if possible, would not only climb the hills, but also go down to the valley flow and hook some trout on the end of a strong line. In proposing the toast of the Chamber of Commerce (coupled with the name of Mr. List), Sir Arnold stressed the value of such an institution in the advancement of a district. The Mayor took the opportunity of congratulating the English Electric Company on securing such a big tender. They" had won on merit, and were also able to compete in the matter of price with an American firm, and this after five years of war. Mr. Clarke proposed "Shipping Interests" (coupled with the name of Captain Bone, New Zealand Shipping Company's Superintendent). The speaker paid a tribute to the grand manner in which our shipping men had done their duty during the war. Captain Bone briefly responded. This concluded the toast list, .and the gathering dispersed.