PAGEANT OF PIONEERING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1940, Page 5

PAGEANT OF PIONEERING

MAGNIFICENT CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Wonderful Display Admired by Huge Assemblage — » * STRIKING COMMUNITY TRIBUTE PAID TO PIONEERS ADDRESSES BY HON. W. E. PARRY AND OTHERS “Nothing like it has been seen before,” was the universal verdict upon Ihe great public, gathering at the Solway .Showgrounds vest’erday in celebration of. the national Centennial. In Hie roomy and beautiful setting the grounds afford and on a warm and pleasant summer day. a procession and demonstration fairly described as magnificently devised and organised were seen and enjoyed to the best, possible adyanrtage. As a graphic representation of the old pioneering life and its merging into the life of today, the procession could not well have been improved upon. Conditions also favoured in every way the stirring community tribute that was paid to the pioneers 01. the district. Those' of them who had not found it more convenient to take their places early in the grandstand were driven in. cars through the showring, approaching the stand through ranks of Territorials standing at attention with fixed bayonets. The leading ear was occupied by Mrs Reynolds, a pioneer lady 101 years of age. At the gate in front of the grandstand, the pioneers were met and greeted by the Minister ol: Internal Affairs (tin* lion \V. E. Parry), the'Mayor of Masterton (Mr T. Jordan) and the member'for'Masterton (Mr -I. Robertson). The member for Wairarapa (Mr B. Roberts) was also present with the official party. At the entrance to the grandstand a small guard of honour consisting of returned soldiers in the uniforms ol: a former day was stationed as a further mark of honour to the pioneers. The members of the party were Messrs Guy Wagg, Em. Yonngquist, Con. Falk, Frank Knowles, Erie Price. C. McKay, Geo. Whiting, Pat Ward and W. Bishop. Six of them wore the uniform of the Royal Engineers and the other three old-time infantry uniforms. Wairarapa members of the crew of H.M.S. Achilles were cheered to the echo as they marched in the procession and later as they took their places in the grandstand. The assemblage of the public was enormous. The grandstand and the roomy space in front of it were filled to capacity and in addition thousands of people established themselves around the ring and in other parts of the Showgrounds. No more remarkable community demonstration has ever been witnessed in Masterton.

PAST RECALLED

GRATITUDE TO PIONEERS SPEECHES FROM GRANDSTAND. MAYOR ON GREAT EXAMPLE. After the pioneers and the men of the Achilles had been welcomed, a number of speeches were made from the grandstand, a system of amplifiers enabling people in all parts of the grounds to hear the speakers. The speakers were the Mayor of Masterton (Mr T. Jordan) who presided, the Minister of Internal Affairs (.the Hon. W E. Parry), Mr Pita H. Paku (representing district Maoris) and the member for the district (Mr J. Robertson).

“We are gathered here this afternoon,” said the Mayor, "to pay a tribute of respect and admiration, and I believe of gratitude, to the early settlers of this district. And I must say now, before I forget it, that I know of no words to describe the pride that I feel in this tribute you are paying to the early settlers of the district. It surpasses all my expectations and 1 believe the expectations of all of us. Away back in 1853, a man taking with him a packhorse and a tent

and accompanied by an interpreter set out from a place called Wellington to find out what lay beyond the ranges. That man, an indomitable soul, Joseph Masters, 86 years ago this very day, founded a settlement which is now this Masterton of ours. I would have you remember also his companions— Messrs Allen, Carter, Jackson and Renall —names that are household words throughout this area. '■' -■ “I do not intend to make a long speech, much as I should like to,” the Mayor continued, “but I want all of you to ponder for a while —to think of what has happened in the past we have had brought before us here. The cavalcade brings back memories to most of us —memories far beyond mine. What was it that built up this wonderful community of ours? It was a very fine stock of men and women ol a spirit of wonderful'patience, tolerance, mutual understanding and cooperation, I sometimes wonder how it is that these old people never look old and seem to have the gift of perpetual youth. There is much in the sunshine we enjoy, the soil we walk upon. Perhaps there is a great deal in the early piety of our pioneers, but I believe there is much more in the joy and dignity of the hard work they did and the happiness that comes only from a job that is well done. (Applause).

MAGNIFICENT CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

NEW CHAPTER OPENED “We have just completed one century of our existence in this Dominion and we have also begun to write a chapter of our history in the next century. During the last war our men made a name for themselves. No division set a higher standard than our New Zealand Silent Division. Three months ago a ship of ours —a fighting ship called the Achilles, manned mostly by New Zealanders —went into action against odds uncounted. On paper they should be at the bottom of the Atlantic, but they had in them the spirit of Drake, Hawkins, Frobisher, Nelson, Beatty and Jellicoe. (Applause). I say; ‘Bravo Achilles! Well done! We are proud of you.’ I believe that they have set a standard for our naval men at least equal to that set by our military men, and that is to say as much as I can say. I say to you all, ladies and gentlemen, take these men for your example. Remember that prosperity exists only for the free and that freedom itself is the treasured possession only of those who know how to defend it. I mentioned a little while ago qualities of patience, tolerance, mutual understanding and co-operation which went to the making of this country we have inherited. There never was a time when these Qualities were needed more than now. zill that we have is at stake. Let us stand together to promote justice and right—the right to live and to ask nobody's permission to live. If we live up to the example of our past, the example set by our older men and women, bj’ our soldiers, airmen and last but not least by the men of (Tie, Achilles I shall have no fears.” (Applause).

In concluding, the Mayor said he wanted, with others, to express his admiration to the organising committee and to exhibitors in the procession for “this magnificent demonstration.’’ (Applause). “You.know that Masterton leads New Zealand in some ways,” he added, “and this is one of them. Once again I want to thank you all.’’ (Applause).

PREMIER’S GOOD WISHES PROCESSION WARMLY PRAISED BY MR PARRY. Mi - . Parry said he wanted first of all to convey to all present a message from the Prime Minister (Mr. Savage.) offering his best wishes for a successful day and his hope that the good health of the pioneers of this district might be continued in the future. (Applause.) As Minister in charge of the Centennial celebrations, Mr. Parry continued, he wanted to offer his thanks for the opportunity of attending this gathering. He congratulated the committee in charge and others concerned upon a wonderful procession. They had produced a magnificent display, makingvisible and apparent the progress that had been made during the last hundred years in New Zealand. A great deal of work and consideration necessarily had gone to the preparation of the display they were witnessing that afternoon. He repeated his congratulations and best thanks to all concerned with the celebrations in Masterton.

It was a great pleasure and privilege, said lhe Minister, to join, on behalf of

the Government, in this ceremony and to receive the pioneers of our countrj’ as they had that afternoon. Apart from its educational value, the demonstration they had witnessed was one to stir the feelings deeply, not least feelings of gratitude to the old pioneers of this district and of New Zealand. He had studied the history of our country closely from the point of view of women and men and anyone doing that must be impressed with the fact that the pioneers of this country were wonderful men and women. (Applause.) "I am speaking for everyone present this afternoon,” said Mr. Parry, “when I say that all our hearts are brimming over with gratitude to our pioneers. We respect their grey hairs and we reverence the names of mother and father.” (Applause.) MANY PERIODS LINKED

> “When I have the privilege—and . nowadays I regret it is too infrequent- . ly—of seeing one of these admirable . New Zealand processions or parades, i with a portrayal of the country’s ever-to-be revered old-timers,” the Minister continued, “my mind pictures other days, disturbed and undisturbed, when the Dominion was an infant in swaddling clothes among the nations of the world. A great period it was, no doubt —a period of hard work and uncertainty. but. amid it all. there was freedom of thought an opportunity under the flag of Great Britain which aided and made happy the lives of those of the time in the work of development of the new land that lay ahead. We have seen portrayed today, linked interestingly and indissolubly as one in the

country's progress, many periods of New Zealand. It has been a historical scene—a scene which has given us a great message in these enlightened days. What development, what progress has New Zealand made along the one hundred years since settlement began? We see all around us in our modern cities and towns, which so well display the initiative and enterprise of an industrious people, what has been i

achieved. All has been done by dint of hard work and by a vision typical of New Zealanders. It is great to realise the indomitable pluck and perseverance of the pioneers and of those who followed in their work and to realise how successful were their efforts. New Zealand and its people have a story to tell and well is it told in their work and the progress they have made. I must now end my remarks by again expressing the heartiest compliments to the people of Masterton for the manner in which they have carried out their celebrations and on the splendid form they have taken. Il has been a day above other days in the district. 1 thank you for what you have done and for the hospitality extended to me. (Applause.) GREETING TO ALL I MR. BAKU SPEAKS FOR MAORI ' RACE.

In accordance with Maori tradition. Mr. Pita ,H. Baku, the next speaker, asked leave to salute in his own language the members of his race who were present. Having done that, and concluded with the phrase in English. "Greeting to you all." he said that as a

Maori he felt it inspiring to be there that afternoon and see the great display and procession. It had saddened him, however, as the old pioneers came up to the steps, that there were no Maori pioneers there that afternoon. “But we hope,” he added, “that with your guidance, assistance and sympathy in the next hundred years that we will be here celebrating the next centennial." (Applause.) They were celebrating that, afternoon Mr. Baku continued, the first hundred years of civilisation in this country. He saluted the memory of that great man the Rev. Samuel Marsden and those who had followed him in introducing Christianity and trying to educate tne Maori. There was still something to be done, however, in bringing up the Maori to the standard of the European. He believed that in a time to come it would be a member of his people who would be Mayor of Masterton. (Applause.) Not only that, but he believed a time would, come when a member of his race would be a member of Parliament' and Minister of Internal Affairs. (Laughter and applause.) On behalf of the Maoris, Mr. Paku associated himself most heartily with the welcome extended to “our boys of the Achilles.” In conclusion, he thanked the Mayor and Minister for the privilege of being associated with them in the Centennial celebration. (Applause.) THE UNKNOWN PIONEERS MR ROBERTSON’S TRIBUTE. The member for the district (Mr J. Robertson) said he wished to pay his tribute of respect and admiration to the early settlers they had honoured that day. He wished also to congratulate those responsible for the wonderful display that had been made. They had in the Wairarapa many names of men and women associated with the early development of the district, men and women who had played a greaT? end worthy part in that development. Thought should be given also at this time, however, to the unknown pioneers whose names had been forgotten, but who nevertheless had played their part in making the roads, felling the bush, digging the ditches, fencing the fields, driving bullock-teams and ploughs like those they had seen that day. (Applause). Looking at what had been accomplished in the last hundred years, it was their duty to those coming after them to do what they could to ensure that in thc next hundred years there should be equal

progress. Speaking with some reference to the observations made by Mr Baku, Mr Robertson said that New Zealand men and women owed a great deal to the Maori race. It had been suggested to bun by a distinguished visitor that white New Zealanders had been made a polite people by the example of the Maori. They had learned from their Maori fellow-citizens to extend courteous consideration to others. Mr Robertson said he hoped Mr Baku’s wishes would come true. He did not believe that ail the best things were in the past. Great men and women lived in the past and gave us inspiration for lhe future, but we had more pioneering still to do. notably in building up an ever-improving relationship between the Maori and white people of this country. Paying his tribute to the men of the Achilles, Mr Robertson spoke of the mutual endeavour that obtained in a warship in action as a splendid example of the co-operation that was needed in every kind of national and social endeavour.

In concluding, Mr Robertson endorsed the view that the procession and demonstration that day had exceeded all expectations. Everyone connected with it, he said, was to be congratulated most heartily on his of her efforts. (Applausd.