RAILWAY TROOPS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 8

RAILWAY TROOPS

MANAGER’S ASSURANCE PROMOTIONS SAFEGUARDED OFFICIAL INSPECTION MADE SPECIAL WORD OF PRAISE An assurance that all promises made to the troops of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force regarding conditions of service would be fulfilled to the letter was made by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when he made an official inspection of the special railway units of the force at the Hopu Hopu mobilisation camp today. With the Minister was the General Manager of Railways, Mr E. Casey, who told the soldiers that their positions and promotions in the railway service would be fully safeguarded during the period of their military service.

More than 1000 troops of the Railway Operating Group, New Zealand Engineers, paraded under LieutenantColonel A. H. Sage, M.M., officer commanding the group, which consisted of the 13th Railway Constructional Company under Major J. Smith, the 16th Railway Operating Company under Major F. W. Aicken, and the 17th Railway Operating Company under Major G. T. Poole. Captain J. N. Nicholson is adjutant of the group. Major T. A. H. Oliphant, M.C., camp commandant, also paraded. Minister’s Pride For the first time on an official inspection of troops at Hopu Hopu since the outbreak of war, brilliant sunshine prevailed when the Minister took the general salute. Bayonets flashing in the sunlight made a fine spectacle as more than 1000 men presented arms with excellent precision, considering the short time thhat they have been under training. After inspecting the soldiers, Mr Sullivan addressed them. He said it was the proudest day he had experienced since he became Minister of

Railways five years ago. He felt pride in being able to meet the men and to observe their fine bearing as soldiers of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He added that the officers of the group had paid tributes to the work of the troops, especially regarding the intelligence shown by all ranks in learning their duties. Their demeanour and conduct in camp had also been praised. Rapid Mobilisation The Minister thanked the men on behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand for the fine response they had made to his personal appeal. The call went out for men for special railway units of the Expeditionary Force, and within a | week double the required men had | volunteered. Within two or three days the recruits had been examined, passed and drafted to camp. For that the Minister considered the men were entitled to a special word of praise. Many of them had sacrificed a great deal to answer the urgent call. “ The cause for which you have enlisted to serve your country and British Empire is the greatest that man has ever known in the world. The issues at stake are whether freedom will remain or be banished from this earth for ever,” added the Minister, who said the loss of the war would mean the loss of all democratic ideals, the right of self-government, the benefits of trade unionism, and the right to live one’s own life. Under Nazi German rule every individual and every family would lose personal and national freedom. The only bastion of freedom remaining in Europe today was the British Isles supported by New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the other parts of the Empire. Fortitude of Britons “ The people of Britain are enduring day by day great hardships to preserve this freedom. Men, women and children are having bombs rained down on them, and not only the men are being destroyed for the cause. Women and children, too, are being killed every day. They are making history in the gallantry they are displaying in this fight for freedom,” concluded the Minister. “ No man will suffer in his prospects of advancement in the railway service because he has joined the Expeditionary Force,” stated Mr Casey, in expressing his pride at the response of the men. “If on your return to New Zealand any man has a personal grievance and feels this promise 1 make today has not been fulfilled, let him come to me personally and remind me of these words.” On behalf of the Railways Department, Mr Casey wished the troops luck, Godspeed and a safe return.