MR AMERY MEETS EX-SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19170, 29 November 1927, Page 9

MR AMERY MEETS EX-SOLDIERS.

" LINKS IN THE CHAIN." GREAT COMRADESHIP. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TKLEORAM.) WELLINGTON, November 28. "It is a great comradeship which soldiers' associations stand for, and they mean a great deal to tho British Empire. The little handful of men who were trained, inspired, and schooled in Britain's little wars, and particularly tho South African campaign, aro an important link in tho chain which binds the nation together. The relatives of tho men who have mado the supreme sacrifice love the Empiro better for tho sacrifices they have made for it." The sentences wore spoken by Mr L. S. Amery, responding to tho weleomo extended to him by tho Returned Soldiers' Associations to-day. Tho attendance of the Associations concerned, tho New Zealand South African War Veterans' Association, the Legion of Frontiersmen, the Now Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, and tho Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, was large. General Sir Andrew Russoll, president of the New Zoaland Roturnod Soldiers' Association, who presided, in wolcoming Mr Amery, said that the mission upon which Mr Amery was engagod had the wholehearted support of all patriotic bodios such as those represented in the room. "We know that you yourself, as a South African veteran, are familiar with tho problems that confront returned soldiers. We welcome you as one of ourselves," said General Russell, in presenting Mr Amery with a walking-stick made of native rewarewa wood, mounted with greenstone, from the returned soldiers of New Zealand. Captain J. J. Clark president of the South African War Veterans' Association, then presented Mr Amery with a gold badge, remarking that ilr Amery was the first person outside New Zealand to receive such a flistinc--1 Colonel R. St. J. Beere, on behalf of the Wellington Squadron of the Leg' o " of Frontiersmen, next presented Mr Amery. with a memento in the form of a greenstone tiki. Colonel G. T. Hill, president of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, also extended a welcome to Mr Amery. ' ~ . ,• i "It is a great comradeship wlnen these Associations constitute," declared Mr Amerv in responding, "and they mean a great deal to the British Empire. The South African War now seems but a small thing, but it did a great deal to cement tho Empire." Tho Empire, he continued, was not held together by any constitution, but by many links, and the soldiers who had fought shoulder to shoulder in battle made one of the strongest links. He made a jplea for kindly assistance and adviee to British soldier migrants. The war had marked the end of one great era of the Empire. A reception in honour of Mr and Mrs Amery was given at Government House to-niaht. Had the weather been favourable, Mr Amery was to have paid a visit to the Wellington Woollen Company's mill, and the Gear Meat Comnany's works, after which he was to have seen the Railway Department's settlement at Lower Hutt, but the trin was abandoned. Mr Amery may, however, visit these places on his return from the south next month. CHRISTCHURCH ARRANGEMENTS As anticipated, all the tickets for the citizens' luncheon to the Rt. Hon. L. S. Amery, to be held in the Art Gallery at 1 p.m. to-morrow, were disposed of yesterday morning. This means that 300 will sit down to lunch and the attendance, which will include a fairly large proportion of ladies, will be very representative. At the farmers' meeting to be addressed by Mr Amery in the afternoon in the City Council Chamber at 3 o'clock, Mr W. J. Poison, Dominion President of the Farmers' Union, will speak on behalf of the.farmers of the Dominion All farmers and all interested in the marketing of the Dominion's primary products are invited to be present. At the public meeting in the Theatre Royal in the evening Mr Amery will speak on "Empire Marketing" and other questions of Imperial concern.