WELCOME TO LORD BLEDISLOE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20086, 15 November 1930, Page 9

WELCOME TO LORD BLEDISLOE.

EX-SOLDIERS' REUNION. A CHEERFUL GATHERING. Enthusiasm marked the reception and mo e concert held by the Christchurch eu^ Soldiers' Association last evening i n honour of the Governoreneral (Eord Bledisloe). Jellicoe Hall was filled in every part. At the principa table with his Excellency, who was ~P-ied b y Lieutenant J. Elworthy, A.D.C., Were the Mayor (Mr J. K. rcher), Bishop West-Watson, and Colonel M. M. Gard'ner. The toast list was interspersed with community songs and musical and other items. a fi £ter * hc ] °y al to »st and that of Absent Comrades'' had been honoured, t • ""yden (president) aecorded n , sloe a wa rm welcome. His iiixcellency 3 predecessors in office, he o & j *i Were niem bers of the Association, t>i .a- 1 Vi_ere honoured in having Lord oledisioe with them. He had come amongst them in a time of depression, when the country was suffering under a handicap. Every member of the Assowas an ardent Imperialist, and of uritish blood, and proud of it. The utterances of the Governors-General of ■New Zealand were listened to with more a casual ear, and already Lord Bledisloe had endeared himself to every resident of the Dominion. This was through his interest in the primary producers, his outspoken utterances, and his championship of Empire trade. In other Dominions there was agitation for the appointment of native-born . men as Governors, but so long as tho representatives of the King chosen for New Zealand were of the calibre of Lord Bledisloe and his predecessors, there would be no thought of such an innovation here (Applause.) The toast of "Our Guest" was then enthusiastically honoured. Lord Bledisloe's Response. liord Bledisloe said that he had noticed the chairman was a musician. (Laughter. > "I moat cordially thank you for vour friendly welcome,'' sai<l his Excellency. "It Bavours of that comradeship which exists among you. I cannot claim to have won laurels as a member of the Forces. No one has a more profound respect for Lora Jellicoe than I have. Sir- Charles Fergusson is a great soldier, and combines with a fine judgment a generous ,»ortion of human sympathy. Anyone representing the King in this ultraloyal outpost of the Empire would find it difficult to follow in their footsteps, so I require _ all your friendly indulgence to justify myself. The men who fought on Gafiipoli and on the fields of France and in Palestine, and won laurels unequalled by any other country of the Empire, would give a fair chance to a man who comes here trying to do his duty." Be could assure them his remarks were characterised by sincerity. He was one of those who would fain believe that there was still plenty of useful work to be don« by the King's representative in a aoverning, liberty-loving Dominion like New Zealand. The Governor-General said he was not going to pretend that during the next four and a half years, during which he would have the high privilege of presiding over the country, he would not be afraid that he would offend the opinions of some of the people of New Zealand, but so far as he could he would point the way to greator prosperity, and encourage them, no matter what political Party they adhered to. to make this country a happier and more wholesome country to live in. There was only one section of the community of which he went in dread—the men who applied the journalistic pencil. Thmv» was only one set of men who caused him more trepidation—Press photographers. "Subject !to their activities and vagaries t " said | his Excellency, "I hope to survive the I next four and a half years in a fair | state of health."

Work for Disabled Men. '' In one little sphere of activity," continued Lord Bledisloe, "there is scope for useful work on the part of some of your partially disabled comrades. In an endeavour to encourage local industry you might do more with your natural treasures to provide your overseas visitors with suitable mementoes of the country. You are peculiarly lacking in that respect. You have your greenstone, you are getting gold—none "of us has too much of it —and you have magnificent timbers, and a variety of other natural products, but the visitor from the Old Country who goes into one of your attractive shops as a rule discovers very little of local craftsmanship in the preparation of these natural objects. Most of them are worked up in Birmingham or in Germany. Your native gold, heart of totara, and honeysuckle tree, to mention only a few, could be made into beautiful articles, worthy to be taken away as mementoes. There is nothing I should like to see better than some of your partially, disabled comrades turned on to this work, to rejoice the hearts and eyes of your visitors from overseas." (Applause.) "Stick to Your Jobs." The toast of "The Returned Soldiers' Association" was proposed by Colonel J. Stafford. "We are British right through, and we are with the Empire in everything she does," he said. "If there was another war there would be the same response. It is the spirit of comradeship—when John Brown's paybook is mine' as well." A certain number of returned soldiers were- wasters, and nothing could be done <tfor them, but there were others who were unfortunate —who had been robbed right and left when they came back—and who had spent all their money. "Don't let as talk about unemployment so much," he said. "When you get a job, stick to it.- Never- mind the boss, but go' on with your job in the same way as you went over the top. If it is a spade of steel instead of a rifle you are plying, make just as good use of it. We can't afford to be pessimists." The Association was doing a great work in assisting the widows and orphans. Mr T. Jj. Drummond, vice-president, Who responded, said that he had to admit that if there was another war he would not go. to it. The' membership of the Association stood to-day at 1815; twelve years after the signing of peace the Association was more active than at any time since its inception. He was very sorry to have to'say that since April the Association had had to expend £4OO on benevolent aid;'the need had been so great in one case that the Association had had to move a family from a stable to proper living conditions. There had been adverse criticism of the Association for manufacturing its own poppies. Patriotism began at home. "We would be very pleased if anybody contemplating dying in thenear future would remember our Asso-' ciation in their wills," concluded Mr Drummond. Mr W. E, Leadley proposed the toast of "City Fathers." Few people, he said, realised the sacrifices entailed in serying on local bodies. "Those who are in public life know; something of the strain of it," said the Mayor, in responding. is a perfect nightmare to me." He was not afraid of criticism, but whenever the newspapers began to say nice things about him he thought there was something wrong. There had beei* a considerable improvement in the tone of