A TRIUMPHANT JOURNEY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21646, 3 December 1935, Page 12

A TRIUMPHANT JOURNEY

LABOUR MEMBERS LEAVE FOR WELLINGTON CHEERING CROWDS ALONG r ROUTE Two hundred supporters of the Labour party, many of them wearing red roses, carnations, and ribbons, cheered'lustily, sang "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows," and threw their hats in the air, as the express from the south left the Christchurch railway station for Lyttelton last evening. On board the train, continuing a triumphant journey through the South Island, were 12 Labour members of Parliament,, and one member of the Legislative Council, on their way to Wellington to attend the first caucus of Labour members since the party's election to office. All along the route from Invercargill crowds gathered .to watch members board the train in their various electorates, and on some stations there was tremendous enthusiasm. At Port Chalmers, for instance, Mr A. Campbell, member for Chalmers, was escorted to the train, by a long procession, headed by the Mayor and a band. He is the first native of the port elected as its representative in Parliament, and the people of Port Chalmers chose a fitting occasion for celebration. There was only one small hitch in a memorable farewell for Mr Campbell—he left his luggage behind him.

Enthusiastic Receptions In Dunedin, where several members joined the train, and at each of the major stations on the way north, enthusiastic receptions were given the members. Well before the time for the departure of the train from Christchurch supporters of the party had begun to assemble. Marshalled by Mr E. J. Howard, member for Christchurch South, the members filed into two special carriages at the end of the train, and the crowd, including prominent local members of the party, and some Government officials, began offering congratulations -and cheering noisily. Several of the members met one another for the first time as they boarded the train. The occasion was certainly one such as Christchurch has never seen before. There have never been so many Labour representatives in the South Island, and never has there been such a large fathering of Labour members on the Christchurch station. These were reasons enough for the celebration, quite apart from the accession of the Labour party to the Government of New Zealand. Of the many South Island members assembled it was most noticeable that several are very young men. Among the younger members are, notably, Mr T. H. McCombs, Dr. D. G. McMillan, and the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer.

Crowd Says; Good-bye

Three cheers were called and given for the members and for their party, and postal officials loading a van paused to take part. As the train moved away the crowd sang "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows," and threw hats in the air while the members shouted their thanks. Members of Parliament in the party were the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Oamaru), the Rev. Clyde Carr (Timaru), Dr. D. G. McMillan {Dunedin West), Messrs E. J. Howard (Cnristchurch South), H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East), T. H. McCombs (Lyttelton), F. Jones (Dunedin South), J. W« Munro (Dunedin Ntfrth), P. Neilson (Dunedin Central), A. Campbell (Chalmers), W. C. Denham (Invercargill), and H. E. Herring (Mid-Can-terbury). The Hon. T. O'Byrne, M.L.C., travelled with them. Other South Island Labour members are Messrs D. G. Sullivan (Avon), J. O'Brien (Westland), P. C. Webb (Buller), C. Morgan Williams (Kaiapoi), and D. Barnes (Waitaki).

Mr'C. Morgan Williams left on Saturday evening for Wellington, and Mr D. G. Sullivan joined the party last evening at Lyttelton.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS MORNING (PBBB3 ASSOCIATION TELEQEAM.) WELLINGTON, December 2. The final meeting of the present Executive Council will be held at Parliament House to-morrow mornfcg, with the Governor-General (Lord Galway) presiding. It was explained by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) to-day that the purpose of the meeting was to deal with some formal matters relating to the different departments. It is expected that the Minister for Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) will issue a statement on the national finances before the Government goes out of office. It may be ready for circulation to-morrow night, but in all probability it will be issued on Wednesday morning.

WAIRARAPA SEAT LARGE NUMBER OF VOTES YET TO BE COUNTED (PBXSSS ASSOCIATION TEUEORAM.) CARTERTON, December 2. The returning officer for Wairarapa now advises that the majority of Mr B. Roberts (Labour) still remains at 25, but absentee and postal votes have Increased to about 600. The scrutiny of the roll is in progress, and is expected to finish on Wednesday, after which absentee and postal votes will be opened. No further announcement is expected till Thursday or Friday.