N.Z. CONTINGENT RETURNS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22136, 5 July 1937, Page 10

N.Z. CONTINGENT RETURNS

Wellington Gives Welcome

OFFICER'S APPRECIATION OF GUARD DUTY

IXHE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, July 4. Khaki-clad figures waving to wives, sweethearts, and friends gathered on the wharf, lined the rail of the Rangitiki as she came up Wellington Harbour on Saturday afternoon. The welcoming crowd burst into cheers as the vessel drew into its berth. It was, on a smaller scale, reminiscent of scenes in the early days after the Great War, but it was happier because in the ranks of New Zealand's Coronation contingent, returning after three and a half months abroad there were no irreplaceable gaps. The members of the contingent were fit and well and said there had been no sickness on the trip. The first to welcome them were the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces (MajorGeneral J. E. Duigan), and the president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association (the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.). A few minutes later the Governor-General (Lord Galway) arrived and went on board to inspect the contingent, and talk with the officers and some of the men. The Mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) welcomed the men The Minister for Defence said that when he farewelled the contingent in March that he had formed a high opinion of the men New Zealand was sending away, and judging by reports they had worthily upheld the high reputation which soldiers from the Dominion had gained on other visits to Britain. The selection of the Contingent by ballot had been an unusual method, but the aim of securing a body as fully representative as possible had been achieved, and the men had been a credit to the Dominion. "I know that the contacts you have made will be valuable in future and that you will always remember your visit to the Old Country as representatives of New Zealand at the Coronation of King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth," Mr Jones concluded. "We know that you have enjoyed yourselves and that you have.behaved yourselves on the trip," said Mr Perry. "How, indeed, could it be otherwise? When I saw you forming fours a moment ago I thought to myself that you were just about as good as we returned soldiers were at our best." Mr Perry expressed the hope that the territorials would continue in the forces and give the country the benefit of the experience they had gained. After the speeches the contingent, headed by the band of the Wellington Regiment, marched through the city, crowds gathering to give it a rousing welcome.

Major H. G. Carruth commanded the contingent on the return voyage, Major N. W. McD. Weir, who was the commanding officer during the Coronation celebrations, having remained in England to attend a three-months' refresher course for senior officers, "No Place Like Home"

"Although we have returned from the glamour of the Coronation celebrations in the heart of the Empire there is not one among us who is not glad to be back once again in his native land. No matter how enjoyable travel may be there is, after all, no place like home," said Major Carruth. "The enthusiastic and hospitable manner in which we were everywhere received, from the time of our arrival until we left, made Us feel the high regard in which the Mother Country holds our little New Zealand. Our march through London on the day of our arrival, our march in the Coronation procession itself between the continuous lines of the Empire's millions, the parade of the Dominion and Colonial troops in the historic grounds of Buckingham Palace, and the march of our contingent through the streets of Scotland's capital are only some of the features of the trip, which go to prove that the Empire is a solid institution and we a solid part of it" On behalf of the Contingent, Major Carruth paid an enthusiastic tribute to the New Zealand High Commissioner in London (Mr W. J. Jordan). "With his staff, be left no stone unturned to make our stay in the Old Country both enjoyable and profitable," he said. The greatest tribute paid to the contingent in Britain was the granting to it of the privilege of taking part in mounting King's Guard at Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace, said Major Carruth. "It was the first time in history that overseas Empire troops had been so honoured in guarding the person of the King and we deeply appreciate the gesture of the Brigade of Guards in allowing us to share what is by right their privilege," he said. "On many occasions the officers and men of the Guards extended hospitality both in and out of barracks to ail ranks."

Major Carruth referred appreciatively to the reception given the contingent at Panama. "United States troops welcomed us in the real spirit of comradeship and we resumed our voyage on each occasion with very pleasant memories of their great hospitality," he said. "We consider, in all modesty, that our two visits to Panama have in some measure further cen.ented the friendship that we found undoubtedly exists between the two great Anglo-Saxon nations."