WELCOME TO COUNT VON LUCKNER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22376, 13 April 1938, Page 12

WELCOME TO COUNT VON LUCKNER

SPORTSMEN’S GATHERING AT PIONEER CLUB

A sportsmen’s welcome to Count Felix von Luckner, organised by the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club, was held in the Pioneer Amateur Sports Club lounge last evening. There was a representative attendance of all the sports bodies affiliated with the club, and Count von Luckner was given an enthusiastic welcome.

The chairman of the club, Mr R. C. Symes. said that the gathering was representative of the 35,000 sportsmen •I the province who were members of clubs or associations affiliated with the club. He hoped that the welcome would always remain among Count von Luckrcr’s happiest memories. The toast of the guest was proposed by Mr H. A. Rhind, Commodore of the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club, who said that Count von Luckner was welcomed as a sailor and a gentleman, and one whom they were all proud to honour. Yachtsmen in the province hoped that he would find time to bring his yacht to Lyttelton before he left New Zealand.

Associated with Mr Rhind in proposing the toast was Mr J. K. Moloney, who spoke on behalf of kindred sports. He said that Count von Luckner’s name would always be associated with fair play and good sportsmanship.

“I used to think that • I was born 100 years too late when I read of the stories of the old buccaneers," said Count von Luckner in reply. He referred to many incidents in his early life, and spoke about his experiences in and near New Zealand during the war. He made particular mention of Major Victor Leemlng, a son of the secretary of the Pioneer Sports Club, who had been in charge of him during his internment on Ripa Island. He said that he was thoroughly enjoying his return to New Zealand, although prisoners as a rule did not like to go back to the place where they had been deprived of their liberty. Sailors and Politics Count von Luckner thanked Mr Rhind, who had sent him the pennant of the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club which was now flying on his vessel, and he presented him with a picture of his original yacht and also with a photograph of himself. His only mention of politics came at the end of his speech, when he said that sailors bad no use for them. There was a brotherhood of the sea. which all who sailed knew about. They did not ask from what nation a ship came that sent out an SOS. On the sea all were as one.