Mere Presented To N.S.W. Premier

Press, Volume C, Issue 29637, 6 October 1961, Page 9

Mere Presented To N.S.W. Premier

[From th« Sydney Comepondent of “The Preu"] SYDNEY. A mere, symbol of a Maori chiefs authority, now lies prominently on the desk of the Premier of New South Wales (Mr R. J. Heffron), who was born at Thames, on Il.iuraki Gulf, on September 10, 1890. The mere was presented to the Premier by the president of Sydney’s New Zealand Club, Mr Andrew C. Booth, after Mr Heffron had officially opened the club’s new premises in Macquarie street, opposite Parliament House, on September 28.

Mr Booth also presented Mr Heffron with a modern atlas of the Dominion for the Premier’s grandchildren, the children of his two daughters. Mr Heffron, who left New Zealand in 1917, said he would cherish the mere and he knew that his daughters and grandchildren would be very pleased with the atlas. The official opening of the club's new premises, which cost almost £lOO,OOO to buy and furnish, was attended by more than 200 leading New South Wales businessmen, some of whom were New Zealanders holding high positions in Australian industry—men like Mr W. A. Walkley. a foundation member, from Otaki, who is managing director of Ampol, Ltd., one of Australia's major oil companies.

Another prominent visitor was Colonel Edwin Paterson, of Bringelly, New South Wales. Colonel Paterson, who comes from Chnsthcurch

—where his 89-year-old mother still lives with his sister at Tonka street, North Beach—is one of the few surviving Kiwi Anzacs in Australia. He also served in World War 11, in the Australian Army. Official gumsts were the New Zealand High Commissioner to Canberra, Mr S. C. Johnstone, the Senior Trade Commissioner, Mr C. H. Fowler, and the New South Wales Leader of the Opposition, Mr R. Askin. Previous Name

The New Zealand Club has had two previous names. As the New Zealand Association, it was formed by expatriate former servicemen of World War I to give entertainment to their younger countrymen passing through Sydney in World War 11. It changed its name to the New Zealand Services’ Club when premises were secured and opened in Hunter s'reet in 1941. While an association, it occupied premises in Bridge street. The new premises, which the club owns, are truly "a bit of old New Zealand.” as the Premier remarked. Everything has been done to create an atmosphere of ‘'home” for visitors by emblems, murals, pictures and carvings. The carving bf a Maori whare in the foyer was one of the first made by native craftsmen with European tools and it was a gift originally to Bishop Bennet. Even at the official opening, the homeland note was maintained by special New Zealand dishes and beer. Introducing Mr Heffron, Mr Booth set the pattern of a convivial evening by telling the Premier: “Your performing thie duty may recall the time New* Zealand was administered from New South Wales.” The presi-

dent drew further Laughter when he told Mr Heffron it was to be hoped that in time his Government would follow the club’s example in “bringing tone” to Macquarie street, by building a new Parliament House across the road. Mr Booth, who was the club’s president in 1943 and has held the office ever since, said many telegrams and cablegrams al good wishes for the official opening of the club had been received from prominent Australians and New Zealanders, among them the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr NashL Both had expressed their regrets at not being able to be present Mr Holyoake had had the opportunity of inspecting the new premises when he was in Sydney in March. Mr Heffron said that one of the pleasures of his political life had been his friendships with former New Zealand Prime Ministers, the late Mr Peter Fraser, and the late Sir Sidney Holland. Sir Sidney Holland, when Leader of the Opposition, often had called at the New South Wales Parliament House to have tea with him.

“Though we were on opposite sides of the political fence, we were not always scratching one another's eyes out.” he said.

Mr Heffron said that, although he had been gone from New Zealand a long time, he had an Australian brother-in-law there, a traffic inspector in Auckland. Mr Heffron recalled how, during a visit his brother-in-law made to Sydney, the two drove “tieir cars to Maroubra and afterwards the brother-in-law had told him (Mr Heffron) that he would never get a licence if he drove similarly in Auckland. Mr Heffron said: “I do think that this club is a great thing to have. Over the years you have done a great job and I do know that it has been a struggle to keep the club going. Now I am pleased to know that you have considerable assets.

“There are no people more popular in Sydney than the All Blacks when they perform their haka in front of the Hill at Sydney Cricket Ground. “I think both countries have a wonderful future. “I'm proud to be called an Australasian in the full sense of the word. “Any assistance I can give your club I’ll always be glad to give. If there is any way I can help, don't fail to press me into service.”

The New Zealand High Commissioner, moving a vote of thanks to Mr Heff-

ton, said the need for cooperation between New Zealand and Australia had never been greater than at present. “This is a policy I have 'been preaching to your Prime Minister and politicians,” said Mr Johnstone. “If Australia and New Zealand can become more closely associated, then we can achieve things between us that don’t exist between any two countries in the world,” The official ceremony concluded with Mr Johnstone presenting to the club president a wristlet watch as a gift from the members. Mr Johnstone said that he had been delighted to meet Mr Booth in Sydney, for they had known each other back in ‘New Zealand before 1987.