MEN AT ADDINGTON

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 59, 7 September 1914, Page 3

MEN AT ADDINGTON

OFFICIAL SEND-OFF. (BI TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, 6th Sept. A send-oft" to the Canterbury section of the Expeditionary Force at 'the King Edward Barracks on Saturday night took ihe form of a smoke concert. The members, of the force attended in large numbers, and many ladies were present. The Mayor presided. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were present, also many leading citizens. Mr. Massey received a great reception on rising to speak. In the course of an eloquent patriotic speech Mr. Massey said; — "I want to remind you of the bloodless victory of the first section of the • Expeditionary Force. Don't imagine that they ran no risk or no danger. I speak of what I know, and say that they ran a very serious risk. 1 want to give credit where it is due, and if it had riot_ been for the assistance of the Australian Government and the navy and the navy of one of our Allies, the first section would never have been 1 al-° allowed to reach Samoa. Some day 'the history of what has taken place will bo written, and then you will understand what lam telling you. I wani you to remember this— the first soldieis of the Empire to haul down a German flag aud replace it with a British flag were your fellow soldiers and fellow citizens. (Great and continued applause.) It is a good omen — an ornei which will prove to be right. 1 am certain of this. Though we arc going to have reverses and successes I haven't the slightest doubt of the ultimate result." (Applause.) Sir Joseph Ward also made a stirring patriotic speech. The Mayor presented Colonel Chaffey with a tlag purchased by thu citizens. Saturday was election day in Addington camp, but the men appeared to take very little interest in the voting. The tamp was visited during the day by the Prime Minister and by the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes. Other Parliamentary visitors were : Sir Joseph Ward and MrKrts G. W. Russell and L. M. kitt, M.JVs. The visitors were entertained at lunch by the officcis of the inlanlry regiments. '