FOR THE FRONT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 88, 12 October 1915, Page 8

FOR THE FRONT

TRAMWAY RECRUITS Members of the Wellington Tramway ' Employees' Union last night held a most successful smoke concert at Godber's Rooms in honour of members of the tramway service who have joined or are about to join the Expeditionary Forces. Mr. W. Knox was chairman, and among the guests were the Minister for Defence (Hon. James Allen), the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., Councillors Frost, Hildreth, and Fitzgerald, Mr. W. H. Morton (general manager of the tramways), and Mr. M. Cable (tramways and electrical engineer). Apologies for absence were received from the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) and Mr. R. Fletcher, M.P. " ' The Chairman said that thirty-one members of the tramway service had left for the front, four were now in camp, and ten others would be there shortly. Including men not yet called up, the service was sending about sixty men to the front. In responding to the toast of the City Council, proposed by Mr. J. Lewis, secretary of the Patriotic Society, the Mayor said that when the war broke out he recommended the City Council to assist men going to the front by seeing that rwne suffered financial loss. This the council endorsed. It meant a great deal of money, but no asset of the city's could be more valuable than the men who went to the front. Credit was due to the officers who, by their devotion to duty, had placed the tramway service on such a firm footing that men could be released for service abroad. In emphasising the value of the work of the Patriotic Society, Mr. Luke remarked that men would come back with the seeds of rheumatism in their system, and after years would find themselves with families to support, and incapacitated. Referring to the need for men at the front, the speaker said that it might be necessary to utilise the services ■of women, but if this time came he would make a bargain with the men that they would not find on their return that the least of their industrial rights and privileges had been taken away. Councillor Frost also replied to the toast, stating that the council was proud to be able to safeguard the interests of the men who went on active service. "Our Boys at the Front" was proposed by Mr. C. Patchett, and "Our Guests" by Mr. D. M'Giiiivray, who, on behalf of the union, presented the recruits with sexo-blade razors. Messrs. A. Couper and M'Dougall and Councillor Fitzgerald replied to the toast. In proposing "The Army and Navy," Mr. W. H. Morton voiced his pride in his British citizenship and Australian birth, and the fact that he was the son of a soldier who fought through the Indian Mutiny. He regretted that he was now a "has-been" on the Reserve of Officers Jf the time came, however, he would be ready for service. The Minister for Defence, in respond ing, paid a tribute to the work of the Australian Navy, and what had been done by New Zealand's ship, the Philomel. He read extracts from a report by General Godley of the operations at Gallipoli, his audience applauding frequently. ' The recruits and soldiers who were guests of the evening were : — Messrs. Newstead, Clifford, Luscombe, F. J. Smith, M'Dougall, Fernandez, Tallintire, Dunlop, P. White, A. Couper, R. Brown, and J. Fraser. In addition to the toasts mentioned, Mr. D. M'Laren proposed "Parliament," the Hon. J. Allen responding. Mr. E. J. Carey proposed "Labour and the War." and Mr. Noot "The Ladies." Musical and elocutionary items were contributed during the evening.