CIVIC LUNCHEON

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 152, 27 June 1917, Page 8

CIVIC LUNCHEON

At the Grand Hotel'this afternoon the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward were entertained at a civic luncheon, at which' the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) presided. I The first toast was that of "The King," proposed by the Mayor. :

In proposing the toast of "Our Guests," the Chairman expressed regret that General Sir A. Robin was not able to attend,' but he had sent a very good substitute in Surgeon-General Henderson. He referred to the courtesy displayed by the Acting-Prime Minister, and stated that he had a- "terrible row to hoe." ; ' •

In. responding, Mr. Massey thanked those, present, for their warm welcome. The Mayor had said that the people were ]jleased to see them back, and he could assnre them that they were pleased to be back. He was sure that no one had done more than Mr. and Mrs. Luke. (Applause.) He was pleased to see that the country was just as prosperous and the people were as determined to do their duty as when he and Sir Joseph Ward went away.' New Zealand had done particularly well in regard to the war. The war had been brought home to us, ,but with two million soldiers in England, the great transport of munitions, and the arrival of trainloads of wounded, it had ijbeen brought home more to the people of the Old Country. ' . ; Proceeding, Mr. Massey stated that he was struck by the determination of the people to see the war through. He referred to, the manner in which the wounded were treated, and mentioned a little incident that had come under his notice. When a trainload of wounded men arrived it was evident by "the; way one of them was handled by the Red Cross people that he was very badly injured. A flower-seller who was look-; ing on threw a huge bundle of flowers upon him; . "It was all she had in the! world," said Mr. Maasey, "and I felt, like taking my hat off to her: In fact, I don't know that I didn't." (Applause.)

(Proceeding.)