SOLDIERS RETURN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1943, Page 5

SOLDIERS RETURN

INVALIDED HOME

TRIBUTES TO MAORIS

There were 34 walking and 60 cot; cases in a batch of returned invalided soldiers who arrived recently in Wellington. There were also a number of invalided W.A.A.C.S. In the absence of the Prime Minister, they were; welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Sullivan) and the Minister ox Defence (Mr. Jones), as well as by the heads of a number of civil and soldiers' organisations. :,XX. Mr. Sullivan, who had previously visited and spoken to the cot cases, addressed the men in the clearing station, congratulating them on their achievements, for which the country owed them an everlasting debt of gratitude. He recalled the excellent work done at El Alamein. A special tribute was paid by Mr. Jones to the Maoris, and he personally welcomed Lieut.-Colonel F. Baker, who, when Colonel Love was killed, took his place in charge of the Maori Battalion. Following a tribute to the fighting qualities of the Maoris, a number of whom were amongst the returned men, by Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Hapi Love, on behalf of the Maori race and of the Minister of Native Affairs, said that many had returned maimed, but not downhearted. They had gone through battles during three years, not only on the war front, but in; England, where they had smelt powder i when London was bombed, and they from so small a part of the Empire as New Zealand had done great deeds. He wished them health when they were scattered again in civil life* Lieut-Colonel Baker, who took his son's place, had brought back his sons spirit. He was proud not only of the Maori boys but of all the New Zealand boys, and the Eighth Army. Today they were looking to the day, not far distant, when they would be able to arouse in the enemy the dark feeling the Empire had had in the beginning of the war. Lieut-Colonel F. Baker, who apologised for "the slight accident" which had affected his speech, returned thanks for the welcome given to all those who had returned. They were all glad to be back. As one who had served with both Maori and pakeha he felt that he could speak for everyone, and assure the people that they had every right to be proud of those who made up the New Zealand Division, and, without making comparisons, he felt that they had the right to be proud of their connection with the Maori race; it had established a soldiering record in this war that had never been beaten. He did not say that as their ex-C.0., but as an observer with a reasonably fair mind. "All I ask from everyone," he said, "is that the effort made by the men who are still overseas as well as by those who have returned should not be forgotten." He paid tributes to Brigadier Dittmer, Lieut. A. C. Wood, D.C.M.. and Colonel Dyer.