WELCOME FUNCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 43, 20 February 1945, Page 3

WELCOME FUNCTION

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL'

At the conclusion of the business of the Petone Borough Council last evening, the council chamber was turned into a reception room, suitably decorated with flowers, and at the invitation of the council, councillors and their wives and lady friends, and a number of ex-councillors and their wives were present to welcome home the ex-Mayor, Mr. G. London, exCouncillor Jas. R. Gayrior, and Councillor A. M. Macfarlane. Mr. London, was accompanied by his mother, the widow of a former Mayor, ex-Coun-cillor Gaynor by his wife, and Councillor Macfarlane by his fiancee. The Mayor, Mr. H. Green, said the gathering was to give a welcome to Mr. London, Mr. Gaynor, and Councillor Macfarlane, who had all given, service overseas. Mr. London had been a prisoner of war and had suffered many hardships, and all who knew him were proud of the grit and determination he had shown in. traversing difficult country in his escape from Italy to Switzerland. He had been 14 months in prison camps and for 11 months was interned in Switzerland. Both during his term as councillor and again as Mayor, he had been responsible for-many of the amenities of Petone. Among these were the foreshore memorial and the grandstand. He was specially glad that Mrs. London had been able to be present. Her husband had served the town faithfully and well, and he. hoped that before long Mr. London would re-enter civic life.

Later in the evening the Mayor unveiled an enlarged photograph of Mr. London which is hung in the council chamber, and also presented him with a framed photograph of himself. The Mayor was specially glad to welcome Mr. and Mrs. London's younger son, Councillor F. K. London, who had returned to the council after a period of illness.

Ex-Councillor Gaynor had also rendered great service to the district, the Mayor said. He was a councillor who was always listened to with great respect. Councillor Macfarlane, too, had done his part well, and was now Deputy Mayor.

Messrs. London, Gaynor, and Macfarlane each expressed thanks for the welcome, and Mr. London gave an entertaining description of life in a prison''camp, life as a tramp in. northern Italy, and life as an internee in Switzerland.

The company were entertained at supper as the guests of the Mayor and council.