H.M.A.S. SYDNEY

Evening Star, Issue 19186, 1 March 1926, Page 4

H.M.A.S. SYDNEY

COMMODORE AMD OFFICERS ENTERTAINED PRIME MINISTER PRESENT Commodore T. E. Warillo and other officers of H.M.A.S. Sydney were ontertained on Saturday evening by the president (Mr J. Sutherland Ross) and the other members of the Exhibition Board of Directors. The guests of the evening were Commodore T. E. IVardle, Captain H. Bovos. Commander E. G. Morns, Engineer Commander P. J- H. Hogan, Surgeon Commander A. Scott-Macken-zie, Lieutenant-commander L. de Geyt Pullen, Lieutenant A. S. Donovan, the Rev. V. W. Thompson (chaplain),. Mr Graham (gunner), and Mr E. Biano (warrant shipwright); and among those also present were the Prime Minister (the Et. Hon. J. G. Coates), the Hon. 'A. D. M'Leod (Minister of Lands), the Hon. 0, J. Hawken (Minister of Agriculture and State Forests), the Hon. C. E. Statham, the mayor (Mr H. L. lapley), the overseas commissioners tor the Exhibition, representatives of the provincial court commissioners, Dr Marshall Macdonald, Mr H. R. Spence (secretary to the Board of Directors), and Mr C. P. Hainsworth (general manager of the Exhibition). Mr Sutherland Ross, extending a very cordial welcome to the guests, expressed regret that their stay had been bo short apd the clerk of the weather so unkind. Ho understood, he added, that the weather up north was still worse, so what they were to experience up there staggered the imagination. (Laughter.) The directors considered it a great privilege to meet representatives of the Navy from across the las■Wam Sea. In welcoming them to the Exhibition they were introducing them to a vest pocket edition of the dominion, and he specially commended to their attention the primary industries exhibits and the New Zealand Secondary Industries Court. He was very proud to ■welcome, also ? tlie other distmguished visitors —the Prime Minister, the Ministers for Lands and Agriculture, and tho Hon. 0. E. Statham. (Applause.) , , , . . , The Mayor stated that a civic welcome had already been given to the officers of H.M.A.S. Sydney, so he need not say more than to bid them a very hoiirty welcome to tho Exhibition. It was his great privilege to welcome, also, the Prime Minister, as to whom he could only say that “ the more visits Mr Coates can pay to Dunedin City the more the citizens will like it. Ho also expressed his great pleasure in welcoming the other Ministers, of whom one, the Hon. 0. J. Hawken, was paying Ins first visit to the. city as a Minister. (Applause.) PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH.

Tho Prime Minister said that it gave his colleagues and himself extreme pleasure to join in tho welcome to Lommodore Wardlo and his officers. * am not going to say anything,_ ho added “that would in any way interfere., with tho welcome that will to tendered to thorn in Wellington; but on behalf of tho citizens of Now Zea-, land I want tho officers and men to believe that they are amongst very close relatives. Tho manhood of Australia and New. Zealand reminds mo ot two Irish regiments in France—they fought like fury amongst themselves, but n a Tommy or a. New Zealander interfered with either, they were together at once. New Zealanders will not allow outsiders to say anything against Australians, though each of ns has Ins own way of letting the other know what he thinks of him.” ..(Applause.) The New Zealand Division of tho Royal Naw has had tho great pleasure and privilege of exercising in Australian waters, and we appreciate the tact that tho Australian Navy has come over to continue the manoeuvres, as well as paying a social visit. New Zealand joins with Australia m doing her hit to achieve the peace of nations, but it is imperative that British trade routes he projected, and in our small way-some would have that it is too small—we are determined to do our utmost to achieve that protection.” (Applause.) Mr Coates, in conclusion, thanked previous speakers for so cordially welpoming his colleagues# fie regretted

that they were not to speak for themselves, hut the Government’s policy was “ Very few words, but work and action.” (Applause.) The Australian Commissioner (Captain IV. L. Smallliorn) also joined in the welcome to the guests of the evening. It was, he said, a very great pleasure to him to bo present, firstly as the Australian representative at tho Exhibition, and secondly as one of those who took part in the gathering in London which gave birth to the Australian and New Zealand naval units. The toolings between the Commonwealth and the dominion were very closely interwoven, and would always bo so.. The visit of tho Sydney in itself helped to weld that link, for New Zealanders bad been associated in tho engagement with the Emclen, and the ship burned New Zealand coal (Laughter.) A man on tho Sydney had said to him that day: ‘‘Tell the people of New Zealand through tire Press that we have never before received hospitality like this.” COMMODORE WARDLE RESPONDS. Commodore Wardlo briefly and suitably responded, cordially thanking the directors, on behalf of himself and his men, for their great hospitality and kindness. The Exhibition, ho declared, wav “simply splendid.” Since they had come to New Zealand they had been astounded at the size and tho progress of its cities in so short a span of years, and everywhere ho and his officers and men had been greeted with the most open-hearted hospitality. The officers and men of the Australian Navy considered it a privilege, he stated, to come over and exercise with the New Zealand division, and far from being separate units ho looked on the Australian and New Zealand Navies as being very strong links of Empire, imbued with the same loyalty and sense of duty as the British Navy. “Unless wo stand together,” he said, in conclusion well—God held tho Empire in this part of the world.” (Applause.) On the invitation of the president, tho Hon. A. D. M'Leod and the Hon. 0. J, Hawker also briefly welcomed the guests of the evening, _and_ thanked previous speakers for their kind references to themselves. A very enjoyable evening -was brought to a close by tho singing, by hosts and guests respectively, of “For they are jolly good fellows,” and by all present joining in a verse of the National Anthem.