LORD ALLENBY

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 January 1926, Page 3

LORD ALLENBY

WELLINGTON’S" ' ENTHUSIASM. (Special to "Star. ') • WELLINGTON, January 28.’ ’The civic reception to Viscount and Lady Allenby to-day was one of the most enthusiastic gatherings of its kind ever held in Wellington, the large Town Hall being crowded with a tumultuous crowd. When Lord Allenby rose to reply to the welcome which had been voiced by a number of the Dominion’s leading citizens, he was greeted with prolonged cheering. For a few minutes he could not be heard. Just, as quickly as the enthusiasm started so it waned. His loud voice was heard distinctly in all parts of the building. He paid a tribute to “your glorious weather, your magnificent country, your beautiful city by the sea,” and acknowledged the generous, whole-hearted welcome they had received. He said: “We feel that we stand here amongst friends.” He remarked, amidst applause, that Lady Allenby and himsfelf had gone ’a good deal of hard work together in the last eight or ten years, and at the end of his period in Egypt, they had agreed to take a long breath and go for a tour. Lady Allenby suggested that they should go to the great Dominions, where they would meet many of those who had fought with him in the War,

and where they would meet people of their own kin, see the lands they both desired to see, and in which they would learn something more of the Empire. (Applause). He felt now that Lady Allenby had been absolutely right in her choice. Since his arrival in New Zealand, he . continued, he had the pleasure of meeting many of those gallant warriors who 'carried through the campaign in Palestine and Syria. He had only been in the Dominion less than two days, but had seen sufficient to say that it was a land that should breed heroes. He did not think he had ever seen better products from a hero-growing land than the warriors from this country, with whfm he had the honour to ba associated in the Great War. ( Applause). They were worthy of their Mother Country, and the Mother Country was worthy of them,. He was sure the Dominion would go on turning out men the same, who would make New Zealand a great nation. She was intended by Providence to become a mighty nation, ho hold her own, and yet remain*a

loyal unit of the British Empire. The Dominions had been bound together more than ever before by the stress of the great conflict they had gone through. The Empire had been blended m a way no other experience could give. The war had shown the Mother Country what she owed the Dominions, and vice versa. The Dominions now realised what they owed to one another. The whole Empire was bound together as one great family. Up Jv<d found that was the dominating sentiment wherever hejiad been, and from what little he had seen of New Zealand, he had found the same feeling as in other parts of the Empire. Loyalty not only to the Mother Country but to each other. Lord Allenby pointed out that we now had the experience of past to guide us in the future. We could learn from the previous example what was bad and profit by wwhat was good. The experience had been bought, and they could benefit by it cheaply, much below its market price, in observing what had gone before by following the path trodden by the giants who walked before us. Profiting by their success, we should achieve even greater things. The Empire would then go on until it had the power to hold humanity and civilisation together. We must be strong, command respect, and to be strong we must be upright and straightforward. That the Empire al-

ways had been. He believed and trusted that it always would be. (Applause). He concluded with a brief reference to his coming visit to the South Island, and said that nothing could surpass the reception he had received in Wellington. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” he said, as he resumed his seat amidst loud applause and cheers, and more handclapping. Then the spontaneous gathering took up “For They are Jolly Good Fellows,” with cheers to follow yet again. The National Anthem pealed from the organ, the whole hall joining in. As the., guests left the platform, and moved to the door, those near at hand stepped out to express an individual greeting. Not for a very long time has Wellington expressed such a welcome to any visitor. A BUSY DAY. (Per Pres# Association.) WELLINGTON, January 30. Lord Allenby had a busy day yesterday. He spoke at the N.Z. Club’s luncheon, and attended a reception at the Soldiers’ Club, filling in the intervals with visits to Trentham Camp and racecourse, and Wilton’s bush (as he was anxious to see a New Zealand forest), Fort Dorset and the Nursing Association. In the evening he left for the South.