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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20655, 8 September 1941, Page 4

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LIEUTENANT W. NGATA WELCOME IN NUHAKA (Herald Correspondent.) A welcome was extended in Nuhaka on .Saturday to Lieutenant W. Ngata, who had been invalided home following the battles of Greece and Crete. Lieutenant W. Ngata was accompanied by his wife and by his parents, sir Apirana and Lady Ngata, while Mrs. Paul, Wairoa, Messrs Ruben Te Hataroa, ,D. McGregor and Gemmell accompanied the party from Wairoa. Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. J. Ormond, whose son has been reported as a prisoner of war. Messrs. J. Ara, Te Kara and Newa Waerea, Nuhaka, and Mr. W. Te Hau, Mahia, welcomed Lieutenant Ngata on behalf of the Maori people, and Mr. F, H. Young, Nuhaka, spoke on •behalf of the returned soldiers of the last war. Greetings also were extended by Mrs. Paul, Wairoa, and Mr. Ruben Mataroa, Mohaka. Sir Apirana Ngata expressed his gratitude for the warmth of the welcome extended to his son, and said he was sorry it would not be possible to call at Mahia, but an endeavour would be made to call at as many settlements as possible. He added that the Maori soldiers had proved that they were distinct assets, and he trusted that the talk of equality of the races would be a very real one in the future. Lieutenant Ngata, in extending his thanks to the Nuhaka people, said he brought greetings from the men of the Maori Battalion to their people. He knew there were many heavy hearts, but they should be proud of their sons, whose devotion to duty had won high praise.