VICE-REGAL PARTY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 February 1926, Page 5

VICE-REGAL PARTY.

ENTERTAINED BY EX-SOLDI ERS. HLS EXCELLENCY’S TRIBUTE. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) GISBORNE, Feb. 17. The Governor-General and the Prime Minister were the principal guests at the luncheon given bv returned soldiers at Tikitiki yesterday. Toasted as “The comrade of the diggers,” his Excellency paid a. deep tribute to the reputation of the Silent Division which had taken oyer the section controlled by him on their arrival in France. He had had two brigades of New Zealand Artillery under him towards the end of the war and the whole division were neighbours and they were united in the occupation of Germany, and by their behaviour towards the conquered population, had earned a splendid name for soldierly conduct. He urged all returned men to support such institutions as the. R.S.A. which had power to assist, not fit ex-soldiers, but maimed men and dependents of the fallen. He felt that the Government was thoroughly sympathetic, but these associations could help by acquainting war victims with their rights, and also put their cases before the proper authorities.

Responding to Captain Pitt’s toast of the “diggers,” Mr. Coates reiterated the pledge of his party’s interest in ex-service men and promised further to help in consolidating their lives in civil life. He would assist the Maori race as far as possible, to gain an equal footing with the pakelias in settlement, but pointed out that i'jere was no royal road to success.. Work and hard work only, could help them along the road. A presentation to Lady Fergusson was made after the custom of the Maoris, when entertaining important visitors. The gifts included a handsome kiwi mat. The Governor-General intimated that they would be added to the collection of specimens of Maori art presented at different times to their excellencies’ parents by the Maoris.