HIGH TRIBUTE PAID

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32711, 10 May 1946, Page 5

HIGH TRIBUTE PAID

RETURNED SERVICEMEN

PRESENTATION MADE OVER 150 ATTEND BANQUET A welcome home typical of the district and well worthy of the residents of Mangatarata was held at the Mangatarata School on Friday afternoon when nine returned servicemen and a nursing sister were honoured. The function took the form of a banquet at which over 150 people sat down, including visitors from Paeroa and Thames. To accomodate such a large gathering a large canvas addition had been erected beside the school by the men of the district and this housed a number of long tables which were laden with an appetising assortment of good things. Turkey, poultry, tongue supported by tasty mixed green salad was followed by fruit salad, trifles, jellies, savouries, etc., all in profusion. The canvas •extension had been attractively decorated with greenery and bunting and the whole picture was one which was pleasing to

the eye. The district had combined with enthusiasm) to make the function a success and the women folk with the guidance of the Mangatarata Social Club and the Women’s Division had put hours of work together with the men to ensure that no stone was left unturned which might in any way affect the enjoyment of the day. Mr M. Leonard presided and kept the function going with a swing. The guests of honour were Sister Myra Burke, Fit. Lt. B. Leonard, W.O. J. M'aclennan, Sgt. H. Harwood, L.AjC. J. Wlhiteman, Dvr. C O’Brien, Dvr A. Harris, Pte. I. Main, Dvr. C. Rountree, Pte. C. Arthur, and Pte. N. Harris.

'The banquet opened with the singing of the National Anthem followed by a prayer of thanksgiving by Mr C. W- 'Parfitt after which the gathering set to to enjoy the appetising and ample luncheon attractively set out on the tables before them. At the conclusion of the luncheon the chairman introduced the guests of honour, speaking of the wonderful service that each had given. Expression of Thanks

The toast of “Our servicemen and women” was proposed' by Mr C. W. Parfitt,, chairman of the Hauraki Plains County Council who said he was honoured to have the opportunity of welcoming home what he termed “the Mangatarata Army.” Mangatarata, he explained had a representative of practically every branch of the army and this for such .a small district was an extremely ■ worthy effort. Speaking to the guests of honour he said that the people of Mangatarata had been waiting for this day for six long weaiy years. He :..now had pleasure in extending to them a very hearty welcome back to their home district.

Continuing, Mr Parfitt said the 'banquet was an expression of the thanks of the people of the district for the effort they had made overseas. All realised what their superb service had saved New Zealand from Today the people of New Zealand were able to enjoy conditions better than in most parts of the world, and they would not have had these privileges if the Allies had not won the victory. He congratulated them on the name the New Zealand division

had made for itself while overseas and the manner in which they had upheld the good name established by their fathers in the first World War. Duty of Everybody (Speaking generally Mr Parfitt emphasised to those who had been able to stay at home that it was their duty to see that the returned men were justly and fairly treated. Many, he said did not realise how much they owed to the men and women of the services. People in New Zealand still enjoyed freedom of speech and a right to choose their own government and if the New Zealand boys had not brought back the victory, these privileges would have not been retained today. - 'One particular point which Mr Parfitt emphasised was the caring for the children of those men who paid the supreme sacrifice. It was the duty of every person to see that these children did not suffer, stressing the debt which all owed to them. He referred to the Heritage Movement and appealed for whole-hearted support for this good work. Win the Peace The services, he said, had won the victory overseas and it was- now the duty of the people to win the peace. It was the individual’s duty to do everything possible to assist in winning the peace and nobody should sit back and leave it to others. >He stressed that with the privileges that all enjoyed were duties.

(Speaking to the returned soldiers he urged them to take full advantaage of all that had been offered to them, stressing the point that the memory of the general public would be all too short. There was he explained, only a short time to pass before the rising generation would be taking their part in the control of the country and they knew nothing of the sacrifices that had been made.

In conclusion he congratulated the district in having sent away so many from such a small area. He also congratulated the people on the wonderful welcome they had organised. £25 Cheques Presented (Fit. Lt. Leonard in reply expressed thank's for the banquet and also to the social club for the splendid work they had done during the war period. 'He paid tribute to the soldiers of the last war, speaking of the wonderful reputation they held overseas. W.O. Mclennan and Sister Burke also expressed their appreciation of all that had been done for them.

The guests of honour were then paraded and all who had left the district and returned were presented by Mrs 'G. Grey with a cheque to the value of £2(5. 'Sister Burke, W.O. McLennan and L.A.C. Whiteman who did not leave from the district but had returned from service to M'angatarata were each presented with a fountain pen. Three rousing cheers were given and “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows” was heartily sung. Silent Toast

A silent toast to “Fallen Comrades” was then given by Mr M. Leonard who quoted the following:—“They shall not grow old as we who’ are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the goingdown of the sun and in the morningwe shall remember them.” A toast to the -“'Parents of our Returned Servicemen” was proposed by Mr George Grey who referred to the difficult and trying time through which all had passed while the boys were overseas. He referred to the setbacks suffered by the Allies and the continual anxiety of the parents who had borne themselves wonderfully through this period. He was he said, proud to be present at the function that day which was in honour of

the returned, boys and 1 the parents. He mentioned the wonderful manner in which those left behind had carried out their duty and in conclusion conveyed thanks from, everybody to the parents for sacrifices they had made Help of Neighbours Mr F. O’Brien, in reply, also mentioned the strain and anxiety which parents had suffered, expressing gratitude for the wonderful consideration shown by the neighbours. He thanked all for the kind thoughts and the manner in which the toast had been honoured. Mr A. Henderson said he was honoured to have the opportunity of proposing a toast to “Old Diggers.’ New Zealand he said had first been opened up by soldiers and then in the Boer War and in the first World 1 War, New Zealanders had established for themselves a wonderful reputation. To the guests of honour he extended a warm welcome wishing them all the best for- the future. Mr J. Flynn expressed appreciation of the way the toast had been honoured and spoke of the last war and the wonderful comradeships which had been formed. Mr W. Buchanan spoke in similar strain expressing appreciation of the manner in which the toast had been honoured. He spoke of several hu-

morous ■experiences which he had had in company with other Mangatarata men during the World War number one. Home Services A toast to “Home Services” was proposed by Sgt. H. . 'Harwood who referred to the task which they had to achieve and the efficient manner m which they had performed their duties. Mr Henderson returned thanks for the toast, stressing the difficult task the permanent staff had had in converting civilians into the fine type of soldier which had earned such a fine name for New Zealand.

Mr C. Rayner spoke of the work done on the home front, not only by the men, but by the women. Mr G. McQuaid proposed a toast to the RJS.A. emphasising the valuable work that their organisation had •done for the returned men of the last war and what it was prepared to do for those of this war. He urged every returned man and woman to join up with the RJS.A. Mr Edwin Edwards, of Paeroa, president of the Paeroa-Hauraki R.S.A. expressed thanks for the invitation to Mrs Edwards and himself to attend the banquet which he said was a credit to the people of the district. He joined with all in extending a warm welcome to the guests of honour. He spoke of the activities of the R’S.A. expressing thanks to the people of New Zealand for the support they were giving the organisation. The Paeroa-Hauraki R.S.A. had today over GOO' members and over 300 of these were returned men of the war just ended. He urged all the guests of honour to join up with the RJS.A. Absent Friends Mr C. Rayner proposed a toast to “Absent (Friends” speaking with feeling of those who could not be present that day. He expressed regret that Mr and Mrs T. S. Harris and Mr Main, senior, could not be present when tribute had been paid to their sons and to themselves for the sacrifice they had made. Mr J. Vines returned thanks for the toast saying he could well imagine the regret of those unable to be present. He was sure they would be with the gathering in thought. .Mr W. Arlbury, Thames, proposed a toast to the “Ladies” congratulating them on the excellent banquet they had organised, saying it was a credit to the district and would be long remembered as a mile-stone in Mangatarata. Mrs M. Leonard of the Mangatarata Social Club in returning thanks, said that her club had done its best to foster the social amenities of Mangatarata to assist all to forget the horrors of war, She thanked the Waitak'aruru Women’s Institute and the Waitakaruru Farewell and Wei-, come Home Committee for the assistance they had given Mangatarata. Packing of Parcels

Mrs W. Cropp of the Women’s Division spoke of the work which her organisation had strived to do and the variety of jobs which had been allotted to them chiding the war period. Five car loads of ladies, she said, had oftened travelled to Waitakaruru to assist in.the packing of gift parcels, while miles of bandages had been wound and a large number of splints made. The women had strived their utmost to do all that had been asked of them.

Mr H. Whittaker proposed a toast to the stressing the big task which lay before it in assisting to win the peace. The press he said, had an influence among the people and could be of considerable value to the community.

Mr R. L. Darley, of the Hauraki Plains Gazette, Paeroa, returned thanks for the toa&t, paying tribute to the wonderful effort put up by Mangatarata during the war years. He expressed appreciation for the invitation for M'rs Darley and himself to attend the funcflfcn saying how pleased his paper always was to assist all local activities on the Hauraki Plains. People of Mangatarata Mr C. W. Parfitt proposed a toast to the people of Mangatarata, congratulating them on the splendid development of the district since it was first opened up in 191'5. Mr Henderson replied, speaking of some of the difficulties which the early pioneers had to contend with. A vote of thanks to' the chair, proposed by Mr W. Arbury brought the function to a close.