SALVATION ARMY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 108, 7 April 1932, Page 7

SALVATION ARMY.

GENIUS OF GENERAL HIGGINS

CUTTING THROUGH CONVENTION

(By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, April 7. The genius of the Salvation Army for cutting through the crust of convention was illustrated to-day when Cabinet Ministers, legislators a.nd their wives were induced at a. reception to General Higgins to join in a community sing with a quartette comprising tho three political loaders and the General’s aide-de-camp as the star item.

General Higgins and his wife were the guests of honour at a parliamentary reception given by the Prime Minister and Mrs Forbes. It was pleasantly crowded, and at the right moment the Prime Minister welcomed the guests with appreciative references of the work of their great organisation in assisting to cope with present day difficulties. Before General Higgins replied two members of his staff sang a duet which the Prime Minister announced was very appropriate to the times. “There is shallow in the valleys, but there is sunshine on the hills.” Colonel Pugmire, the General’s aide-de-camp, invited the audience to join in the chorus, but Mr Poison genially suggested that it would be .a fine thing to hear the leaders of the three parties help in a quartette. This idea was enthusiastically applauded. The Prime Minister and Mr Coates, catching the spirit of tho occasion, stood up to sing. There were demands for Mr H. E. Holland, who modestly kept well in the background. However, he was actively, encouraged to go forward and smilingly complied. The item as a musical event was improved by friendly assistance from General Higgins’s staff. Alter this breaking of the ioe, everyone joined in this happy climax to a social event with a unique feature which, as General Higgins declared, beat even the occasion when three southern Mayors sang the same chorus.