Mangonui County Welcomes Second Furlough Draft

Northern Advocate, 22 March 1944, Page 5

Mangonui County Welcomes Second Furlough Draft

Intermittent showers and overcast skies did not deter a good crowd of Mangonui county folk from gathering in Kaitaia’s main street on Saturday afternoon to welcome back officially the second draft of furlough boys from the Second N.Z.E.F. and those who had been invalided, home since last July.

The afternoon began well for the children with a free matinee. This was by speciai courtesy of Kerridge Theatres Ltd., which was much appreciated.

Proceedings proper began at 2.15 pan., when ex-servicemen of the First N.Z.E.F., 23 furlough soldiers, and pupils of the Kaitaia District High School paraded from the post office to the theatre through lines of school children and residents of the county.

On arriving at the theatre the veterans formed a guard of honour for the boys and cheered them heartily as they filed past. On the stage with the guests were Mr. W. Hoskin, chairman of ceremonies, the chairman of the Mangonui County Council (Mr. C. J. E. Barriball), Mr. D. Archibald, Senr., representing the Kaitaia Town Board in the absence of the chairman (Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe), the president of the W.W.S.A. (Mrs. A. Bird), the president of the R.S.A. (Mr. W. Dawson), and Mr. Jesse Robson, representing the Maori peopie. At the request of Mr. Dawson, all stood for a short period in silence in honour of those who had been killed while overseas. After a prayer by the Rev. Gilmore, followed by the united recital of the Lord's Prayer, the chairman read a telegram from Mr. S. W. Smith, M.P. for Bay of Islands, expressing his regret that Parliamentary duties had prevented him being present.

A Wonderful Job

■‘We are greatly pleased to welcome you back, you have done a wonderful job of work with your comrades while you were away and it is our privilege to pay some small tribute of appreciation for what you have done,” said Mr. Barriball, on behalf of the people of the county. He paid a tribute to all the men of the various services and the mercantile marine to whom we owed such a great debt.

, “We know that wherever there is a tight corner cur boys show them how to hold it,” said Mr. Barriball. “If any of you have to go overseas again we know you will continue the good work you have done in the past.” Mr. Archibald, for the people of Kaitaia,' said it was a most pleasing duty to welcome and pay tribute to the boys who had returned on furlough. “We have all read with prideof the exploits of our boys overseas, they are real chips of the old block,” said Mr. Archibald. “And if any of the Pacific section are here, we are just as proud of them.” He wished them a happy furlough with their loved ones.

Thought for Future

“No one is more pleased so see you back than we are,” said Mr. W. Dawson, on behalf of the R.S.A. “That is indicated by the number of old boys who have turned out today. You boys have dene a great job of work. I take pride in saying that 25 years ago these old fellows in front built up some wonderful war traditions for this country and made some wonderful war history, which people thought would never be surpassed. The boys who went over to this war were probably afraid that they might not stand up as well as their fathers. They need not have feared. As soon as they were well ermed we saw that they stood up to and surpassed the traditions made years ago. These boys have every reason to be proud,” he said. “But what are we going to do when they come back?” asked Mr. Dawson. “It is easy enough to cheer, but these boys have lost four years of the best part of their lives and they will never make them up. It is up to us, our M.P.. our local bodies and we, as individuals, to get them a fair spin when they return.” To the boys, Mr. Dawson said: “We appreciate and thank you for what you have done. To those of you who will stay—we wish you a happy time; to those who go back, God go with you and the best of luck.” Mr. Jesse Robson extended a welcome on behalf of the Maori people. He endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers, particularly those of Mr. Dawson when he spoke of rehabilitation.

“No Legion of the Lost”

“I think and I hope that all our Maori boys overseas with you maintained not only the prestige of the Maori race but also that of New Zealand. I hope that you will never forget that you were together through the thickest part of the fight. I ask you not to forget them when they return. Some may drop by the wayside. Some may hold on in the economic struggle that we will all have to face after the war. We hope never to have to hear of another ‘Legion of the Lost’ as we did after the last war,” he continued.

Saying that he was sorry there had been no opportunity of welcoming the boys in the true Maori fashion, Mr. Robson expressed the hope , that at some future time they might do so. Mrs. Bird, as president of the W.W.S.A., spoke on behalf of the women of the county in adding her welcome to the boys.

T hope you enjoy your stay to the utmost,” said Mrs. Bird. 'Those of you invalided home we hope will soon be well again.” Replying for the Pakeha boys of the furlough group, Sergeant-Major Hart said how joleased they all were to be back, and thanked the county for the welcome they had given. “We are pleased we did the job nearly as well as the old boys,” he added, and thanked the R.S.A. for what they were doing for those who had come home.

Tn a short speech, Staff-Sergeant Housham replied for the Maori boys and thanked those responsible for the reception and welcome. The reception ended with three hearty cheers called for by the chairman. For the rest of the afternoon, the A.N.A. clubroom dispensed hospitality to the soldiers and their relatives, and those who wished took part in the day’s sports. In the evening a dinner given by the R.S.A. was largely attended by both present and ' ex-servicemen. Special tribute was paid to the ladies responsible for the very satisfying dinner provided. The evening . was given up to reminiscences and talks that all heartily enjoyed.

‘ The day ended with a large attendance at the dance in the, A. & P. Hall, where a number of the furlough boys attended with their as guests for the evening. _ "...

U.N.R.R.A. —The visit of the DirectorGeneral of U.N.K.R.A. (Mi’ Herbert Lehmann) to Cairo has been; postponed indefinitely as a result., of .a knee injury he received ’in Algiers, states a Cairo message. The Deputy for