WELCOME BY "SAVAGES"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19098, 17 August 1925, Page 10

WELCOME BY "SAVAGES"

ADMIRAL ROBISON FETED.

GREETING TO "WAR CANOES."

UNITY OF KITH AND KIN.

Stirring words were spoken at tho Savage Club's korero on Saturday evening, when Admiral Robison and a hundred officers of the American Fleet were given an enthusiastic reception by closa on 700 members and friends Tho arrival of tho admiral at the Scots ITull was. tho signal for an inspiring Maori welcome, in which the entire assemblage participated. It was peculiarly fitting that the gathering should have been presided over by a representative of tho Maori race. The presence in tho chair of Dr. P. 11. Buck, tho rangatira for the year was, as it were, n gesture pointing to tho bond of friendship that now exists between the Maoris and tho white peoplo in New Zealand, and carried an implication that was not lost on tho visitors.

Dr. Buck greeted the visitors by reciting in Maori a very ancient Polynesian form of welcome:—

Draw hither tho canoe; Jlaul hither tho canoe: To lhi> pillow the canoo; To tho bed tho eunoo; To iho resting piace whero ahull rest tho canoe.

Such a welcome, said Dr. Buck, was appropriate because both tho Maoris and tho Anglo-Saxon people were brothers of the sea. No matter where they orig;-t----atcd, the Polynesians were the first peoplo of the neolithic ago to break into tho vast Pacific. They wero the iirst navigators the Pacific saw, and they came in canoes dug out of the forests with stone axes. Without tho aid of the scientific instruments of our modern day, they sailed tho ocean—bold, intrepid men who sought adventure 011 seas and on lands that lay thousands of miles beyond their ken. And, as those primitive men, in tho spirit that went forth to conquer, finally camo to a new land whero they could draw up their exploring canoes 111 safety, so our kinsmen from tho United States to-day had drawn up their great' war canoes to a safo anchorage whero all was well. (Applause). It was a long cry to those far-away times, yet the Maoris to-day traced their origin back to the particular canoes that arrived in New Zealand long before the whito man ever dreamed of this country, and tho descendants were united by a bond of blood, kinship and fellowship. Thus tho canoes camo to take on a personality of their own, to be looked upon as human canoes.

"Our visitors como not as strangers, but as kith and kin," declared Dr. Duck. "I speak," he added hastily, "not as a Maori, but as one from the other side of tho House. (Laughter.) We welcome them as people of the same canoe—tho canoo of tho Anglo-Saxon stock; but whether we are Maoris or descendants from Anglo-Saxon stock, our interests are centred in tho Pacific, and if we aro united all will bo well." (Applause). "We may have been cold in our welcome," added the speaker, "but we are aij members of the same race and we are pleased and proud of the opportunity of having you with us, because we know that while you come in all the power and pomp of your war canoes, those are tho things that make for peace and safety in tho world. We wish that -through this visit the great idra of Anglo-Ameri-can friendship may be implanted in the people, so that it" may more fully make for the good of mankind." (Applause). Admiral Robison was greeted with prolonged cheers and applause as ho rose to reply. In a brief speech ho thanked tho club for a wonderful welcome, referring humorously to tho experiences ho ancf his officers had had at Rotorua.

Among the guests wore Rear-Admiral L. A, Bostwick. the admiral's chief of staff; Commander F. N. Miles and officers of 11.M.5. Philomel; the deputyMayor, Mr. J. A. War nock; Mr. > D. Ardell, representing the International Affairs Department; Mr. J. S. Brigham, town clerk: Mr. 11. R. Mackenzie, chairman, and Mr. H. B. Burnett, secretary, of the Auckland Harbour Board; Mr. Walter E. Boyle, the American Consul; Mr. L. A. Bachelder, vice-consul for the United Stat as; and Mr. C. M. Croft, Canadian Trade Commissioner.

NAVY LEAGUE CLUBROOM. EXTRA DANCING PROVISION.

LAST NIGHT'S CONCERT. The Navy League's clubroom at the Prince's Wharf is growing in popularity with the men of the Fleet, and Saturday night's attendance was a record, the dancing floor being crowded. In view of the increasing use that is being made of the facilities provided for dancing, steps have been, taken to have the floor enlarged in time for this evening's programme. Yesterday, between 500 and 600 men nsed the clubroom, although no dancing was in progress. In tho evening a firstclass concort was provided, but although a general invitation had been extended to the men of each ship, the attendance did not amount to move than 300. Those contributing to tho programme were: Madame Gamier, Mra! Humphrey Stewart, Mrs. A. Jones, Mrs. Squirrell, Misses Connie Lloyd, Olivo Lloyd and M. Dudcr, and Messrs. Carl Prime, H. Engcl, Trevor Lloyd and S. Cousins.

"NO GOBS, PLEASE." AMERICAN OFFICER'S PLEA.

AN OBJECTIONABLE WORD

Two cherished beliefs about the United States Fleet, its suggested lack of discipline and its alleged fondness for the term "gob," were repudiated by one of its officers in an interview in Christchurch last week.

"Wo do not practise Prussianism," the officer said, "we don't insist on clicking of heels and the repetition of 'Yes, sir' overy three words, but every man must show respect to his officer. It must have been a petty officer who told 'Andy' to 'tako in the slack' at the berthing, for a saiior would never have replied 'Yes, Bo' to an officer. No bluojacket would have dared to do it.

"It is ridiculous to suggest that there is familiarity between man and officer. I would insist that any youngster should stand up straight, keep his heels together and say 'Yes, sir' when ho spoke me. With tho older men who have seen service, one would not be so particular. This talk about democracy being overdone in the navy is untrue. There is discipline in tho United States Navy without oppression; that's what it all boils down to. We think that the pomposity may bo carried too far. If I swear at a man whon I order him to do something it takes away something of his solf-respoct, and I must avoid doing that."

On a plea for "No gobs, please," tho officer was eloquont. "It's only those boys we've got with us who think it's mighty sporty to call themselves 'gobs.' It is a thoroucVdy disgusting and hor rible name. That's what every selfrespecting man in • the navy thinks. Call him 'sailor* or 'bluojacket,' not that wretched name which we all detest. If a junior officer was heard calling one of tho men a 'gob' he would bo reprimanded by a senior man and told that such poople as 'gobs' did not exist, and that in future he would obligo by forgetting tho term completely."