TRENTHAM MEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 9

TRENTHAM MEN

MARCH IN WELLINGTON CROWDS IMPRESSED MAINLY SILENT TRIBUTE ADDRESS BY LORD GALWAYi [by telegraph—ritEss association] WELLINGTON,'Wednesday An official farewell was extended at Parliament House to-day on behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand and citizens of _Wellington to the officers and men of tire first.echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The troops came in y "from Trentham by train, paraded at the station and marched to Parliament House grounds,., where they were addressed by the ■ Governor-General, Lord Grilway, the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. M. J. Savage, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, and the Hon. W. Perry, president of tho New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association; members of which also paraded in very large mynbers. Long before the hour for the ceremony, 'every vantage point open to the public had been occupied, and addresses were, relayed through loud-speakers. , Parade of Returned Men The turn-out of returned men was so large that the people .were nearly; as impressed by them as by those in uniform. The returned men took seven minutes to pass a given point, compared with the 11 minutes taken by the trcops. Five bands participated in the march, and the band of H.M.S. . Kamillies was stationed at the. Citizens' War Memorial, which the troops marched past; as they left the parade at Parliament House, saluting as they went by. The whole city was at a standstill. Premises were open, but nobody remained inside. In the main it was a silent tribute the soldiers received. There were cheers in places and clappings of hands, but for tho most part the people's patriotism was in their, faces and not throats. The Nation's Call In addressing the men, the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, said they were about to leave to answer the nation's call for assistance against a powerful enemy which challenged the right of other peoples, including the British Empire, to live their own lives. One would have thought that the German people might have learned a lesson from the last war, but apparently the gangster Government now in power in that country required to bo taught a fresh and salutary lesson. It was because they all appreciated the danger to the Empire and the challenge to that liberty which, as British subjects, they had always enjoyed, that they were leaving their homes and loved ones to assist the Motherland. Loyalty and devotion to the -Throne and Empire were characteristic of New Zealand. Many proofs of that had been given in the past, and.in its maintenance lay. the surest safeguard of the peace and prosperity of that Empire to which we were all. so proud to belong. Training of All Pit Men After making reference to the traditions built up by the New Zealand civision 111 the last war. His Excellency expressed the general hope that hostilities might not be drawn out, but said the danger which threatened was so real that every fit man in evdry part of the Empire should be trained with the least possible delay and made ready for service. Lord Galway paid a tribute to tho leader of the Second Expeditionary I'orce, Major-General 13. C. Freyberg, V.C., and referred to the fact" that the troops' comfort and well-being abroad were being * taken in hand. He congratulated most heartily those who had volunteered for service overseas with the first echelon, wishing, them Godspeed. Leader of 1914-18 The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, prefaced his' remarks . with an apology for the absence of Sir Andrew Russell, who had returned from the last war trusted, . honoured and, indeed, loved by the men who served under him. If he was a judge of a man he predicted that the same thing was going to happen on this occasion. It was historic, not only for New Zealand, but for the British Commonwealth of Nations, that twice within the memory of the present generation New Zealand men should have responded to the call of Empire, and for that tlicy had to thank the men who had served in the past and those there to-day ready to serve in the future in whatever sphere they might bo called upon. Mr. Savage spoke of the duty of those who remained at home. It was tho job of a Government to organise for war and organise for peace, too. Equality of Sacrifice "Let me say to you officers,'men and citizens assembled . here, that equality of sacrifice is not going to be an empty phrase." he added. "Those who are to stay at home are going to' do their part. Tho job does not end with the men in the trenches, great as is their part." Mr. Savage said he was speaking in 1 the name of the Government and not " as an individual. There was only one way to help the Mother Country and the Allies, "and that was through the | Government. The time had come for unity and to begin the great work of organisation so that the men going abroad would bo able to say that they were not going to be sacrificed in vain. On behalf of the Government and people he thanked tho officers and men on parade. Wofthy Successors The Leader of the Opposition, the Son. A. Hamilton, said: "You represent the first unhesitating>reply to to-day's challenge to man's destiny." He thought the undaunted; and unflinching spirit they displayed in answering that call was greater evidence of the determination of free men to defend the honour and precious privileges of liberty and justice than was ever made in modern history, "You are worthy successors to carry high the national banner," lie added. "May wo at home prove worthy of your trust while you are away. I know you will prove worthy of ours and of the honoured name of New Zealand," said Mr. Hamilton. The Hon. W. Perrv said that as tho Dominion president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association he assured the troops that their interests would be watched in their absence, and he hoped that on their return they would strengthen the organisation of the Returned Soldiers' Association. He expressed the wholehearted confidence of the returned men that the present troops would worthily uphold the traditions of Anzac. "From tho old Diggers to the new, good luck to you all, boys, and may you ail conie back covered with glory and with increased honour to New Zealand."