THE CITY'S WELCOME

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8740, 23 May 1914, Page 6

THE CITY'S WELCOME

TO SIR lAN HAMILTON

REFERENCES TO OUR SYSTEM

OF TRAINING.

lAIPERIAL OFFICERS’ AVORK

About 1000 people gathered in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, when a civic reception was tendered General Sir lan Hamilton, Inspector-Gene-ral of the Oversea Forces. His AVership the Mayor (Air J. P. Luke) presided, and there were present on the platform Major Ashmore, Brigadier Ellison, Second-Lieutenant Rhodes, Alajor-General Godley. Colonel R. J. Collins, Colonel Heard, Colonel G. C. B. AVo'lfe, the Minister for Defence (Hon. James Allen), the Hon. A. L. Herdman, the Hon. H. D, Bell, the Hon. AA r . Fraser, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Mrs AA r . F. Alassey, the Alayoress (Mrs J. P. Luke), and members of the City Council. An apology was read for the Prime Alinister’s absence.

In welcoming Sir lan Hamilton, the Alayor said that no place would give their visitor a more hearty greeting than. AA r ellington. the capital city of the Dominion. (Applause.) Their visitor came from a fighting stock, and had taken up soldiering as his profession. If he had taken up any other profession he would doubtless have been just as great a success. In him they had a man of whom they were thoroughly proud ; they were proud to do honour to him. (Applause.! In 1872 Sir lan bad joined the Gordon . Highlanders, and ever since his career 'had been full of activity. Ho had taken part in the Afghan AVar in 1879, and was present at Kabul. In 1831 he bad gone to South Africa to help to maintain the honour of the British flag, and again had distinguished himself, and had been associated with the veteran Lord Roberts. (Applause.) There was one page of his life with which New Zealanders were familiar — Sir lan’s part in the Boer AA’ar. AVho could have better supported Sir George AVhite at“Ladysmith than their visitor? (Applause.) To-day Sir lan was a missioner of peace, but to secure peace the Britishers must be prepared. It was for that purpose that the General was in the Dominion — to see that our hoys were properly trained, and that we in the Dominion should work in properly with other parts of the Empire. They might have had a man sent out here with cast-iron principles, but General Godley, the choice of the New Zealand Government, had been most successful in getting our young men together, and getting them trained with the least resistance. On behalf of the city, the Mayor, again gave Sir, lan a hearty welcome, (Applause.) the fmperial officers.

Tlie Hon. James Allen, who was greeted with applause, said that Bis Worship had made reference to, the Imperial officers and General Godley. There was no doubt that they owed the English officers a great deal. Thera had been some comment unfavourable to them. There had been times when the Dominion was not sure that it was doing right, but now they could begin to see the good effect of the training imparted to our young men by the officers who had been imported. He could say this: that the officers who had been sent out here by the War Office during the last three years had done a great deal for the country. (Applause.) He wished publicly to thank them for it. They were proud of the men who had come here, and grateful for their assistance in working out the scheme of military training (Applause-.) Referring to Sir lan’s visit, Mr Allen said that these visits from oversea men were bringing us into closer touch with the Mother Country. Not long ago, they had had a visit from distinguished members of the British Parliament. Such visits were most valuable, for they advanced the Imperial ideals of the people of the Dominion. And this visit by Sir lan Hamilton would undoubtedly be of tremendous benefit to the country. (Applause.) He himself had spent a great deal of time with Sir lan during the last three or four weeks, and he had no hesitation in saying that he had learned a great deal. In the report which their visitor would make upon what he had seen here, he (the Minister) hoped that nothing would be glossed over. They wanted to know quite frankly what Sir lan thought, and if they were making mistakes. Sir lan must point them out. (Applause.) ’ This was absolutely necescary, for they wanted to develop the scheme which they had undertaken fully and on the proper lines. (Applause.) After the city organist had played a selection, the Mayor called upon Sir lan Hamilton to reply. The General was most enthusiastically received, there being loud cheers and applause. SIR lAN’S REPLY. Sir lan Hamilton thanked the Mayor and citizens most sincerely for their welcome. He said ' that the speeches that had been made and the way the people had received him had given him a warmth which he wanted after his work of the morning. The Mayor bad said that he would have been successful in any other profession. This he doubted, but, if he had chosen, any other calling, after what he had passed through, he would certainly choose that of a hatter in Wellington. (Laughter.) But he had thought—while he ivas chasing his hat during the morning—(laughter)—that a fierce and fickle climate makes a sturdy and kindly people. He would first like to express his joy and gratitude to the Mayor for having referred to his old chiefs, Lord Roberts and Sir George White. “I conctAmtly see Lord Roberts at Home,” said Sir lan. “He is just eighty-two, but during the manoeuvres last September, he rode for six and a half hours in the saddle, and appeared none the worse for it. And ho is still going strong. (Loud applause;) I write to him regularly, about every three weeks, and I shall consider it my duty, and a pleasurable one, too, to tell him in my very next letter how his name was received by you.” (Applause.) As for Sir George'White, Sir lan said, he had always looked upon him as the gallant, strong, chivalrous character that he was! (Apolausd.) ! As for the Imperial officers, he was grateful for the words of encouragement that had been said. He believed that they were doing their verv best, and the work they were doing* was good also for themselves. In the military colleges at Home, people sometimes got very narrow views of their duties. They got separated from the human element. The, officers came

here and found that they had to come down and teach the two-step, that, he believed, was perfectly splendid for them. All he hoped was that they would give a complete quid pro quo for whatever Now Zealand gave them. On the other band, they in . Great Britain were most anxious to pve the Now Zealand officers a show at HQme. They had given General r Davn® the command of a brigade of infantry at Aldershot —one of the plums of the service, and he had carried out his work jolly well. Never for a second had he heard a British officer begrudge tho Now Zealander the post. (Applause.) AN INSPIRING SIGHT.

Sir lan said he could not say much about the work of the territorials now: that must wait for his report to the Minister. But he was going fb break a custom and mention the name cf one company. Of all the inspiring sights he had seen in those splendid cadet parades was the con l ' panv of junior cadets of the New Plymouth High School. Those boys were under fourteen, hut in the presence cf the Minister and the officers, tney had not let an eyelash quiver as they were being inspected. He had marve led at the graven little images, and had thought how splendid it was to think that such- training would be banded down by the boys to tbeir children, for he was sure they would never forget what they had learned. Sir lan again thanked the citizens for their welcome, and the gathering concluded with cheers for the General. . -