“BON VOYAGE”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10542, 19 March 1920, Page 5

“BON VOYAGE”

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS FAREWELL HON. ARTHUR MYERS. 1 A largo gathering of commercial men .including many delegates who (had come from o distance to attend tho conference held at Wellington this week, assembled at the Commercial Travellers’ Club last evening for the purpose of wishing bon voyage to tho Hon. Arthur At. Myers, Ur» Myers, and family, who arc leaving for England to-day by the s.s. Alegantic. Mr M. A. Carr (president) said it was, his privilege and pleasure to ask them to gather together that evening and, on their behalf, to wish Godspeed to their esteemed friend, tho Hon. Arthur Myers, his wife, and family, who were to leave next day for the Old Country. (Applause.) A HIGH TRIBUTE., ilr Myers was with them 1 all the way in the various efforts of the Commercial Travellers’ Association. Ho was a past president of the Auckland association, and his support both financial and moral to the association, had boon of r«iy groat value. (Applause.) But the value of the seivices he had rendered to the wholo of New Zealand was such that no words of his could adequately give expression to it. He_ had occupied the position of Acting-Finance Minister at on important crisis in the world’s history during tho great war, and had carried out the duties of- that office to the great satisfaction of everybody. (Applause.) The Hon. Arthur Myers did not go into politics because he was going to .get personal gain or got anything out of it beyond the satisfaction of doing the beat he could for his country. (Applause.) That was tho spirit of commercial travellers and of the Commercial Travellers’ Association to-day—to do the'best they could to build up the social fabric of this country so that we can be true to ourselves and to the Motherland. (Appla.use.) MESSAGE TO MOTHERLAND.

“On the ere of his departure, Mr Myers is here with us,*' added M- r Carr, “and, I want each and everyone of you to unite with me in wishing him bon voyage, and that ho may carry a message for us to the Old Cfountxy, that though New Zealand is a little stepping-?!? place at tue Antipodes tve are heart and soul witn the Motherland, and that in case of necessity every man of us who can don the King’s uniform will turn his feet to the sea.” (Loud applause.) Mr A. Thompson (Auckland) said that he was exceedingly grateful to have the opportunity of endorsing the words of the chairman. So far as Auckland was concerned, they felt that, though Mr Myers .was only leaving them for a few months, it was an extreme loss to have him away from them for that period. The people of Auckland owed a deep debt of gratitude to Mr Myers for the manner in which ha had considered that city during the whole of his lifetime. There was nothing in Auckland he could not attain if he so desired. They loved him. He had lived amongst them and had dona everything ho could to help on the progress of the city. (Applause.) It was largely -due to his endeavours that Auckland was the Queen City of New Zealand. They, all heartily wished him and Mrs Myers a good trip and a safe return. LIBERAL LEADER’S TRIBUTE. Tlie Hon., IV. D. S. MacDonald, who was received with applause, said that ifc was a great pleasure to him to bo associated with those present in bidding farewell for the time being to their friend the Hon. Arthur Myers. He paid a very high tribute to Mr Myers, both as a Ministerial colleague and as a friend, and very heartily joined with them in wishing bon voyge to him and to his good lady and family. Ho hoped they would have a pleasant trip to the Old Land, a pleasant time there; and that Mr Myers would be able to bring back good news to tills country of goodwill from the Old Country—good news, too, that the afterfnath of the worldwar would soon be over and normal times return. (Applause.)

Mr R. McCallum, ALP. for Wairau, endorsed what had been said by Mr MacDonald and the other speakers, and complimented the president on the high Imperial note he had struck at the beginning of the proceedings. The absence of Mr Myers, he said, would be a loss to the Dominion for six or sveen months, but the loss would be made up as a result of the added experience that he -would gain. (Applause.) All present then united in wishing Mr Myers bon voyage, to the strains of f ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,'’ followed by three hearty cheers. HON. A. MYERS IN REPLY. Mr Myers, who on rising was received with loud applause, assured them that he was a very surprised man to find such a large and l representative gathering there to do him the honour of bidding him Godspeed on the journey he was now going to take. - When he was invited to the club ho thought he was only to have the pleasure and privilege of seeing a few old friends, and he deeply appreciated their assembling in such large numbers to bid him farewell. As a politician of 16 years’ standing, he had not been used to such nice things as the speakers had said of him. He had generally heard things of a different character, especially when he had tp go through an election. (Laughter and applause.) He would certainly recall with great pleasure indeed that happy gathering. (Applause.) He sincerely appreciated the honour they had done him, and he would go away on the morrow a very happy man, feeling that his obligations to his country were the greater as a result of that gathering. (Loud applause.)

Mr M. A. Carr t “Wo are bidding farewell to one of New Zealand’s statesmen, and to one of ourselves.’’ (Loud applause.) The singing of the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close.