BELGIAN CONSUL-GENERAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18159, 2 February 1921, Page 3

BELGIAN CONSUL-GENERAL

CIVIC RECEPTION

There was a representative gathering of citizens at the Town Hail yesterday to welcome M. Henri Segaert, the Belgian Consul-general for Australia and New Zealand, wno is paying a short visit to Dunedin. .

The Mayor (Mr W. Begg) presided. In welcoming their visitor, he relerred to the gallant manner in which tlie small Belgian army had stood up to the advancing tierman hordes in August, 1914, thereby giving Britain and the other Allied Bowers sufficient time to hasten to her assistance with what forces were then available. How the hearts and sympathy of the people of the' dominion went out to the women and chib dren of their gallant ally was demonstrated by the ready response of the citizens. In Dunedin a fund had been established, and how it had been appreciated they knew full well, and probably a great deal more would have been raised had they had the assurance that the money was aiwaya finding its proper, legitimate destination. And whatever might have been done by them in the past, he could assure their guest tnai should ever the occasion again arise—and may God forbid—this city and dominionaye, their whole Empire—would ever be found on the side of their weaker brethren and nations, and a strong and steadfast enemy to all transgressors and evil-doers. — (Applause.) It was now highly gratifying to learn that Belgium was fast returning to her normal or pre-war state; that she would require a good deal of our products was self-evident, and she should be assisted and encouraged in this respect. That she was now exporting steel and iron and glassware—goods lor winch she had long been noted —was welcome news to the community, for in this city alone many public and, important works were held up owing to inability to procure the necessary material. So with Belgian production, and the likelihood of her custom for our gooty in return, they looked forward to a commercial intercourse that would be beneficial to all parties concerned. In conclusion, his Worship said: “M. Segaert, in welcoming you to our city, may 1 express the hope that your mission to us may be a most profitable and pleasurable one, and that your visit to us will still further cement the unity of our countries, founded and established as it is on the sacred and commingled blood of those nearest and dearest to us.” — (Applause.) His Worship then asked Mr J. J. Clark, who was Mayor of the city during the period of the war, to say a few words. .Mr Clark prefaced his remarks by, referring to Belgium’s wonderful stand in the early stages of the war. He said that in Otago they had shown their admiration and gratitude to Belgium by contributing about £90.000 to assist their gallant allies in their bitter distress. Never in the whole history of their oity had there been a more generous and spontaneous response to an appeal than that given to_ the Belgium Fund. The whole community had joined in giving expression to their feelings of gratitude. They felt that_ it was the least they could do to let Belgium know that they were stirred to the very depth of their souls by the tragic story of the ghastly, black, inhuman horrors of her martyrdom. He understood that one of the objects of their guest’s visit was to bring back the trade between Bel--glum and New Zealand. Let them hope that the trade that once went to Germany would go to their allies, for they did not desire that their land should be again polluted by goods made in Germany. , He hoped that soon the trade between Belgium and New Zealand would adequately reflect the friendship and gratitude that they felt towards that country.—(Applause.) M. Segaert was loudly applauded on rising to reply. _ He thanked them from the bottom of his heart for the kind way they had welcomed him. He was also very pleased to have been given the opportunity of meeting the representative men of their city. He said he came as the ambassador of the King of the Belgians to express his country’s deep gratitude for all that had been done for them in Dunedin and New Zealand. He had been charged to present Mr Massey, as representing the citizens of the dominion, with one of the most brilliant orders of Belgium. The speaker said that he had been in Brussels at the end of July, 1914, and spoke of his experiences during the first days of the war. Before Antwerp they had been able to hold up two or three German _ army corps, ‘and he considered that their efforts at that critical time had had a direct bearing on the first great victory of the Marne.—(Applause.) Subsequently he had become attached to the Belgian Legation in London, and had been enabled, through the New Zealand High Commissioner’s office, to obtain a first-hand knowledge of what the people of the dominion were doing for Belgium. After visiting South Africa he had returned to Belgium just about thq time of the armistice, and he had then had an opportunity of meeting the splendid boys they had sent to the other end of the world. Those that had been laid in Belgian soil that countrV would worship aways. Reference was made to the destruction of the roads and railway lines in Belgium and to the marvellous recovery which was being made in the industrial activities there. _ M. Segaert concluded by wishing a glorious future, success, and prosperity to the city of Dunedin and the province of Otago.—(Applause.) M. Segaert afterwards met a number of the business men present at the reception.