A NAVAL OCCASION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22066, 23 September 1933, Page 9

A NAVAL OCCASION

LUNCHEON TO VISITING OFFICERS SPIRIT OF UNITY EMPHASISED (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 22. A State luncheon to Rear-admiral Dalglish, of the Australian Squadron, and his senior officers was tendered by the Government. The Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) presided, and besides the Ministers, there were at the top of the table the Speakers of the two Houses (Sir Walter Carncross and Sir Charles Statham), the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), Sir Francis Bell, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr T. C. A. Hislop), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E, Holland) and Commodore BurgesWatson. N.Z.R.N. Mr Forbes, proposing the toast of “His Majesty’s Australian Squadron,” said he was sure the practice which the New Zealand and Australian navies had had would be of great benefit. New Zealand’s history had been bound up with the British Navy, with which the New Zealand Government had always been closely associated. It was New Zealand’s aim to keep in close association with Australia. “ These are times in which we must all feel that we are part of the British Empire, and I have come back from England with the firm conviction that we are all members of a great family.” Mr Forbes remarked that the present was the first occasion on which they had had a woman member amongst them and he wanted Mrs M'Combs to be assured she was very welcome. — (Loud applause.) Responding, Rear-admiral Dalglish thanked the Prime Minister and the people of New Zealand for the extraordinary hospitality which had been extended to his fleet. The practices had given the Australian Navy a wonderful opportunity and he had been greatly impressed with the efficiency of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. He felt that the officers and men of the navy were the greatest ambassadors of peace that could be imagined.— (Applause.)