NAVAL VISITORS

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 29

NAVAL VISITORS

H.M.A.S. SYDNEY OFFICERS ENTERTAINED. On Saturday evening a large gathering of Exhibition directors and prominent visitors entertained the officers of the H.M.A.S. Sydney. , , . * . There were present the chairman of exhibition directors, Mr J. Sutherland Ross, members of the directorate, the manager (Mr C. P Hainsworth). the secretary (Mr H. R. Spence), the Prime Minister (the' Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), the Hon. A D. M‘Leod (Minister of Lands), the Hon O. J Hawken (Minister of Agriculture and State Forests), the Hon. C. E. Statham the Mayor (Mr H. L Tapley), the over seas commissioners for the Exhibition, representatives of the provincial court commissioners and Dr Marshall Macdonald The guests of the evening were Commadore T. E. Wardle, Captain H Boyes. Commander E. G. Morris. Engineer Commander P. J. H. Hogan, Surgeon Commander A. Scott-Mackenize, LieutenantCommander L. de Goyt Pullen, Lieutenant A. S. Donovan, the Rev. V. VV. Thompson, Mr Graham (gunner), and Mr E. lllan« (warrant shipwright). “It is a very great pleasure to us to welcome you to the Exhibition,” said Mr J. Sutherland Ross in greeting his guests* “We are only sorry that your stay has been so short, and that the clerk of the weather has been so unkind. They say. however, that the weather in the north i 9 worse, so what you are to experience staggers the imagination ’’—(Laughter.) Mr Ross continued that it was a great pleasure to entertain officers from the Australian fleet, and the directors of the Exhibition considered it a privilege to greet men of the navy from across the Tasman Sea. In welcoming them to the Exhibition he was introducing them to a vest pocket edition of New Zealand. He hoped that they had examined the exhibits, which showed the primary products, resources, and secondary industries of the Dominion. He was also very proud to welcome the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Mr Coate?, together with the Hon. Mr M‘Leod, the Hon Mr Hawken. and the Hon. Mr Statham together with one, if not more, of those who were destined to make a name for themselves in Parliament. He did not intend to dwell on the beauties of the Exhibition, but was strongly disposed to chant the Exhibition anthem—“ Will ve No Come Back Again?” The Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley. M.Pj. said that his remarks would be brief, as a civic welcome had already been extended to the officers of the Sydney and it would be superfluous to sav more In addition to welcoming the naval guests it was his great privilege to welcome to the city the Prime Minister, whom thev were delighted to have with them. “The more visits Mr Coates can pay the better the citizens will like it,” he added. Mr Tapley abo greeted the Hon. Mr M‘Leod, and expressed his special pleasure in welcoming the Hon. Mr Hawken, who was on his first visit, as a Minister, to Dunedin. “I can assure you that it gives my colleagues and myself extreme pleasure to ioin in this welcome to Commodore Wardle and hi? officers.” said Mr Coates. “I am not going to say anything that would in nnv wav interfere with the welcome that will be tendered to them in Wellington, but on behalf of the citizens of New Zealand I want the officers and men to believe that they arp amongst very close relatives. The manhood of Australia and New Zealand reminds me of two Irish rogiments in France—they fought like fury amongst themselves., but if a Tommy or a New Zealander interfered with either, they were together at onco Now Zealanders will not allow outsiders to say anything against Australians, though each of us has his own wav of letting the other know what he think? of him ” “The Now Zealand Division of the Royal Navv has had the great pleasure and privilege of exercising in Australian waters, and we appreciate the fact that the Australian Navy has come over to continue the manoeuvres, as well &<> paying a social visit New Zealand joins with Australia in doing her bit to achieve the peace of nations, but it is imperative that British trade routes be protected, and in our small waysome would have that it is too small—we

aro determined to do our utmost to achieve that protection.' The Prime Minister also thanked the previous speakers for their hearty welcome to his colleagues tie was sorry they were not speaking for themselves, but the policy of the Government was—“ Very few words, but work and action.” Mr W L. Smallhorn, the Australian Commissioner also joined in the welcome to the officers of *hc Sydney it was a particular pleasure to him to be present, first a 3 Aus tralia’s representative and secondly because be was one of those who took part in the gathering in London, which gave birth to tne Australian and New Zealand naval units. The feelings between the Common wealth and the Dominion wore very closely interwoven, and would always be so. The visit of the Sydney in itself helped to wold that link, for New Zealanders had been associated in the engagement with the Emden, and the ship burned New Zealand coal. —(Laughter.) Captain Smallhorn closed by referring to a conversation between a “Sydney” man and himself that day. “Tell the people of New Zealand through the press that we have never before received hospitality like this,” he bad said. Commodore Wardle thanked his hosts for their hospitality and kindness. “The Exhibition is simply splendid,” ho said. “Since we have come to New Zealand we have been astounded at the size and progress of its cities in such a short span of years, and we have been greeted with the most open-hearted hospitality.” - Regarding the Australian Navy, he con sidered it a privilege to come over and 'exercise with the Now Zealand division, and far from being separate units he looked on the Australian dnd New Zealand navies as being very strong links of Empire, imbued with tne same loyalty and sense of duty as the British Navy ‘Unless we stand together—well—God help the Empire in this part of the world. ’* concluded ihe speaker. At the invitation of Mr Sutherland Ross, the Hon. Mr M‘Leod and the Hon. Vlr Hawken also briefly added their welcome to the officers and thanked previous speakers for the remarks concerning them selves. “For .hey are Jolly Good Fellows," sung by the hosts, and returned with equal gusto by what Commodore Wardle described as “the Sydney choir,” concluded an enjoyable informal evening.