WELCOME TO CITY

Southland Times, Issue 24439, 20 May 1941, Page 6

WELCOME TO CITY

AIR FORCE BAND FLANS UPSET BY WEATHER By the enthusiasm of its welcome to the band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Invercargill compensated in some measure for the extreme wintry weather which greeted the band on its visit to the city yesterday. A biting southerly wind, which brought occasional showers of hail and sleet, made conditions out of doors very unpleasant, and the civic reception to the band, which was to have been held at the Crescent, had to be held instead at the Civic Theatre. The band was also to have given a display of ceremonial marching in the Crescent, but the weather made this impossible. If the weather permits, the display will be given this afternoon. The stalls and dress circle of the theatre were filled for the civic reception. The Mayor (Mr J. R. Martin) presided and with him on the platform were the Hon. Adam Hamilton, a

member of the War Cabinet, Squadron Leader A. C. McArthur, of the selection committee of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Flight-Lieutenant Gladstone Hill, conductor of the band, and Mr W. Grieve, chairman of the executive of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council.

“On behalf of the citizens of Invercargill I wish to extend a cordial welcome to the band. I was going to say warm welcome, but with the weather we are having that would hardly be suitable. However the welcome is sincere,” said Mr Martin. He added that the first purpose of the visit of the band was to help in the recruiting campaign for the Air Force, and its second object was to help the patriotic funds. It had not been possible to send men from the air training stations to take part in the recruiting campaign because they were fully occupied with the work of training to take their place in the Empire air effort. However, the people of Southland could regard the band as truly representative of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. All knew the magnificent record of that force overseas. A large number of New Zealand airmen, including several from Southland, had won distinction. Every year thousands of young men were going forward from the Dominion to take their place in the Empire air forces. More men were needed, however. It was essential to keep up reinforcements.

GREAT EMPIRE FORCE “The Empire air training scheme is no longer a scheme; it is an accomplished fact,” said Mr Martin. “Where previously a hundred men were being trained under the scheme a thousand are now being trained. The Empire is building up an air force such as the world has never seen. In the past we have had the best machines and the best men. Now the day is not far distant when we will overwhelm the enemy with numbers as well. We in New Zealand have our part to play in maintaining our air force personnel. Knowing the young men of Southland as I do, I feel sure that all that is needed is to tell them what recruits are wanted and that they will do the rest.”

Mr Martin added that men of from 18 to 31 years were wanted as pilots, men from 18 to 33 as air gunners and observers, and men from 18 to 28 as pilots and observers of the Fleet Air Arm.

Mr Hamilton said he was delighted to be present to join in the welcome to the band to Invercargill. There was no need for him to tell them the important part that the Air Force was playing in our war effort. The Army had borne the brunt of the attack on land and we were all grateful for the splendid work of the Navy, but it did seem that the Air Force had stood between us and

the enemy. But for the resource and ability of the airmen of Great Britain we might have met with a very difficult situation last year. It was on that occasion that Mr Churchill had declared that never had so many owed so much to so few.

No airman in the present war had won more fame than one from New Zealand, whose pluck and daring had thrilled the world, Mr Hamilton continued. He referred to “Cobber” Kain. (Applause.) The men from New Zealand who had gone to join the Air Force overseas were highly regarded. New Zealand had every reason to be proud of her airmen. More than 100 of them had been decorated for gallantry.

NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE “More than 30,000 men in New Zealand have enlisted in the Air Force and all are volunteers,” Mr Hamilton continued. “New Zealand is sending 6000 men every year to the Empire air forces. That is a very good contribution from the Dominion. There are some people who say that New Zealand is i not doing as much in the war effort as I she should, but if you think it over you will realize that our effort is as | good as that of any other Dominion. It is, however, essential to keep up reinforcements. Men fall and are knocked out and it is important to see that they are replaced. We have got to stand by the men who have gone overseas and see that they get adequate reinforcements. This is a great responsibility for the young men of New Zealand, but it is also a glorious opportunity. I am sure that the young men of Southland will respond to the call. In fact they are already flocking to join up.” GOOD TYPE OF MEN “I wish to thank you all for the warm welcome you have given us today,” said Squadron Leader McArthur. “I have been up and down New Zealand with the selection committee of the Air Force. I saw the splendid type of young men who went into training in the early days of the war, men who are now on active service and are doing such fine work. On the present recruiting campaign I have been from Auckland to Invercargill, and I will say that the young men we have been seeing will give an equally good account of themselves. The response that we have had from one end of New Zealand to the other has been all that I expected, but we still need more men, a steady stream of volunteers if New Zealand is to do her full share in the tremendous task before the Empire. We have already begun the selection of volunteers in Invercargill and we are very pleased with the type ■ of men we have seen. Perhaps it is j your climate that makes them hardy.” Flight-Lieutenant Hill said that the band in helping in the recruiting campaign for the Air Force and in raising money for the patriotic funds had accomplished a happy combination of war work. The band had been well received throughout New Zealand and had succeeded in raising considerable sums of money for patriotic purposes in various centres. For example, when they visited Blenheim the patriotic fund there had been closed with a total of £15,000, but before the band left this sum had been raised to £lB,OOO. The band was pleased to be back in Invercargill. Mr Grieve thanked the band for its help in raising money for patriotic purposes.

During the reception the band played the following items: “My Regiment”; I “Mother Macree” (euphonium solo by Bandsman Willis); “Smilin’ Thru” (cornet solo by Corporal Geard) and “Colonel Bogey.” TODAY’S PROGRAMME The band will visit Kew Hospital at 11 o’clock this morning and play a programme of music in the grounds, 'which will be open to the general public. At 3.30 this afternoon the recruiting parade which was to have taken

place yesterday afternoon will be held in the Crescent, where the band will give a display of ceremonial marching and will also play a number of selections. In the evening the band will give a concert in the Civic Theatre. WELCOME AT STATION Although there were occasional showers of sleet a large crowd of spectators welcomed the members of the band who arrived by yesterday afternoon’s express from Dunedin. The band of the Ist Southland Regiment played selections on the platform and after the arrival of the train marched by way of Esk and Dec streets to the Civic Theatre.