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Temuka Leader, Issue 9792, 24 October 1918, Page 3

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THREE AIOHE RETURNED SOLDIERS. ARRIVE AT TEAIUKA. Yesterday afternoon three more (1 our mem returned home fiom the war, their names being Privates D. AlcCallum (wounded in the leg), and R. Pearce and P. Alien (invalided). As the train came in, the Juvenile Press Bund, under their instructor, Mr Burton haw. played a, welcoming air, and (here was a. large attendance of IVimds to meet them. After greetings by the Mayor (Mr A. Prow) and Air T. (innnion (chairman of the Teuuika P.IvC ) and others, I lie men wore driven to (ho Post Office, the Band preceding them, A largo crowd assembled in the square. Mi (innnion said Tcmuka was glad lu he aide, once more to do honour to boys coming back from the front. These men had been bearing the brunt ai d burden of the day for long. Some of them bad hern away upwards of three years, fighting for us who remained at homo. (Applause.) They had done their duty, and wvo are proud of them. Are you asked Mr 0 minion. and “ We are ” came the reply. “Thank .you.” said Air Gunmon.

Turning to (be men lie said: “ W Ilian If you on behalf of our little coin mitten-, and we Lope that yon will sooi be restored to your usual slate o health and strength.” It would tliei be for the country To help them—am h; (T< m Gumiion) was included ii lint term—and if ihey wanted a littb hclp to start a business or go on tin land, it w as for the country to ace tha Iho necessary help was forthcoming lie did not care whether it was Mi Craigie, or Mr Talbot, or who it was—it was up to every member of Barbament to see that the country provide! •for returned sioldiors. In a few more days they would he sending their married men away—men w.ho had Inc ti give up their businesses and theii homes. In conclusion, Mr Gunnior called for cheers for the returned mei ) and these were heartily given. The Mayor (Mr Frew) welcomed the men on behalf of the citizens. They bad good reason to thank the tner most heartily for the services they had rendered their country. The foo they 1 had been fighting against was certainly brutish in nature, and hard to put down, hut the time was coming when the. strength of the Allies would bring him down. We may have a few hardships‘tc contend with, hut if we could only see France and Belgium we would have reason to say that this is “God’s own country.” Harry Lander had said, in fun, “what is. the good oi fighting for your country if they will not give con a bit of if?” But in New Zealand .soldier?, could get land for LI per acre and make £o per acre on it, being £1 for the Government and £T for themselves. New Zealand was very well off. The Road Board district was valued at something like £-,000,000 lie forgot the exact figures. if the owners gave 1 per emit of that it only meant. £20,000. Who. would object? lie for one would give it willingly'. He was very glad, cm behalf of the citizens, to we’ccine !>ac!c men who Inal clone so much forrs. fApplause) Private Pearse being asked to speak, sail as far as ho was concerned lie had never readied France. .After a time in Sling Cam}) he had lr en dratted into “ Home service ” and had been on it ever since. When the’ 21st and 22nd Bduforcoments arrived, men were dying at the rate of two a day. There were fourteen ships in their convoy ; and when two Jays from Liverpool they were attacked by submarines, but the New Zealanders escaped. He was not islanding before them as a returned hero, but on behalf of the hoys who had. gone over to France—and he knew something of what they had gone through—whatever you do you cannot do tco much. On behalf of his comrades and himself he .thanked i them sincerely for their welcome heme. (Applause).

Private McCallum said lie wished to express the appreciation of bis com-rades-and. himself of the welcome they had received. It was the best they had seen since they arrived. Those at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch were not to bo compared with it, and Temuka had nothing- to be ashamed of. “ You can he proud of Temuka,” said Private McCallum. “ I am proud of it, though I have been four years away.” (Loud Applause). At the call of Private McCallum, toe returned soldiers gave three hearty dicers fur Temuka for the welcome they had received, and they were then driven to their homes.

Cars w T erc kindly provided by Messrs Hally (2), Street and Frisky. Private Sullivan, who was expected with the other men, left the train at Winchester.’ AT GERALDINE. Two returned soldiers, Lance-CoJ-pl. James Anderson, who left with tho Main Body, and Pvt. W. Waters were expected back at Geraldine yesterday but only the last named arrived and was welcomed at the Post OHicc steps by the Mayor, Mr B. 11. MacDonald, who said that the sooner ali the men came home the better tin y would he plea soil. Private Waters had not only hem wourded, hut gassed as well, and was si ill sick. The shi}) he had been in had sail id in the wake of one which had heui torpedoed. Three hearty cheers were given for Private Waters, who replied briell v.