ARMY SECRETARY WELCOMED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20532, 25 September 1936, Page 5

ARMY SECRETARY WELCOMED

FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO TIMARU On their first official visit to Timaru, Lieutenant-Colonel George Grattan, Chief Secretary for the Salvation Army in New Zealand, and Mrs Grattan, were accorded a public welcome at the Timaru Citadel last night, when there was a large attendance. The meeting was presided over by Commissioner F. Adams, leader of the Army in New Zealand, with whom were associated Mrs Adams, Colonel A. Scotney, of Wellington, Brigadier W. Cottrill, of Christchurch, and Adjutant Knight, officer in charge of the Timaru Corps and Mrs Knight. On behalf of the Salvationists of Timaru Brigadier W. Cottrill, Divisional Commander for Canterbury, welcomed the visitors and promised them the loyal support of the soldiers of the local Corps. Colonel Grattan and his wife, were enthusiastically received in rising to reply. The Colonel mentioned that when he had received notice of his appointment, people who had been in New Zealand either wrote or communicated with him and gave him a description of the Dominion, and while he had been only three weeks in the

country, he had found that all the good things said about the Dominion were true. Colonel Grattan touched briefly on the origin of the Army, its special message, particularly to the outcast, and urged Timaru Salvationists to maintain the spirit that had characterised the good work of the past. Commissioner Adams expressed pleasure at having Colonel Grattan as his second in command, particularly as they had known one another In Army circles in the Old Country. He was full of hope that their association would be of mutual benefit to themselves and to the Army. The Band under the conductorship of Bandmaster Granville Hawkey, provided a programme of selections, while the songster brigade also took part in the entertainment.