GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19878, 20 February 1920, Page 3

GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

SWTgRTAJNED BY OFFICERS’ CLUB.

! FAREWELL DINNER,

His Excellency the Govern-ar-Geuenil ("Lord Liverpool) was entertained at a farewell dinner in the Provincial Council Chambers by the Canterbury Officers’ Club last evening. Colonel G. •). Smith presided, and about seventy members sat down at the table. Amongst those present were Prigadier--0.-Rcral A. V,*. Andrew, Colonel G. S. PV'i.jomhc, Colonel .11. A, Ciiatfc-y, Colonel JC Young (officer commanding the Canterbury di.-tricti. Colonel Barton • Gcucial Mail Otiicori, Colonel Fenwick. Colonel A. Anderson and Colonel W. S. Beau (chaplain). Apologies tor absence were received from rite Prime iln: is ter. Sir dames Allen (Minister ot Dei once), Sir .Francis Bell (.Minister of Internal Affairs), General Chaytor and Genera 1 I? idtn rclson.

liiS EXCELLENCY’S SERVICES. After the toast of ‘‘The King" had been honoured, the president proposed " His Excellency the Governor-General and Commamlor-iii-Clfief.'’ He said Gnu file occasion was unique as far as officers -of the Canterbury military district were concerned, and they deeply appreciated the honour his Excellency had conferred on them by meeting them there. His Excellency came to New Zealand in December, 1012. He had the distinction not only of serving a longer term than was served bv any other Governor of New Zealand, but nko of representing his Majesty the Kingpin the highly important capacity oi Governor tor a longer term than that of any other Governor in any part of the Empire. (Applause.) In* addition. he had thirty years’ service to Ins credit a-s a soldier, a fact that helped, to make the occasion a unique one to Canterbury -officer.-. In the year folhis Excellency’s arrival ia this Dominion. H.Jl.f?. Now Zealand came to_ these thorns. A tribute should he paid io the statesmen and the Government of that time who made the prerent to tile Imperial Government. New Zealanders wore proud of the work the Now Zealand had done, and they hoped that she would have many more years of service m the Imperial Navy. In the year following that event came the declaration of war with Germany, an event which of itself made his Excellency’s term a momentous one in the v.mfire’s history. The economic, industrial and social problems created bv the war would he dealt with by the civilian section of the community, "The Defence horco—Territorial officers and other officers—-must see that this nan of the Empire was prepared for any similar emergency that might arise. They hoped that the League of Nations would bo successful, but he very much noiibted if it would bo, and thev were hound _to do their best to have this Dominion made secure. Thov -must think of their womenfolk and their ehiidren, and see that the Defence Force was piaced on a safe footing. Them was much criticism as to whether the country could afford the expense, hut tin; duty of military officers was quite clear. It war, to tell the people what in their opinion was necessary, leaving tho question of cost to too GovornUiCnt and to Parliament. If they did not do that, and if the -country again was caught unprepared, tho blame'undoubtedly would rest with them. Thev had a duty also |o, the comrades who had fallen in the fight f or freedom. Colonel bnutli referred to his Excellency's interest in the hospital ships, the work of tuo Red (Voss Society, the Lady Liverpool I myj_ and the. general welfare of the Dominion. (Applause.) “it is an nonour to have an opportunity to express our admiration tor the work done by him and tho Countess c.f Liverpool, and to express oar very best wishes for their future,’’ Colonel ,Smith concluded amidst applause, ’

HIS EXCELLENCY'S SPEECH. The health was drunk ontlnisiasticaly, with musical honours. His • KxcolJoncy, in reply praised the defence lotces of Now Zealand and said thru: the system ut universal training. which jinn lu.*en in vogue tor some Time in these islands, had accomplished an immense amount of good ior tho'benefit ol ihe country. Everyone agreed that iinhlansm-’ ns people had been ? 1 10 P asc Hw years to understand the word, was most, undesirable, , w 4 ! yst f n irl,lcl ' inculcated and S„ lt fKfr I'* every citisen to the otate, should be fosrered to the highest cegioo. It had been In's privilege to inspect troops m every pan of tho DoUiiinon, and m Ins opinion, the question of cflic.ency must depend largely on the niflnidual efforts oi all concerned [i was impossible to see what the future had in store, but experience had taiHit that any country which allowed itself 10 ho ciiug.it un[ireparecl courted disaster. History taught that alter a great nar, the tendency was for a nation to slacken in i s preparations, so tar as corn d a UU IU m ' h M T /orcos were con, tenicd. ffhey might rightly hope that none in tins .generation, or in the next would have to face the orMl(,n i a , T' lg Y Ic; as l»nd been so la olt concluded Nevertheless, the strong man was he who never allowed hiroseh to he taken unawares, and waahutys prepared for any emergency. 1 lie did nOt lor one moment suggest j that it would be necessary to expend ! vast ' sl,ms on armaments for which there !™"«■!■ the ir;» 1 1 listed tear, whatever naval and militai> foices it i s considered desirable to | letain, should he maintained at th-> i highest pitch of efficiency. It would lie | impossible to disregard the fact tint j t,u ' rc ,' V: 1 S 1110 re than an ordinary I 01 'iwest throughout the world" | 1 essinusts endeavoured to persuade Mieop e that they were about ip bo | laced with years of great clifficuky, , - r winch there was no solution! Ho was inclined to think that people I were only facing the logical outcome of : a gigantic upheaval, which had always. ; sliutvn usoif whenever nations had been in conflict with one another, but tins magun m.e ol the issue involved made L.c difficulties m tins case appear hr greater than circumstances warranted Even alter the South African war. \vhich at the time they thought was a *7 r<Mt undertakinjy, unrest to a marked degree appeared m all industrial pnr--uits, and it took some time before a normal condition of affairs prevailed 5 F 9 n . • >rar unsettling to ail in- . (lusiriai and commercial pursuits, but tt also linmnged the stability of the indivuiiial Those who, had been assuc.uted with war, who fproviouslv wore quite contented with their normal occupations, loniul it very difficuli to resume their civil pursuits when neats' oad been dmared. In ordinary Lines c:mh individual bad to build up hi.- own business or profession; when war came he was uuiy a pawn in an enormous gathering of individuals. The vasr/majonty of the army had only to carry out orders, and had no need to think o how it would bo fed and clot hod or Detain pay 'iho effect was that when tho individual had again to provide himself with all tho requirements of _ie tried to do it from the easiest course available, and if be could not obtain all tho conveniences with the least possible labour, ho became discontented with the conditions under which ho had to exist. (Applause.) For that reason, the years that immediately followed a great war wero the most difficult for those who .had to guide tho destinies of any country. They wero mu filled with the glamour and excitement such as laid been the case previously, and oven men who had doiio extraordinarily well and were prepared to suffer in any extent while hostilities bii.ted, frequently caused considerable i difficulty whou poaen returned. Hu

thought, on the whole, they could ecro,gratnhte themselves that though they ead had tlieir troubles since the armistice was proclaimed, they had not experienced such great difficulties as faced a great number of their neighbours, throughout all countries that comprised the Empire there was only one deand that was to assist the men who had returned, so that they should no difficulty in obtaining a inst and proper livelihood after all their exertions, and further, that those who u i'eturned maimed or incapacitated should bo provided for as far as it was Possible ior the Suite and private enterprise to do so. He would leave New f , . lud Wlt, l t }‘o happiest recollections ol Ins associations with its military .oiccs, leehng certain that should occasion again-;rise for a coll to bo made tor ns ci tutors to assist the Empire its sons would not be found wantinsj in coming lonvarcl and giving the nmxiiiuim that lay in their power to uphold the traditions iiandod down to them bv heir lorotatliers, to hiaiinaiu the hon0tn ’ ,°f race and flag. ' Ihe Navy, Army and Air Forces” was proposed by Lieutenant -Colonel p. i>. Liesswell and responded to bv ticno'•;)l Andrew and Colonel Foljambe. During tho evening .Major T. ?.I. “’bw' sn , na ‘.' Fo , r lile Green " and Jamoombo fair,’ and Lieutenant .1. b. Hobos sang ‘’Quo Flag, One In rone and “ Beils 0 f Peace,” a „d an orchestra played several items.