RECRUITS' FAREWELL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3560, 21 September 1916, Page 2

RECRUITS' FAREWELL

ARRANGEME-NTS AT THE STATION.

A ■MORE SATISFACTORY SYSTEM

The exemplary conduct of X the Ashburton public nib the entraining of recruits at the railway station last evening'should provo conclusively to the Defence authorities that the attempts made during the last few months to prevent • the relatives and friends of departing soldiers from having a final word of farewell at the station, have boon quite unnecessary, and should also show that these departures do not warrant the country being put to the unnecessary expense of having a special officer brought from Tima'ru to superintend arrangements. Another attempt at a barricade was made.last evening, and, purely by accident, it proved satisfactoory to the | Defence authorities and to those who had frionds going away. The Senior Cadets surrounded -\ small enclosure at the northern end of the station, into which it was intended the recruits should march to wait the arrival of tho train. The men marched on to the? station simultaneously with the arrival' of the train, which pulled up, leaving an empty carriage opposite the enclo sure before all the recruits coiild get within the barrier, and others'were, shut outside • .amongst the crowd. Lieutenant Grub quickly sized up the position, and by good tact, for which he dosorvos credit, announced that as soon as all the recruits passed withm the barrier and boarded the train, the, bar-ier would bo taken away. Vhe public in the vicinity of the^ barrier immediately stopped back and allowed tho remainder of the recruite to join ■ tho others inside "tho barrier. lhere was no pushing, and everything _ was. perfectly orderly, the public assisting ( th* police and military authorities m evwv way. The men then boarded the train, and in less than half a minute the barrier had been taken away, and the friend?, were chatting merrily with those about to depart. This arrangement came very near the old order of farewolls, except that no Cadets wore required in those days; Mr W J- Dickie.' M-.P., was again present at the station last evfimne. In conversation with a "Guardian re- I porter he said ho considered last even-, in"- rs arrangement worked more satisfactorily than.on-the previous occasion, and the relatives had ah opportunity to, say good-bye. He said he was still of opinion, however, that all these elaborate precaution? to keep tho public back were 'Unnecessary.