FAREWELL AT DANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 227, 18 October 1940, Page 4

FAREWELL AT DANCE

MEN NOW ON LEAVE ■SPECIAL CEREMONY PLANNED ' At a. short notice meeting of the Whakatane and District Soldiers' Farewell Committee held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening it -was decided in view of the limited number of men leaving front this district in the neqr .iuture - and also the fact that many had already taken part in. earlier farewells, to approach the ladies running the Patriotic! dance on Saturday with a view to combining the official farer well with that event. It was pointed out by the chairman, Mr S. S. Shapley, that there were approximately 16 men from this area, and of that number only 6 or thereabouts. r * had not pnvrusly been faren welled. that it was the intention of the promoters of the dance to make m separate presentation. The meeting concurred with the suggestion to combine forces, but members .desire it to be plainly understood that such action will not be treated as a precedent for future occasions, when ilt is hoped to follow the usual procedure of a parade through the streets and a civic function at the Winter Show Hall. The question of men going from, this district for service in the Air Force was also discuss-* ed, several speakers pointing out that recruits from Whakatane. had been called up singly and as a result had been missed < from the official functions. The Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry* expressed the deepest regret at any oversight which may have occurred in this . respect and suggested that if these individ>ual men were home on leave at any time that separate farewells > • should be held for them dividually. It was due to them and he only regretted that some . ? had' been allowed to depart in the past without notice. .. The chairman asked all memr bers to make it their business to report any men known to be on their final leave, at any time. The committee would attend to> ■ the details of their farewell. The press was also asked to - appeal through its columns to ' the public generally to pass oa v . the information to any member of the Committee, the town clerk or Mr Barry.