SOLDIERS' WELCOMED HOME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2662, 6 January 1916, Page 6

SOLDIERS' WELCOMED HOME

A RECEPTION POSTPONED OWING TO INACCURATE ADVICE TWO INFORMAL GATHERINGS The stream of returning sick and wounded New Zealanders from the base hospital grows, steadier, and the task of receiving and entertaining them 011 behalf of tho citizens of Wellington is being cheerfully discharged by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and Mrs. Luke. Three contingents of the men who returned by tho Jlaheno reached Wellington from Auckland by separate trains yesterday, but their numbers did not correspond with the information which had been received by the Mayor. A reception fixed for the afternoon had in consequence to bo cancelled. Arrangements had been made for a reception to the men at 4.30 p.m. in the Town Hall, after the arrival of tho last

train. The men who arrived by the morning train had already been received by the Jlayor at ail informal welcome in his own room. In tho afternoon a much larger body of men ivas expected, and citizens, although not in very largo numbers, had gathered in the galleries of the Town Hall ready to take part in welcoming the men. When, however, barely a dozen men made their appearance_ at the Town Hall it was decided to dispense with the formal ceremony, and a second informal gathering to welcome the men was held in the Mayor's room. Addressing those who were present in the Town Hall in the afternoon tho Mayor expressed his annoyance at the disarrangement which had been caused by inaccurate information lie had received. "I am sorry," said His Worship, "to have to apologise for the postponement of the Town Hall welcomo. More particularly must: I apologise to the la-dies who have attended this afternoon to take part in hospitably entertaining our returned soldiers. ' It has been distressing to me to-day to have our arrangements upset in tho way they have been. I have had so many contradictory telegrams, from Auckland that I feel wo have been absolutely trifled with. I received a telegram stating that there would be 70 to 100 men 011 the train from Auckland which arrived; hero at 2.40 p.m. ■ The Mayoress invited a number of lady helpers to be here for the purpose of giving these incii a suitable reception. But onlv a dozen men camo by that train. I had a further telegram stating that a largo number was expected by the 4.30 p.m. train from Auckland, but only about half a dozen arrived. In the circumstances I do not propose to tender a reception in tho Town Hall, but I will receive our welcome soldier guests in my room. I wish to thank you. for coming here to show your appreciation of the gallant deeds of our boys at the front, and you will be welcome a,t the reception to the men in my room. I sincerely regret, that you' have been jooled, and that I have been fooled likewise. I want to extend a fitting welcomo to everyone of our boys who nave been fighting so nobly at the front, but I expect proper communications trom the powers that be to the Mayor don C S(> should bo properly

At 6.20 a.m. yesterday the Mayor was on the platform at the Thorndon hailivay fetation, where ho officially received, a number of the Maheno's soldier patients, who came to Wellington l AI, in S train from Auckland. On the Mayor's invitation, the soldiers subsequently attended at the lown Hall, where they were accorded a civic reception. The proceedings were happily free liomtho clement of formality inseparable in more or less measure from functions arranged on a largo scale. The men were received in the Mayor's Koom, and the Mayoress (Mrs. Luke) and a number of lady helpers hospitably dispensed hght refreshments to the soldier _ guests. His Worship, in welcoming 'he men home, said he had hoped to have received them along with those who were' returning by tlio JRuahine. A civic reception was to be given to tlio Ruainne s contingent 0:1 the following afterneon, at which ho invited them to he present. On behalf of the citizens of \\ oiling ton, he heartily welcomed them back from the. strenuous struggle in which they had been engaged. It had been all-important that men from the outposts of • the Empire should co-op-erate with the army of the Old Count™ in the determination to bring victory to tho arms of the Allies. The response to the call had been a splendid one. Men had rallied to the flag from tho outer-marches of the Empire, and the boys from New Zealand and Austiaua had been sent to engage in the supreme task at Gallipoli. They had proved themselves brave men and well worthy of the confidence not only of our own country but of the larger Butaui of which ho might he pardoned for saying we represented an important part. He, with the people of New Zealand, regretted the great toll of human life, but the memory of their great sacrifice would never be forgotten by the people of the Dominion. This Reeling of heart-felt regret would bo shared by the comrades of the men who had fallen. .To those present who had happily survived the trials of the campaign he conveyed a message of appreciation of the work. they had already done, and tlio hope that they would lave a quick _ recovery to their former health 'and vigour. The sacrifice they ha,d made would, he was sure, stimulate recruiting, and persuade those younc men who had ben holding back to {bin tlie colours. Tlie hospitality of. the. Mayor and Mayoress was acknowledged by one of the soldiers at whose instance cheers were given for Mr. and Mrs. Luke. nP t? 4 m° P '"' ,< after tho cancellation of the Town Hall ceremony) the Mayor received six of the returned soldiers in Ins room. There were a number■ of ladies present, and tea, cakes, and cigarettes were handed round, the ceremony. although an informal one, passiiiff off none tlie loss pleasantlv. His Worship addressed a few appro-priate-words f of welcome to tho men. heated 111 their offices or homes in Wellington, he said, they were perhaps inclined to talk with the freedom of arm-chair critics about the war, but of one thing he was certain, and that was that the lads from New Zealand as well as tlmir comrades from Australia tad done their duty and done it nobly Lhey had had it on the highest authority that no braver men had ever stood n-rainst the foe than the soldiers of e !'i tendered them, on behalf of the citizens, a hearty welcome to_ tho City, and he felt sure that their presence would induce other voung men to enniiate the spirit which had sent tho front. Tlie Mayor and Mayoress were then thanked for their hospitality by one of their soldier guests.

MESSAGE TO THE MINISTER,

"DISAPPOINTMENT AND RESENTMENT." Tlio Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) yesterday sent the following telegraphic message to the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health:— "The contradictory and inadequate information I received as to the movements of soldiers who arrived in Auckland by tlifl Muhtsiio, on route for Wei. J"vgton qjid south, uHcaas

disappointment and. resentment by the largo .numbers of citizens assmbled in Town Hall to accord suitablo welcome to men who are worthy of our best treatment. Parents and next-of-kin still in ignorance as to men's home-com-ing. Urgo you to moro liberally encourthe claims of those concerned by wiring through tho Press, names, destination, and time of arrival of men. THE /MINISTER'S REPLY. The Hon. G. W. Russell has forwarded tho following answer to the Mayor's telegram:— "1 have received your telegram this evening with the greatest surprise. As Minister of Public Health, in charge of 6iok and wounded soldiers, I have no control of them until delivered into public hospitals, and therefore have 110 responsibility as to their movements or transit. You must know I have never communicated with you either by wire or letter or verbally 011 these matters, because it was not my business. Please forward another copy of your telegram to the pr.qpor quarter—(Signed) (i. W Russell." TO-DAY'S RECEPTION. A civic reception to the men who arrived 111 Auckland by tho R.uahine and arc coming south, will bo tendered by the Mayor at the Town Hall this afternoon, at 0 o'clock. His Worship also extends an invitation to be present to those men who returned by the Mafleno but were detained in Auckland after the departure of the vessel from that port, and are now.in Wellington.