RECEPTION OF RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2913, 27 October 1916, Page 4

RECEPTION OF RETURNED SOLDIERS

Nothing could be more repugnant to public sentiment than the idea of our returned soldiers being allowed to feel that they had not been fittingly welcomed, and their convenience studied on their arrival home. So far as Wellington is concerned, the Mayor, Mb. J. P. Luke, has spared no pains to convey., to tie men the appreciation and good wishes of this community ana he has endeavoured in every possible way to make their home-coming a pleasant one. Circumstances do not always permit of public receptions; steamers arrive at unsuitable hours! and the m'en scatter and going to their own homes or leavingwith friends; and as in the case" of the arrivals by the Maori yesterday there is a possibility that some of the less fortunately situated may feei a little out in the cold. The weakness of the position is that the newly-returned men have no recognised rallying point at which they may be looked for by their friends after landing from the boat and where they can leave such luggage as they may possess while they look around them and renew their acquaintance with civilian life. There is no longer any reason, however, for this weakness being allowed to continue. With the establishment of the Returned Soldiers' Club and the acquisition by the club of the centrally situated .and excellently equipped premises in which it is now installed, an opportunity has been afforded of placine the matter on a quite satisfactory footing. The Club Committee is agreeable that the club's premises should be made the recognised place for the reception of returned soldiers on their arrival here. It is prepared to throw open its doors to "the returned soldiers on their arrival; its large hall on the ground floor, is available for any public ceremony which may be decided on: the billiard, reading, and other rooms will be at the disposal of the men,_ and they will be able to meet their friends there and leave their belongingß in safety when they wish to go abroad .in the City. The proposal is an admirable one in overy way. Not only will it enable friends and acquaintances to get into touch with the men without the difficulties and delays which now sometimes occur through there being no recognised rendezvous for the returned men; but it will be a very ■real benefit to the men themselves in enabling them, to get into touch once move with civilian conditions under the most favourable circumstances. For who better is there to appreciate their and to offer them sympathetic advice and guidance thart tho men associated with the Returned Soldiers' Club, who have themselves gone through the samo experiences? We do not know who is tho right person to move in the matter, but presumably it is tho Mayor of the City. Mr. Lukk has always shown such keen interest in and sympathy with our soldiers going to and coming from the fighting lines that if the matter rests with him we havo no doubt that ho will gladly tako the steps necessary to ensure that the generous offer of the Returned Soldiers' Club Committee is taken full advantage of for tho benefit of future arrivals from oversoas.