THE RECEPTION OF RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 158, 23 March 1918, Page 2

THE RECEPTION OF RETURNED SOLDIERS

Sir,—l have just been reading tha account of the landing at Welliugton yesterday of some of your returned soldiers. As a visitor to New Zealand from Melbourne, Australia, I would like to say how our. returned boys are received and welcomed, as far as I'have seen. \ At Port Melbourne, where the boat arrives, the'pier is guarded hy a military guard, and no one is allowed inside the barrier. As the boys leave ttle boat they are welcomed by a large band of ladies, called the Welcome Club, and given fruit, flowers, cigarettes, etc. Then they 1 enter the motor-cars waiting' for them, and ara driveu- up 1 to Melbourne ' through tho principal streets to the Military Barracks in St. Kilda Road, where their relatives and friends are waiting for them, and they are allowed to go to their homes for a fortnight before reporting themselves . at the Caulfiekl Military Hospital, one of the finest and largest military hospitals in Australia. The cot cases are taken by the Red Cross ambulances straight from ' the boat to Caulfield Military Hospital. The solHiers from the other States are taken to one of the Rest Homes, and well looked after till they go by train or boat to their homes. Usually tho streets are decorated with flags and bunting in honour of their return, and the streets are crowded with people who cheer tho bravo lads as they pass along. The Automobile Association supplies the cars, and owners of cars Hilling to help are asked to do so, and wait Hn their allotted place outside the pier till each car is filled. I have seen all this myself.-—I am, etc., J. MTJNN. Wellington, March 19, 1918.