The Dominion WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1919. A WELCOME HOME

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 137, 5 March 1919, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1919. A WELCOME HOME

Some discussion lias arisen ovci the proposal to organise a welcome to the 1914-16 soldiers who are duo to arrive a little over a week hence by the Hororata, but a good deal oi it is beside the point. It has been pointed out that this dratt includes some members of the JAirie Brigade, and of early reinforcements, as well as men who went out with the Main Body, and that a proportion of the Main Body men who might have returned on the nororata have evidently elected to return with later drafts. To object on these grounds to such a welcome as "is proposed, however, is to overlook the. fact that no better opportunity is likely to arise of welcoming home those of our soldiers who were first to respond to the call to arms. Every transport, presumably, which brings back Main Body men will also bring a proportion of men who went out later—many of them delayed in their going only by circumstances over which they had no control. Since the members of the Main !3ody were drawn from all parts of the Dominion it is doubtful, also, I whether they will ever be brought I together after they have all returned. In any case, it.would be easy to go too, far in drawing distinctions between Main Body men and the rest of our troops. All hearts go out to the "early goers, to the men who sprang to arms at the first alarm, but this is far from implying any depreciation of the men, not' a few of them burdened with heavy cares and responsibilities, who followed in successive reinforcements. Disregarding all such distinctions the impending arrival oi the Hororata draft is a great national event, which ought to be worthily signalised. This ship is bringing back the first body of fit men returned from the front,_ and the men of her complement will be welcomed not for their own sakes only, but for the sake of all who shared in the glory of the of our soldiers overseas. It is taking bhe right standpoint to regard them as representing not only the Main Body, but the whole New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The people of this country have welcomed home many thousands of wounded and invalided soldiers: Now the time has come to welcome those who are returning not because they aro sick or wounded, but because the work they and their comrades were set to do has been well and nobly done. On such a great and glad occasion there should be no question of quibbling over distinctions that do not matter. The duty of the city is so obvious that it is a pity that preparations for the welcome have not ere now been carried to a more advanced stage. As yet no definite programme has been drawn up, but the Mayor has proposed an official reception at the wharf, and, furthermore, that as many of the Hororata men as care to attend, together with all the other 'Main Body men who can be brought together, should be entertained at a social gathering in the evening. The latter suggestion seems to overlook the fact that those of the_ returning men who belong to Wellington will naturally be more anxious, when they get ashore, to_ forgather with their families and friends than to attend a public function. Again, some at least of those who belong to other parts of the Dominion may depart for their homes before the evening of the day. on which they land. In any case, the occasion is one on which the whole city should

turn out to give a welcome. The most attractive proposal thus far made has come from Councillor W. H. P. Barber. His idea, based

no, doubt on the reception of the

battle-cruiser New' Zealand ' when' she visited Wellington, is that the ■fiororata should be welcomed by land and sea "as she enters the harbour. He suggests that special cars should be run to Seatoun so that the hills at Fort Dorset may be covered with cheering crowds as the Hororata enters, and also that all available steamers should take on a full complement of passengers and go down to the heads to meet the transport and escort her up the harbour. The reception given to the New Zealand was most effective and impressive, and a welcome organised on similar lines would make our returning soldiers realise better perhaps, than anything that couldbe devised in its stead that the people' who stayed at home are not unmindful of what they have endured and achieved for their country and the Empire. There are no insuperable difficulties in the way of organising a great public demonstration of this nature. Unfortunately the troops will not be able to land on the day the ship arrives. In ordinary course the Hororata will be quarantined for twenty-four hours, but this need not stand in the way of a welcome to the troops as she arrives, and no doubt arrangements can be made to send aboard suitable gifts, such as the men might be expected to welcome after a long sea voyage. The essential thing, since the time at disposal is very short, is to put all necessary preparations in hand forthwith. If t'he Mayor, who is at present away in the south, is unable to return within a day or two, he ought to delegate his responsibilities in the matter to a representative on tho spot, or a small committee of city councillors. In orde? to organise an effective welcome it will be necessary to declare a public holiday, though this, of course, will depend on the day of the ship's arrival. At present her agents expect her to reach Wellington on Saturday week, March 15. If she arrives on the Saturday afternoon, or on Sunday, practically the whole population of the city will be free, without the

proclamation of a special holiday, to give her as rousing a. wolcomo us the occasion demands. It should bo possible days beforehand to ascertain definitely the day of the Hororata's arrival, and to announce in good time the hour at which she will enter the harbour. In many respects the welcome to the New Zealand suggests the procedure that ought to be followed on the present occasion. A public ovation on the- lines hero indicated certainly offers the best means of wolcoraing our home-com-ing soldiers. Suitable entertainments ashore may, of course, follow if they are found k> _be advisable, but speeches and social gatherings will not in themselves constitute an adequate welcome to the men who so worthily represent our lighting forces returning from war.