NO ANZAC DINNER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 158, 29 March 1919, Page 7

NO ANZAC DINNER

DECISION OF RETURNED SOLDIERS. The celebration of Anzae Day was discussed at a meeting of tho Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association last night. The chairman (Mr. ,T. D. Ilarper) said that ho thought tho Anzac dinner should be dropped for this year. There wero differences of opinion as to whether or •not it had been a success last year. (Laughter.) In-any ease the association's membership was approaching 3000, and this number of men could not be accommodated at a dinner. He suggested that a procession and an open-air memorial service should be held.

"I" fail to see why we should do away with the dinner because some scenes were created owing to vote-catching speeches and bamboozling by our friends, Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph .Ward," said a member.

"The last dinner,we held did not, bring any credit on the association," said another member. A returned soldier: "Through politics." The member: "No; through liquor." The chairman said he had presided over two Anzac dinners, and he would not preside over another. He did not believo a dinner could 1« controlled, owing to the' growth of the membership of tho association. , ;

Oilier speakers expressed the opinion thai: a very strong committee should maintain' order vigorously at whatever function was held. After considerable discussion the meeting decided that a procession and memorial service should be held on Anzac Dav. The dinner proposal was dropped.