H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 275, 16 August 1919, Page 7

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

FINAL ARRANGEMENTS ' DIFFERENCE OVER THE HOLIDAY llie -Mayor (Mr. J. I*. Luke) presided a -j} of the • Citizens' ComlniUea set up in connection with tliu ■ visit to Wellington of Admiral Lord A Jclhcoo ami H.aI.S. Now Zealand, held jpsteraay aitenioon. The Mayor (Mailed •what .had- been done, sinco tho outset, i He jncationed that the committee had made an appeal to tho.citizens l'or funds ■lo meet tho cost ,of the entertainment, and this had resulted in tho collection ot 4,'lOtil. None of that money would ue available to make up any shortage on the ball iif any). That money was subscribed for tho entertainment of tho .men, and would bq spent in that direction. The Mayor further, bra ted that so far 08 double ticksts had been soldThere had been those who said that the' price of the tickets was rather high; \he hoped he had enough of the democratic spirit, yet lie- realised that tho function must bo of a character which would uphold tho prestige of the city and he a fitting honour ,to their illustrious guests. (Hear, hear.) In case of a .shortage tliero was no fund lo be drawn ypon. The funds of tho City Council could not he expended in any direction in which tho whole of the citizens could not participate, so that it was no good looking to tho City Council if there were a shortage. That could best be provided l'or by obtaining guarantors who would (i'ke tho responsibility. Special tramcars would lie provided for the men at speciticd ti|nes. Some might think that the men 'should be given the freedom ol 'tho cars, but tho position was that they had not sufficient lolling stock for,their own needs. However, observation ears ivould bo available—perhaps half-a-dozen nt. a time —lo tako the men lo different j)dints\ol' interest in tho city,

Warship at Queen's Wharf. Mr'. Luke announced that H.it-S. New Zealand would bo berthed at the Queens Wharf (outer'berth;, which would make it more convenient for everyone concerned. . There might be some comment on the arinounceniunfc lio had made through the Press that no holiday would be'declared on the day of the coming 'of -the battleship (Wednesday next). K was- very, nice to declare a holiday for 1 this or that purpose, but he Had set . his face against it as much,as ho could. - As a matter of fact, the -finances ot the city could, not stand it. It was '■ all very well for the merchants, bankets, and .'.shipping people, who. could probably bring their staffs back m the evening but for the manufacturers, : shopkeepers, and wage-earners it was an 'entirely different matter. It J™"' V,e done. Still, he thought that the people • of Wellington would rise to the occasion and give Lord Micoe, his officers and men a right 'hearty welcome notwithstanding there would be.no holidav. In the early days the keeping of holiday was not such a serious matter, b it with the fe organisation, they had nou, tney . could not; give their' office staffs. n, hoh: day without..having to pay the men extra to rim'the'trains. ®a.' wouldl ke to see a holiday observed, but the council could not -afford to' do sV and he reluctantly asked-the committee.to sup-.pbi-t him. ' \ "Reception Will Fall Flat, Mr. B. Keesing (chairman of the General Committee) -■ reported that a. ' the sub-co m.mittees had.- their work well ' in hand for tho entertainment of tho officers and men. In .regard to the ball lie' anticipated' no diflioul ty. The chairman of tho Ball Committee, w,ith him, ' felt, that the ball-.would ba a great sue- ■ cess. He was pleased to say t that they had enough,money in hand to meet all tho probable expenses. The onlv grea.t " expense was the ball—the" entertainment of the men did not involve suoh heavy cost. Thev - wero especially anxious that the children should have a good : time. The- matter of 'arranging dates for them to visit the warship would be fixed up as eaon as the ship coiuo in. These ammgc-mentsSwould be ma/le by : the chairman of the Jiducat.ion Board. . As announced by tho May.oistho Zealand- would- berth, at ;the Queen s ' Wharf,' and .the -.Harbour. -Beard was generously' giving, tho big shod alongside for-the use of tho children, who would be given something to eat.and drink. The Mayor's statement that there was Jiot .to "be'V holiday iras the principal ■thing that was, going to bo. a. trouble to ■ him, for if there were no holiday the steamers would not go .out, and everything would fall rather flat. . The chairman of the Harbour. Reception Committee had arranged for all tho Union Company's boats' available ■to leave the -wharf, and all the small boats to. go out ' and meet the warship, but unless there was a holiday thoro was no hope of getting the boats out. • They had thought of seeing the Government representative <Mr. B. Wilson) to try' and lnduco the Government to proclaim a public holiday, but lie wna at present m Christchurcli. They could still arrango a de- . putiition -to-tho Minister on u.e point, if' His Worship:— ~ , , The Mayor (breaking m): Im not going to alter my position. • . Mr. Keesing: Not if the Government proclaims a/, holiday. . The Mayor: \No, this-is a matter tor ' the Mayor of Wellington.'- ' . Continuing, Mr. Keesing, slightly em- . barrassed, said that- it was a, peculiar "position: hero was their own sini> ihg tho port after taking part in the Jiattlo of Jutland, and the first big warship to visit Wellington since, tho war, and there was to -be no ;eception. • Jt seemed to hiiu very peculiar. . iliou there was the question of the cine reception; Could His Worship tell them when it would be held. The Mayor: On Wednesday at noon, if the ship arrives in the morning. If not, i as soon .as-possible. • Jlr. Keesing said that if it was put off until noon ou Thursday the ladies could not entertain the men at luncheon as - proposed. They proposed to entertain > the first lot . on Thursday and the sec-

olid lot 011 Friday. ' : The Mayor said that the civic reeopi. (ion would be the first. When it would '• bo held was not for him to say—it was a matter for tiio Admiral. 111-. Keesing ■ suggested that if the vessel arrived on Wednesday afternoon the civic reception : . might be'held at a p.m., so as to leave Thursday clear for the men s luncheon. ■. After luncheon.oll Thursday, it was pro- ' posed to entertain the men 'at a sports meeting, and on Friday, a football match would follow the luncheon. He mention-' ed that 'the Artcrat't Theatre management had offered to provide a special • nfternoon entertainment for the sailors. • A letter had been received from the Government giving the names of the ollicers of the New Zealand, and saying : that there were "Oil men in the crew. The ship's company included ii hockey and a "Soccer" fflo'tball team. The officers played Rugby. There was also a pipe band, brass band, and some champion dancers on -board. A Ciyic Luncheon. The Mayor announced that (lie Cily Council was to tender a luncheon lo Ilie Admiral and his staff. ■Mr. Lan Duncan reported I,hat the subcommittee in connection with the supper, decorations, and music i'or the bali liiid everytliin;,' well in hand. The position regarding finance was that .1:111111 had been collected, and there would probably be another .CIOII* to come In. If there was a shortage it would not be a matter for tlio Finance Committee, but one for the General Committee to deal with. Jlr. A. E. AYhyle sni.d lliat whilst ■ only 68 double tickets for the hall had been sold, there were numerous applica-tions-for tickets. Ho'was sure that (ho public would generously support (he ball and make it the splendid function' it should be. Captain A. Unie-Miinro said that tlio hig shed alongside the bcrlh oil the Queen's Wharf would be cleared following the vessel's arrival. Captain C.hudley, I!.NM\., said thai he did not think Mr. Keesing was quilo right in what lie- said about, the holiday and the ships. There was llio coal shortage to bo. remembered, and there wa.~ more than the reception to the. New Zealand lo bo considered in these times. Mr. \V. ft. Fuller mentioned I hat (lie Duchess would be going out in ; any case, and the management had invited 20 or . of the committee to go out by her if l.hey -wished to meet Iho vessel at the. Heads. The coal question was important, but if there was a, half-holiday sumo of the smaller boats would go out. -

Mr. Di M'Laren offered all assistnnce ou behalf of the Orphans' ami Scottish Clubs. Ho thought the Mayor was wise in refusing to declare :i. general holiday, aud ho was sure Mint the officers and men of tho New Zealand would i-pore-ciato the .warmth of the welcome once they were "iiiside'our gales." He vould like to see the children get a holiday lo mark the occasion. It would remain in their memory as a red-letter day.

Mr. A. Jlarryatt said that iiow they knew tho vessel was to remain here lor eleven days they might, be ahle out the events. Some could be fixed for the week following her'arrival. A programme would lie dialled us soon as the warship ,arrived. The Mayor said that lie hail arranged for the .Patriotic K^-iety's Band to Ijo on the Duchess, and play the warship up to her anchorage. .Mrs. Luke reported that the. women's committee's work would lie found to Iw all thai: it ought lo he. and -Mrs. Byei' reported that, she had had 110 refusals in asking for the use of motorcare for the officers. If the men were to lie treated to motor lorries would have to lie obtained, as llfere were TOO men to deal with. Jf that.could bo arranged she would suggest a run out to T'l-ißiuiam, where I hey could see the place where our soldiers were trained, and. the sight of the sailors would be a lonic to tho sick soldiers in the hospital. The Mayor approved the idea of motorlorry trips, and thought I hey might, be arranged. He announced that, (hero would ho no free list for the ball, save for their guests—the Adniirai, his si aft', and officers of H.M.S. New Zealand, and His : Excellency the Governor-General, t'lio Countess of Liverpool and their staff.