H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 276, 18 August 1919, Page 6

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

THE HOLIDAY QUESTION

SIR JOSEPH WARD PROTESTS

Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at' the Savage Club on Saturday night, took strong exception to the "decision, not to declare a public holiday on the day of the arrival in Wellington of H.il.S. New Zraland. He said it was to the British Navy that a great part of the credit for the winning of the war had to bo given. The Navy had not only commanded the 6ea, guarded tho ehores of Great Britain and protected the tansport of munitions and men from all parts of the world, but had also, in ad--dition to this magnificent work, driven tho Uorman fleot into the shelter of the "Kiel Canal and kept it there until the armistice was signed, when the enemy ships were intorned in Scaoa Flow. Admiral Jollicoe had had the whole of tho British fleet under his control, said Sir Joseph Ward, and it had taken part in the greatest naval battles that <.he world had ever known: Amon;j the ships which had played a prominent! part was the ono which had oeen preeonted to tho Motherland by tiie people «f New Zealand and which - ' was shortly to visit tho principal ports of the Do* minion with the Admiral himself on board. Apparently the Bhip was to conn! into Wellington .like a stranger and as though in the dead of night. He could not understand the reason for such a ■want of recognition of the importance of flie occasion, and ho thought it was tf:e duty of the Mayor of Wellington to prtH claim a public holiday and to allow the citizens of Wellington tho fullest oppor-i. tunity to give a tram welcome to the Admiral ae the head of the grandest fleet in the world, and to the, officer.? and men of H.M.S. New Zealand. The least New Zenlanders could do was to show in this way their appreciation of all that liwl "been done by the Navy to protect them and keep them among the civilised countries of the world. INVITATIONS TO CITIZENS' HOMES. As many of the men, no doubt, would iw glad'to avail themselves oftht privileges of being invited to citizens* homes, it has been suggested that citizens who would l>e willing to taKe advantage of this chancq.to show their appreciation of the cervices of the men of > our Navy during the war, should send in their names to Mi's. Darling, .P.O. bos 972. ,