CHILDREN AND THE PRINCE.

Southland Times, Issue 18816, 8 May 1920, Page 4

CHILDREN AND THE PRINCE.

In discussing the details of the display at the Show Grounds in connection with thq visit of the Prince of Wales, the Reception Committee the other night was hardly fair to the Defence authorities. It was unfortunate that Major Glen dining war un‘avoidably absent, hnd that fact should have made the members of the committee more' guarded in their treatment of the part played by the departmental officers! As we understand the position, the allotment of space for the school children has been arranged at least twice by the Defence officers and the committee appointed td Vmndte this part of. the reception. On each occasion the military have met the committee fairly and have agreed to arrangements that were mutually satisfactory. In such circumstances it was hardly fair to suggest that the Defence Department was putting obstacles in the way. As to the priority of inspection, that matter will be determined not by any local authorities, but by Tfia Royal Highness himself, though experience elsewhere suggests that he will prefer to see the soldiers first, so that he can give more time to the young folk. We would not have referred to this matter but for the fact that there was no representative of the Defence Department present at the meeting, from which an entirely erroneous impression might be gained and frim which misunderstandings might arise to jeopardise the success of the reception.