VISITING AUSTRALIANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1938, Page 6

VISITING AUSTRALIANS

NOTABLE CENTENNIAL EVENT. ENTERTAINMENT OF PARTY IN WAIRARAPA. The entertainment of a visiting party of Australian returned soldiers in the Wairarapa on the occasion of the centenary celebrations in 1940 was a matter that came up for discussion at a general meeting of the Wairarapa R.S.A., held in the Masterton Savage Club Rooms last night. Mr H. G. Alexander said the committee had decided to invite a party of Australian Diggers to the Wairarapa. He was sure all wanted to see some of the visitors here. The subbranches in the Wairarapa had offered to cater for 250. He had been assured that both the Masterton Borough Council and the Masterton County Council would be behind the association and he was sure the public would be with them. He moved that the Wairarapa R.S.A. invite to the Wairarapa a total of 450 Australians as the guests of the association. A member asked how many were coming to New Zealand. If they were > distributed in both islands there might not be that number available to come here. Mr A. L. Bennett said he thought they should give headquarters some indication of the maximum number the Wairarapa were prepared to entertain for one day. Mr L. S. Nicol considered it might be wiser to invite a smaller number, say 300, as they could entertain that sized party really well. In a discussion as to the means of finding the finance to cover the cost of the visit, it was stated that already there was a sum in hand of £6 10s and further donations made in the room totalled £6. It was held that the R.S.A. should definitely give a lead in raising the finance. “Surely to goodness,” said Sister • Higginson, “the 500 members of the association in the Wairarapa will be able to find £5OO between them by 1940.” It was decided to leave the matter to the committee to bring down suggestions at a further meeting of members.