CENTENNIAL EVENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1939, Page 4

CENTENNIAL EVENT

VISIT OF AUSTRALIAN PARTY OF RETURNED MEN. ENTERTAINMENT OF WAIRARAPA CONTINGENT. “As is now well-known, an invitation has been extended by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association to the Returned Soldiers and Sailors’ Imperial League of Australia, to send over a contingent of ex-service men to take part in the New Zealand Centennial Celebrations in 1940, and to participate in the 25th Anniversary of Anzac Day,” states a passage in the annual report of the Wairarapa Returned Soldiers* Association. “This visit tends to develop into an event of great national importance, and the Wairarapa district, in common with other parts of the Dominion is being called upon to do its part right royally. Your committee has to entertain a party of this contingent numbering 350, for one day in the Wairarapa, and as this invitation has been confirmed by a gen-eral-meeting of members, the association must now settle down to the work of organisation, and in this direction the aid is asked and expected of every member, both morally and financially, and also of those returned men who are not members, to pull their weight in making the jV.isit an abounding success. Finances are. required, and an appeal is here made to every ex-service man to respond in a liberal manner. The incoming committee will be faced with a big task in the organisation of the visit, and without the wholehearted support of members, little can be accomplished. It is estimated that a sum of £4OO will be required, and a special fund has been set up* to which donations are now invited.”