CONTRAST IN RECEPTIONS.

Auckland Star, Issue 311, 31 December 1900, Page 5

CONTRAST IN RECEPTIONS.

Our treatment of soldiers returned from the war is anything but romantic We keep them cooped up in a transport for a couple of days then we march them through the city, or rather allow them to fight their way throuo-h a shoving, shouting crowd. Then we preach at them in St. Paul's, and orate at them in Guildhall gorge !them in the Artillery Ground and make .after-dinner speeches at them, liven then we don't permit them to flenart in peace to their homes and families, but press liquor upon them with noisy insistence, and carry them clamourously shoulder high. Some millionaire hands them each a toepound note, and then we forget all about them. Thte Canadians propose to receive their returning heroes in more artistic fashon. Five hundred ffirla attending the senior departments of the public schools will be asked each to Prepare a wreath of maple leaves. Ori the arrival of the troopship at Halifax our ladies of the snows, with tlieir wreaths, will be drawn up on the wharf and will crown the soldiers as they step ashore. Australia should be able to go one better with its golden wattle, and New Zealand might appropriately crown her warriors with the blood-red blossoms of the Christmas tree. Sydney, of course, has plenty of bays for her boys.