SPEECHES AND BUNS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 236, 3 October 1916, Page 9

SPEECHES AND BUNS.

DO THE BOYS WAUT THEM I

MAYOR AND WARM-HFARTED j CRITICS. Ever since the first batch, of wounded men returned controvers-r has raged on. the point of whether they receive too little or too much, reception, and now that the formal speech-maldm at the Town Hall has been abandoned" in favour of a homely handshake and a few cheery •words, there are those who think that we should return to the civic reception and light refresiiment programme for aU contingents of wounded, irrespective of whether they have been subjected to similar treatment in other parts of the Dominion.

Friendly critics have written to the' Mayor suggesting more imposing proceedings than those which marked thej arrival by train on Saturday of the Willochra_ men. Alluding to the letter this morning, Mr. Gunson said that the whole question had been very carefully and iully considered, and it was a considered policy in connection with the arrival ol wounded men at the Auckland railway station. that they should not be taken up to the Town HalL That decision was prompted firstly in the interests of the men. themselves, for such a proceeding had been found to he against their wishes. Regard must be had for the fact that they already had been received at the port of arrival, where they had received a suitable public welcome to the Dominion. Secondly, at the railway station their friends were waiting for them and they were exceedingly anxious to get away without any delay. Not only had it been found that the "conveying of the men to the Town Haft, was inadvisable, but even the provision of refreshments at the station, was not availed of. On several occasion, the Women's Patriotic Association had provided refreshments, but their experience was that, with relatives and iriends waiting for the men, the soldiers preferred to get away as quickly as possible. For those reasons the receptions at the stations now were of the briefest possible character, the speeches being cut out, and the ; reception being confined to a few fitting ■words of welcome. This course, the Mayor felt sure, was the wisest one, and most acceptable to the men concerned.

When, however, the men returned by a steamer making Auckland it 3 first port of call, the circumstances were different, and in these cases, as in. the past, there would be a continuance of the policy of officially welcoming the men and of providing refreshments on the spot.