DINNER FOR DIGGER.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 169, 17 July 1919, Page 5

DINNER FOR DIGGER.

NO ALDERMANIC BANQUET. BEER. A WASH-OUT. "ft The Auckland "Star" has received a copy of the menu to be supplied to the returned soldiers on Peace Day*, and a casual glance through it shows that the feast -prepared is more in the nature of what ie known in military phraseology as a substantial binder rather than a recherche aldermanic banquet. Set out in detail the menu at all events looks at least formidable, inasmuch as it will consist of:— Roast sirloin of beef, stuffed leg o' pork, roast mutton, York ham and tongue, Canterbury ham and ox tongue. dressed salad, beetroot salad, green ; salad, mashed potatoes, mashed pump- ! kin, hot plum pudding, apple pie, and j custard, stewed'prunes and custard, wine jellies, local cheese, fresh fruit in season. Parsed and analysed the banquet seems to fall short of the seductive appellation of a "real clap-up feed" applied to it by Mr Blomfield, in moving that a good lunch to the diggers should be one of the leading features of the programme. It is, of course, a cold lunch, and, interpreted in terms of the average appetite means: Course 1, cold meat, salad and potatoes; course 2, duff, pie or jelly; supports, cheese and fruit. For satisfying the needs of 1500 men by the above menu the modest sum *of 3/S per head is. being charged. As a washdown to the Domain feed tea and coffee are proposed, the proposal to hazard the audacious bottle of )beer having apparently been suppressed in favour of the innocent "cup that cheers, but not inebriates," as they term it in bottom line circles. - Mr Harry Goldie, chairman of the Catering Committee, when asked by a "Star" reporter whether the proposed', ■menu was seriously suggested at a three 'and eightpehny blow-out, said he was sorry, but it was so. Nobody wanted to look at the job except the gentleman >vhose tender was accepted, and he declared that he had to pay a pound a day to his waiters, for a hundred oi whom he had advertised. It wa*"f true that the committee was providing the whole of the marquee and seating accommodation for the guests, but the caterer had to supply his own kitchen and store of • crockery, cutlery, utensils, guards, and! service. The menu did seem to be a bit over the fence, but the expenses were exceptionally heavy. TO-MORROW'S APPEAL. FOR POOR AND NEEDY. The Auckland Peace Celebrations commence in Auckland to-morrow with the women -workers' collection in the city and suburbs on behalf of the benevolent and philanthropic agencies and organisations of the Auckland district. The collection has been enthusiastically supported 'by women workers in city and suburbs, and there is every reason to believe that the public will respond readily and generously to the collection boxes."-: .| Clothing and gifts in kind will be received at the office of the Auckland Women's Patriotic League at the Town Hall to-morrow. GROCERS TO CLOSE. The Auckland master grocers notify in another column that aH grocers' shops in the city and suburbs will be closed on Saturday and Monday next in connection with the Peace celebrations. TAKAPUNA'S V.C.'S. Takapuna Borough Council last night decided to be represented in the Peace procession by a decorated car, which would have special allusion to the borough's two V.C. heroes — Sanders and Crichton. TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD. Another "Digger" writes: "Referring to the proposal to pay a tribute ti ; our honoured dead on Saturday, I think that the following suggestion from an English paper would add to the effect: — That on the day of peace the church bells toll for the dead for five minutes, during which time everybody stands silent, the bugle band sounding ' The Last Post." Immedvatily following this, the church bells to burst forth in a ! joyous peal of victory. Perhaps this little addition could be carried out here." "Peace Day" writes: "Now that the Peace Day is almost upon us, which every true Britisher has been looking forward to, it is to be - hoped that the restaurants..will observe that day as a ■holiday, so as to let their hard-worked staffs have'a day for rejoicing, a day that they can look to with pleasure; not where they will remember Peace Day as a day of slavery. Trusting that you yourself. Sir, will make some comment on this matter through your valuable columns." . M. Bowden writes: I read with much pleasure the beautiful suggestion in "N.Z. J Digger's" letter. Being one of the many bereaved. I think that the stopping of the traffic for a fixed so that reverence may be paid the memory of our honoured dead, will be a great comfort to many a sad heart." And at that sacred time may I suggest that a silent prayer be offered for the mothers of our brave boys who are among the heroes of this cruel war.