ANZACS "ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 99, 29 April 1938, Page 7

ANZACS "ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE."

BOATS MISSED. " 7 Number Left in Sydney h As Yet Unknown. GAY SCENES ON WH___tF. United Trrss Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 n.m.)y SYDNEY, this day. It is not yet known how many Uew Zcalamlers failed to. hoard the I Maunganui and Monowai/before they sailed last- nijrht with the contingent of Aiizhc- who had attended the Sydney celebrations. At least one man arrived <m the wharf when the vessels would be passiaig through the Heads. There wore also many who went on the wrong ship, but it was too late to allow them to change vessels. They were tine to sail at 8 p.m. and the men were supposed to be aboard at 7.30, but u t that hour less than half were aboard. The remainder straggled down overburdened with all manner of souvenirs. Both vessel* were more than half an hour late in getting away. Members of the contingent spoke most highly of the hospitality of the Sydneypeople. They travelled free on trams, trains, ferries and buses, ami are anxious to repay that hospitality when the Australians pay a visit to New Zealand in l!»4i>. I The New /calenders by their excellent conduct and line bearing also created a good impression in Sydney. The nurses with the contingent were not overlooked. They were guests of many functions, including the New Zealand Women's Association's inusicale, at which Mrs. Arthur Rathbone (Hawke's Bay), sang. Miss Val Sullivan played a pianoforte solo and Mrs. Waigainga Tepine gave poi dances. David Baldwin broke his ankle in a street accident yesterday and was carried aboard his ship just before she tailed. Rousing Send-off. When the Maunganui and the Monowai sailed for Wellington with the New Zealanders aboard, they were given a rousing send-off by a crowd of friends and fellow ex-soldiers that packed the wharves and extended, far along the approaches. Men swarmed up the masts and along the ships' rails and stood on every Tantage point. Bands played at the ships' sides and the crowd joined in singing wartime songs and "Auld Lang Syne." The police I>and accompanied the Tessels down the harbour. The whole scene was one of the cheeriest for many years. The members of the New Zealand «ontingent are delighted at the decision of the Australian Returned Soldiers' League to send a contingent of war reterans to Xew Zealand in 1940, and the hope is expressed by the South lilanders that the men will visit both Chrietchtireh and Dunedin as well as Wellington and Auckland. The majority of the visiting New Zealanders have had a splendid time in Sydney, and declare thev will full v repay the hospitality that has been thqfr-n them. The weather during the whole of their ,«tav has been delightful. Mr. Vincent Ward. M.L.C., said in an interview that the New Zealanders were] proud of the part they had played in the wonderful Anzac commemoration. I "We return wjth a feeling of affection j for Australia and its courteous and' Jiospitable people." said Mr. Ward. "The I spirit of goodwill abroad during our *isit was something words cannot ♦xplain. I feel it is bound to lead to • better understanding between Australia ind Xew Zealand."